Pannella meets Minister Amadou Marou

MISSION OF RADICALS IN NIGER, THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE MORATORIUM RESOLUTION AT THE UNAND ABOLITION OF THE DEATH PENALTY IN THE COUNTRY

November 20, 2014: The delegation of Hands Off Cain and the Nonviolent Radical Party Transnational and Transparty was received today by the Minister of Justice and government spokesman, Marou Amadou.
The delegation was accompanied by the Honorary Consul of Italy in Niger, Paul Giglio. The delegation was composed by Marco Pannella, leader of the Radical Party and President of Hands Off Cain, Sergio D'Elia, Secretary of Hands Off Cain, Marco Perduca, Vice President of TRP, Matteo Angioli of the General Council of the TRP and campaign manager of “Rule of law Vs. Reason of State”, and Marco Maria Freddi.
During the meeting, Minister Amadou Marou announced that the Government, on 23 October, in anticipation of the arrival of the delegation, ratified the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and is now engaged in the process of adaptation of the domestic law to the contents of the pact that provides for the abolition of the death penalty.
The Minister Amadou Marou has also announced that, as will be confirmed tomorrow by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Government will issue instructions to the Ambassador of Niger to the United Nations to pass from a vote of abstention to a vote in favor of the pro-moratorium resolution.
Marou has stated in this regard: "It is one thing to declare, in principle, in favor of the death penalty, and I am in any case not, another thing is that those who are in favor are confronted with the practice of the death penalty and maybe put a noose around the neck of the condemned, inject a lethal substance or press the button that activates an electric chair. "
The Minister Marou then said: "The reasons for abolishing the death penalty are much more relevant than those to keep it," and concluded that "our agenda is the same as yours, both the respect for human rights, and the repeal of the death penalty. The President is personally committed on these goals. "
At the meeting with the Radical Delegation were also all members of the staff of the Minister of Justice who spoke to express their opposition to the death penalty.
In the morning the Radicals have visited the prison of Niamey, either the male section, the female and the juvenile section. The mission, which is part of a project funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues tomorrow with meetings with the Vice-President of Parliament, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the Board. (Sources: NtC, 20/11/2014)