Church Leaders condemn PNG Government's decision to implement Death Penalty

Papua New Guinea church leaders have condemned the government decision to implement death penalty. It has been revealed that  about  13 people on death row in Papua New Guinea are expected to be executed this year after PNG Cabinet endorsed the proposed guidelines for the implementation of death penalty. Secretary for the Department of Justice and Attorney-General Dr Lawrence Kalinoe told the media that PNG Government had approved the establishment of an inter-agency committee to see its implementation. 

Howevern, this announcement did not go down well with the PNG Church leaders Council. The church leaders said in a media statement " We believe that all human life is God-given and that no one, including the State, should take upon itself the right to end a life.

Additionally, there is ample evidence proving that over the best processes of justice can sometimes happen. It is therefore, unthinkable that we, the people, should condemn a potentially innocent person to death.

As a Christian Nation, we can never allow our justice system to sink, to acts of revenge or payback. We must not take the attitude of ‘an eye for an eye’ but rather maintain penalties that are appropriate for all crimes but do not include the death penalty.

Incidences of serious crime have not decreased in countries that have adopted the death penalty.

The possibility of the death penalty increases the possibility that the criminal will murder their victim to eliminate them as a witness.

We call upon the Papua New Guinea Government to continue to work towards a nation of propriety of equality, so that people can pursue legal legitimate ways of life".