PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
South African drug smuggler executed in China
Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – The execution of a South African drug mule in China on Monday has sent shock waves around the country with government saying it tried desperately to intervene in the matter.
Durban resident Janice Linden was executed by lethal injection in Beijing – three years after she was arrested in Guangzhou with three kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine in her luggage. She was convicted of the crime in 2009.
South African government spokesperson, Clayson Monyela, said President Jacob Zuma tried to intervene “at the highest level” without success.
And International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane last week appealed to the Chinese delegation at the UN climate change talks in Durban for assistance with the matter.
Human rights groups have repeatedly condemned China for imposing the death penalty, saying its legal system does not guarantee a fair trial.
Monyela said the execution would also not impact South Africa's trade relationship with China but government has come under enormous pressure over its ties with China, especially after Tibetan spiritual leader, Dalai Lama, cancelled an intended trip to South Africa to attend Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu's 80th birthday in October.
Pretoria has conceded that it is unprepared to endanger its ties with China – its biggest trading partner.
-0- PANA CU/VAO 12Dec2011
Durban resident Janice Linden was executed by lethal injection in Beijing – three years after she was arrested in Guangzhou with three kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine in her luggage. She was convicted of the crime in 2009.
South African government spokesperson, Clayson Monyela, said President Jacob Zuma tried to intervene “at the highest level” without success.
And International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane last week appealed to the Chinese delegation at the UN climate change talks in Durban for assistance with the matter.
Human rights groups have repeatedly condemned China for imposing the death penalty, saying its legal system does not guarantee a fair trial.
Monyela said the execution would also not impact South Africa's trade relationship with China but government has come under enormous pressure over its ties with China, especially after Tibetan spiritual leader, Dalai Lama, cancelled an intended trip to South Africa to attend Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu's 80th birthday in October.
Pretoria has conceded that it is unprepared to endanger its ties with China – its biggest trading partner.
-0- PANA CU/VAO 12Dec2011
