Recently, Singapore pronounced death sentence to a man for drug trafficking, attempting to smuggle one kilogram of cannabis, twice the amount that attracts death penalty. It is estimated that Singapore has executed over 250 people for drug offences between 1991 and 2007, and 11 people in recent times.
Singapore boasts of one of the strictest laws for drugs, despite a lot of backlash from human rights organisations and activists. Amnesty International has repeatedly asked Singapore to change its laws, saying death penalty is inhumane. Billionaire Richard Branson publicly said how he opposes Singapore’s death penalty for drug smuggling.
Singapore has always taken western criticism, like a bull by its horns. Singapore’s Ministry of Home affairs, invited Richard Branson to take part in a live television debate about the country’s approach towards drugs and death penalty. Branson refused to debate the issue.
Singapore’s Law Minister, K Shanmugam, is one of the staunchest defenders of capital punishment for drug offences. He doesn’t shy away from showing the mirror to the west. In a recent interview, he quoted how America had more than 1,00,000 deaths in 2021, due to drug overdose. World Health Organisation reported 5,00,000 deaths from drug abuse in just one year. Shanmugam hinted that USA is not doing much about it. Singapore has tackled the problem with harsh laws.
Asia’s rough history with drugs
The idea of death penalty shakes up many people. However, a nation’s past is often not as straightforward. A deeper dive into history shows how Asia, had a rough history with drugs.
In the 1800’s, British smuggled opium into China, drugging an entire nation. China’s attempt to suppress the drug trade led to the Opium wars. China lost, which opened the country’s trade to British merchants and more drug use. Historians call this China’s century of humiliation.
Singapore’s Chinese community has had a long history of smoking opium since the 19th century. Opium was officially outlawed in 1946.
Geographically, Singapore’s proximity to the famous drug trade route called the ‘golden triangle’, (Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam) makes it a sweet spot, for drug trade.
In the 1970’s, Singapore faced an addiction epidemic with 3-5% of young men, under age of 25 years were addicted to heroin. From 1973 to 1975, number of addicts increased by 200 times.
Drug abuse was also an economic threat to a country with a small working population. Singapore could not afford such high addiction rates. Additionally, there was a strong correlation between drug addiction and crime rates.
Operation Ferret
In 1977, Singapore launched an all-out, comprehensive, holistic, zero tolerance programme, called Operation Ferret. It adopted a two-pronged strategy.
The first step of the programme was to cut off the supply of narcotics. National Narcotics Bureau (NNB) was set up. Strong laws were put in place to act as deterrent. It was communicated in no uncertain terms that trafficking narcotics (cannabis, cocaine, heroin, and ketamine) beyond a certain quantity, will attract death penalty. Arrest rates for drugs peddlers skyrocketed.
Even till around the 1990’s, Singapore was arresting about 6,000 people, a year for drugs. In current times, it is about 3,000 people a year.
The second step of the programme was to create awareness, to curb the demand side. Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association (SANA) was set up. It started public education programmes and counselling about the dangers of drug abuse. Treatment centres was established. Students attended programmes, role plays and videos about the consequences of drug abuse. Workshops were conducted to strengthen the resilience of youth.
SANA recruited volunteers and counsellors from religious groups, trade unions and universities. Ex-addicts were used for lectures on prevention. The quality requirement for counsellors was so stringent that 40% of applicants were rejected outright. An intense training was given before counsellors interacted with addicts in rehab.
This two-pronged strategy worked wonders on reducing drug abuse. But it is an ongoing battle.
Cannabis legalisation
In recent times, many countries have legalised Cannabis, but Singapore is in no mood to legalise cannabis anytime soon. The Narcotics Bureau website prominently displays infographics about the myths of cannabis, how long-term cannabis use can impair learning in children, reduce IQ, lower performance, and increase dropout rates.
Strong Public Support for Death penalty
Singapore’s iconic Prime Minister, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, was often interviewed by western media on harsh laws for drug trafficking.
In one such interview, he famously said, “They (Human Rights activities) assume if you are kind to drug peddlers, you build a better society. If you enter Singapore with kilos of drugs, it will destroy thousands of families. When the daughter or son, becomes an addict, you are killing that family every day for years and years. Against thousands of such deaths, one death (of the drug trafficker) is too kind.”
Singaporeans resonate with this sentiment even today. In a survey done in 2020, 74% of Singaporeans agreed that the death penalty is justified for serious crimes. In yet another survey, in 2021, 83.2% Singaporeans believed death penalty deters drug trafficking.
Speaking to the BBC, Minister Shanmugam said, “Capital punishment is a serious deterrent for drug traffickers, who thrive by damaging lives of drug users, and destroying families”
Shanmugam has often called out the ‘West’ imposing their values on this matter.
Personally speaking, during my own years of working in Singapore, I frequently heard Singaporean mothers say, they don’t fear their children falling into drugs or getting killed in school, because of strict laws for drugs and guns.
When we try to homogenise cultures, impose constructs and steam roll opinions, we often forget that countries, like individuals, are conditioned and scarred by their past experiences. This history shapes opinions, perceptions, and laws. Historically, Asia has been so severely mutilated by drugs that it is not falling for a western ‘human rights’ hyperbole anytime soon.
Anu Lall is founder of YogaSmith and has authored four books. Besides, she is a lawyer and has worked in pharmaceutical and IT industry in India, USA and Europe.