Business is business
This terrible story (below) also made me laugh with sheer incredulity at the fact that some weird old farmer has been building and exporting gallows to Zimbabwe from England.
Ultimately it is no laughing matter. But it also made me think of an old friend of my father's, who, after an IRA attack in Northern Ireland had killed members of the security forces, concluded his angry rant against the 'RA with the words: "Hanging's too good for them. It's a kick in the pants they need."
A farmer who builds gallows and has sold them to African countries with poor human rights records has been condemned by Amnesty International.
David Lucas, of Mildenhall, Suffolk, said he had been selling execution equipment to countries including Zimbabwe for about 10 years.
Amnesty said the export of gallows, which will be made illegal by an EC regulation in July, was "appalling".
But Mr Lucas said the trade was not sick and "business is business".
The execution equipment he says he sells ranges from single gallows, at about £12,000 each, to "Multi-hanging Execution Systems" mounted on lorry trailers, costing about £100,000.
An Amnesty International spokesman said the new European Commission Trade Regulation, which comes into force on 31 July 2006, will make it unlawful to export gallows.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Trade and Industry said the government was pleased the export of gallows was being made unlawful.
Via BBC News.
Ultimately it is no laughing matter. But it also made me think of an old friend of my father's, who, after an IRA attack in Northern Ireland had killed members of the security forces, concluded his angry rant against the 'RA with the words: "Hanging's too good for them. It's a kick in the pants they need."
A farmer who builds gallows and has sold them to African countries with poor human rights records has been condemned by Amnesty International.
David Lucas, of Mildenhall, Suffolk, said he had been selling execution equipment to countries including Zimbabwe for about 10 years.
Amnesty said the export of gallows, which will be made illegal by an EC regulation in July, was "appalling".
But Mr Lucas said the trade was not sick and "business is business".
The execution equipment he says he sells ranges from single gallows, at about £12,000 each, to "Multi-hanging Execution Systems" mounted on lorry trailers, costing about £100,000.
An Amnesty International spokesman said the new European Commission Trade Regulation, which comes into force on 31 July 2006, will make it unlawful to export gallows.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Trade and Industry said the government was pleased the export of gallows was being made unlawful.
Via BBC News.
posted by Stephen at May 12, 2006
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