NEWS RELEASES
CANADA CONDEMNS EXECUTION OF NGUYEN THI HIEP
April 26, 2000 (12:30 p.m. EDT) No. 83
CANADA CONDEMNS EXECUTION OF NGUYEN THI HIEP
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy and Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific) Raymond
Chan today condemned the execution in Vietnam of Nguyen Thi Hiep. Ms. Nguyen, a
Canadian citizen, had been sentenced to death for drug trafficking in March 1997.
"First and foremost, I would like to extend deepest condolences to the family of
Ms. Nguyen. Given our understanding that new information relating to her case was
being examined by the Vietnamese authorities, this action has come as a shock," said
Mr. Axworthy. "I am deeply disappointed that the Government of Vietnam did not accept
our request for executive clemency and commutation of the death sentence imposed on
Ms. Nguyen."
"Canadian police authorities provided the Vietnamese government with information that
needed careful examination in order to establish whether Ms. Nguyen may have been
duped into transporting drugs out of Vietnam," said Secretary of State Chan. "Canadian
police officials were to go to Vietnam to assist in the examination of this information, and
this visit was pending at the time of the execution. It is most unfortunate that the
Vietnamese government chose to ignore pertinent information that might have saved
Ms. Nguyen's life.
"As a signatory to the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, Vietnam
has an obligation to impose the death penalty for only the most serious crimes. We do
not believe that Ms. Nguyen's conviction for drug trafficking meets this standard," said
Mr. Axworthy. "I would like to assure the Nguyen family and its supporters that we will
continue to seek a full review of the matter."
Minister Axworthy noted that Canada's concern regarding the drug trade has led to
active participation in the international fight to deal with drug trafficking. "Nevertheless, it
is equally important that national laws reflect a balance between crime and punishment.
Without such a balance, international support for penalties could be eroded."
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Debora Brown
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Naseem Nuraney
Office of the Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific)
(613) 995-1852
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
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