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Texas Executes 400th Prisoner
Here's one from the "haven't they got anything better to do?" files. As the US state was gearing up to execute Johnny Ray Conner (32), the European Union's Portugese Presidency issued a statement expressing its "great regret" and calling on the US to halt executions.
Conner was executed as planned, becoming the 400th prisoner to die in the state since capital punishment was reintroduced.
The Portugese statement read:
"The European Union strongly urges Governor Rick Perry to exercise all powers vested in his office to halt all upcoming executions and to consider the introduction of a moratorium in the state of Texas."
It is not unusual for European Union officials or European governments to plea in individual cases for death row prisoners; the death penalty is banned in the EU and in recent years campaigners have turned their attentions to the US. The Italian government has been particularly forceful in protesting against the death penalty in the US during its presidencies of the EU, and in May the Italians persuaded the German government to back a EU motion calling for a universal moratorium on the death penalty to be passed in the United Nations. The EU didn't follow through the proposal, which, to judge by the kind of characters who inhabit the UN's Human Right's offices, was hardly likely to have passed the first hurdle.
However, it is uncommon for the Europeans to receive a public reply. And, as Mr Perry's response showed, there is still some mileage in US grandstanding against posturing European busybodies. His spokesman said,
"Two hundred and thirty years ago, our forefathers fought a war to throw off the yoke of a European monarch and gain the freedom of self-determination.
"Texans long ago decided the death penalty is a just and appropriate punishment for the most horrible crimes committed against our citizens.
"While we respect our friends in Europe ... Texans are doing just fine governing Texas."
Well, they did ask.
