Doc. 8000

29 janvier 1998

Execution of Karla Faye Tucker scheduled for

3 February 1998 in Texas, United States of America

Written declaration N° 270

This written declaration commits only the members who have signed it

The undersigned,members of the Assembly,

Recalling that the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe considers that the death penalty has no legitimate place in the penal systems of modern civilised societies, and that its application may well be compared with torture and be seen as inhuman and degrading punishment within the meaning of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights people (Recommendation 1246 (1994) on the abolition of capital punishment),

Keeping in mind that the Assembly believes that the imposition of the death penalty has proved ineffective as a deterrent, and owing to the possible fallibility of human justice, also tragic through the execution of innocent people (Recommendation 1246 (1994) on the abolition of capital punishment);

Remembering the Assembly’s appeal to all heads of state and all parliaments in whose countries death sentences are passed to grant clemency to the convicted (Resolution 1044 (1994) on the abolition of capital punishment);

And referring to the Assembly’s call upon all parliaments in the world which have not yet done so to abolish the death penalty for all crimes before the end of this millennium (Resolution 1097 (1996) on the abolition of the death penalty in Europe);

Consider:

That a democratic country such as the United States of America should not take recourse to the death penalty;

That countries enjoying observer status with the Council of Europe should respect the values of the organisation, which include – since 1994 – the willingness to immediately institute a moratorium on executions and to abolish the death penalty in the long term;

and thus:

Condemn the 74 executions which took place in 1997 in the United States of America, and in particular the 37 executions which were carried out in Texas;

Deplore the fact that not a single prisoner on death row has been granted clemency in Texas since the death penalty was re-introduced in the mid-1970s;

Urge all Governors to grant clemency to all prisoners on death row;

And, in particular, appeal to the Governor of Texas to grant clemency to Karla Faye Tucker, due to be executed on 3 February – the first woman to be executed in Texas since 1863.

Signed:¹

Wohlwend, Liechtenstein, EPP/CD

Bársony, Hungary, SOC

Bartumeu Cassany, Andorra, SOC

Bindig, Germany, SOC

Brunhart, Liechtenstein, EPP/CD

Calleja, Spain, SOC

Demetriou, Cyprus, EPP/CD

Gatterer, Austria, EPP/CD

Gross, Switzerland, SOC

Hagard, Sweden, EDG

Martínez, Spain, SOC

Mc Namara, United Kingdom, SOC

Mühlemann, Switzerland, LDR

Pulgar, Spain, SOC

Robles Fraga, Spain, EPP/CD

Roseta, Portugal, EPP/CD

Schieder, Austria, SOC

Varela, Spain, LDR

____________________________

Total: 18

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group o the European People’s Party

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      LDR: Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group