PM and New Zealand's Prime Minister, Helen Clark, raised Nguyen's case informally with Mr Lee today, pleading with him to spare his life.
PM warns of Nguyen fallout
November 27, 2005 - 9:52AM
The Prime Minister, John Howard, has warned Singapore to prepare for ongoing resentment in Australia if it goes ahead with the execution of convicted drug smuggler Nguyen Tuong Van.
Mr Howard made his fifth personal appeal to Singapore's Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong, at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) today - but says Singapore will not change its mind.
Mr Lee told Mr Howard that Singapore would not accept the jurisdiction of any International Court of Justice appeal against Nguyen's death penalty, making a challenge impossible.
Nguyen, 24, is due to be hanged this Friday morning for smuggling drugs to pay off his twin brother's debts.
Mr Howard has refused to bring the matter up formally at CHOGM as a matter for debate.
But both he and New Zealand's Prime Minister, Helen Clark, raised Nguyen's case informally with Mr Lee today, pleading with him to spare his life.
"I did have quite a discussion with him and he was left in no doubt as to the intensity of feeling within Australia," Mr Howard told reporters.
"I did not get the indication that the Singapore Government was going to change its position in any way in relation to the decision to go ahead with the execution."
Nguyen's supporters have called for a consumer boycott of Singaporean-owned companies, including Optus, if the execution goes ahead.
Mr Howard has previously refused to endorse boycotts but said he had told Mr Lee repercussions would be likely.
"I have an obligation to explain to the Government of Singapore that there will be lingering resentment on the part of many Australians regarding this issue," he said.
"They are certainly carefully monitoring what is occurring but I am equally of the view, as I have been now for some time, that the Government of Singapore is not going to change its mind."
Mr Howard said he was sorry he had not been able to do more to spare Nguyen.
"I can promise you I've tried in all the appropriate ways to persuade them to do otherwise and I regret that I have been unsuccessful," he said.
"I'm sorry about that."
Ms Clark also made a case for clemency in informal talks today, raising her strong views against capital punishment.
She backed Mr Howard's handling of the case.
"I know that John Howard is doing absolutely everything he can about this case," Ms Clark said through a spokeswoman.
Some of Nguyen's closest friends left Australia today bound for Singapore, carrying messages of support and hope for the condemned man.
Mr Howard said he felt deeply sorry for Nguyen's mother and hoped she would convey his feelings to her son this week - but did not say whether he would be sending Nguyen a personal message.
"The best thing that I can do for that man is to be honest with his family and to show compassion towards his family, and I have done that," he said.
"I saw his mother without fanfare ... and I tried as best I could as a human being to comfort her, and I hope that that was of some assistance to her.
"That is the best thing that I can do."
Mr Howard said he had done his best to be honest with the family, to comfort them, and not to exploit the situation politically.
"I hope that's known to her son and if that is of some comfort to him, I'm pleased," he said.
"I don't think I can say much more on this issue. I have done my level best, and, if there are other opportunities, I will take advantage of them."
