Pacific / Papua New Guinea

PNG reconsiders death penalty position

08:58 am on 15 October 2015

Papua New Guinea's government is reconsidering its decision to re-implement the death penalty in the face of mounting criticism.

Photo: RNZI / Koro Vaka'uta

The Post Courier reports officials in the attorney general's office saying the government was looking at undertaking a different approach, and an official announcement will be made at a "later date".

While it's never been outlawed, Parliament in 2013 voted in favour of bringing back the death penalty for crimes such as murder and rape, but it has not yet been implemented due to lack of infrastructure.

The country has 11 inmates on death row.

The decision has come under fierce criticism from organisations including the catholic church, the United Nations and the European Union.

In May, Prime Minister Peter O'Neill announced that the government would review the decision in the wake of a global outcry after Indonesia executed two foreign convicts.