Fed: End to death penalty petition launched in Melbourne

AAP General News (Australia)
08-09-2009
Fed: End to death penalty petition launched in Melbourne

MELBOURNE, Aug 9 AAP - It will be an emotional few weeks for the father of one of the
Bali Nine, who is embarking on a concentrated effort to abolish the death penalty around
the world.

Lee Rush begins his campaign in Melbourne on Sunday by helping to launch a petition
calling for the worldwide end to capital punishment.

Mr Rush's 23-year-old son Scott is facing execution in Indonesia following his conviction
for attempting to smuggle heroin out of the country.

Mr Rush says the next few weeks are extremely important as he aims to spread the message
of ending the death penalty at events in Melbourne and Brisbane.

"We need to get as much public awareness out there on this issue," he said on Sunday,
hours before he was set to attend the Queensbury Hotel in Carlton for the Make the Death
Penalty History event.

Mr Rush said the death penalty was an extremely disturbing punishment that was mentally
draining for prisoners and their families.

He said imprisonment had taken a great toll on his son's health.

"He's not in good shape, waking each day or having to go to sleep at night thinking
he's likely to be executed."

He added that he still had difficulty putting into words how he feels about the situation.

In addition to the petition launch in Melbourne, Mr Rush will be in Brisbane on August
23 for the Australians Against Capital Punishment awareness concert.

A second concert will follow in September to support a Nigerian cell mate of Scott
Rush - and further events are being planned.

Scott Rush has one appeal left in Indonesia, which is expected to take place within
the next 12 months.

AAP sbl/gfr/jfm/cdh

KEYWORD: PETITION

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.