A letter from the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference to Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong

Dear Prime Minister,

We, the Catholic Bishops of Australia, respectfully appeal to you and your Cabinet to reconsider granting clemency to Australian national Van Tuong Nguyen.

We understand that under Singapore’s Constitution, clemency can be granted in rare circumstances and that Van Tuong Nguyen’s case fits the criteria.

We therefore seek your compassionate response to the dire situation of Van Tuong Nguyen. He is a young man with no prior criminal conviction, with good prospects for reform.

With great respect, we appeal to you and your Government to grant clemency to this young man.

Yours Sincerely,

Archbishop Francis P. Carroll

President,

Australian Catholic Bishops Conference.

NB – The letter was delivered to the Singaporean High Commission in Canberra on Friday, November 25, 2005, at the conclusion of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference meeting in Sydney.