トム・リッジ知事、早期執行を示唆
今井です。以下、ペンシルバニア州知事のトム・リッジから、ムミアの支援者の一人に送られてきたメールだそうです。ちょっと中身を見ると、すごすぎるので、嘘ではないかと半信半疑、こんなでたらめな奴が知事をやっているんでしょうか？
ことに、知事の執行命令なしに矯正局長が執行のプロセスを開始できる、というのはどういうことかよく理解できないのですが。
送り主の Sister Marpessa Kupendua およびmumia@aol.com は情報ソースとしては信頼できるものなのですが。
かいつまんで要点だけ訳すと、
州では犯罪がふえ、市民生活がおびやかされている。犯罪者にはむごい犯罪にはむごい刑罰が待っていることを知らせてやるしかない。
死刑の判決からじっさいの執行までは時間がかかりすぎる。これは、死刑囚が法的な対抗措置をぎりぎりまでとるからである。知事が執行命令に署名するまでは処刑のプロセスが始まらないので、多くの死刑囚は、知事の署名をまって、それから対抗措置をとりだす。このおかげでさらに執行がのびて、納税者の税金を無駄遣いし、被害者の感情をさかなでする。すみやかな執行命令への署名こそ、こういう無駄をはぶく。
死刑執行は行政の長としての義務だ。従来、これがおこたられてきたので、死刑囚監房にはbacklog（滞貨）がたまってしまった。私には、死刑執行を含む、すべての行政の長としての責任が委託されている。この断固たる責務の遂行のために、Act Four of the Special Session on crime（なんかの法律条項のことだと思います）が法令化されている。この法令の定めるところによれば、死刑判決から90日以内に知事は執行命令を出さねばならず、さらにその命令から30日以内に執行がなされなければならない。知事がこの責務をおこたった場合は、州矯正局長は、知事の執行命令なしでも、執行のプロセスに着手しなければならない。死刑執行は、知事の職務の中で楽しいものではないが、私には法を執行し、守る義務がある。われわれは犯罪者たちに、ペンシルバニアにおいて、死刑というのはたんなる脅しではなく現実だということ、しかも過去に比べてより早く現実となるものだということを知らせなければならない。
Afrikan.net News Service
www.afrikan.net
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Below is what the governor of PA has sent to at least one Mumiasupporter, a *very detailed* response which entails time limits andreiterates the outrageous clause which permits the Comm. of Corrections to schedule an execution without a signed warrant! Ridge also discusses how he wants to "accelerate the entire process" meaning that more and more people who cannot afford good legal help, or to pay detectives or specialists, etc. in order to mount athorough defense, will be denied that due to lack of monies andbe murdered quicker, resulting in the certain death of more innocent people due to the rush to kill in bloodthirsty PA. Check the site at
www.mumia.org for contact info for the PA lynch mob.
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COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
HARRISBURG
November 13, 1998
Thank you for your recent letter regarding capital punishment in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. I am always pleased to hear the views and concerns of my constituents.
Pennsylvanians have become outraged - with good cause - at the number of violent crimes which are committed against the Commonwealth's families and communities. To stem the rising tide of violence and lawlessness on our streets and in our neighborhoods criminals must know that, in Pennsylvania, harsh crimes have harsh punishments. Expeditiously using the death penalty is one way we can get this message across.
The amount of time which passes between sentencing criminals to death row and their actual execution is far too long. This time lapse between conviction and execution generally results from the inmates exhaustion of legal challenges. Since no death penalty is fulfilled in Pennsylvania until the Governor signs the convicted's death warrant, many inmates wait until their warrant is signed before commencing any legal challenges. This further delays the process, costing taxpayers more money and robbing the victim's family and friends of peace of mind. A swift death warrant signing accelerates the entire process.
When I decided to seek the Commonwealth's chief executive position, I was well aware of the Governor's responsibility to sign death warrants. It is an important duty that had gone unfulfilled for years which created a backlog of inmates on the Commonwealth's death row. I am committed to performing all of the chief executive's duties -- including signing death warrants. To demonstrate this unyielding commitment, Act Four of the Special Session on crime has been signed into law. This charges the Governor with the responsibility to act on a death warrant within 90 days after its sentence is affirmed by the state Supreme Court. It also stipulates that the execution shall occur within 30 days of the warrant's signing. If the Governor fails to act within the allotted time, the Commissioner of Corrections is required to schedule an execution without a signed warrant.
Exercising the Commonwealth's death penalty statute is not a part of being Governor that I relish, but it is my duty to enforce and uphold the law. We must send a message to criminals that the death penalty is a reality in Pennsylvania. A reality that will come to bear much quicker than in the past.
(signed) Tom Ridge