1) Miss happen
I have asked feta Fannary (win to let you know of
Trepending wovements
and
2) File
CONFIDENTIAL
Capital Punishment
1483118
142460 MDLIAN 7077
39
pont out the next 2 wks. We have not fold the about CONFIDENTIAL the developments reported here. Better to wait till after
AMENDED DISTRIBUTION 31ST AUGUST 90pt & mente.
FM HAMILTON
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 134
OF 301135Z AUGUST 90
HKB 380 /
:ECEIV
SE21990
YOUR TELNO 119: CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN DTS: BERMUD
SUMMARY
1.
NÜC
V
берг 8 метра.
BERMUDA'S REFERENDUM ON CAPITAL PUNISHMENT ON 28 AUGUST RESULTED IN A LOW TURNOUT OF VOTERS, THE MAJORITY OF WHOM VOTED FOR RETENTION. RECOMMENDATION ON DEALING WITH FUTURE DEATH
PENALTIES IN BERMUDA.
DETAIL
2. OF THE TOTAL ELIGIBLE VOTERS, 33,331, ONLY 10,882 (32.65 PER CENT) VOTED. THE RESULT WAS:
ке
FOR RETENTION OF DEATH PENALTY FOR ABOLITION
SPOILT BALLOTS
8,536 2,237
109
3.
THE MEDIA COVERAGE PRIOR TO THE REFERENDUM WAS REASONABLY WELL BALANCED, ENDING WITH A LIVE TV DEBATE BETWEEN HARRY VIERA, MP (INDEPENDENT), WHO IS AN ARDENT RETENTIONIST, AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMMITTEE FOR THE ABOLITION OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT (CAPC). THE CAPC'S MAIN THRUST THROUGHOUT THE LAST FEW WEEKS HAS BEEN THAT THE REFERENDUM'S QUESTION QUOTE ARE YOU IN FAVOUR OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT FOR PREMEDITATED MURDER IN BERMUDA UNQUOTE REQUIRING A YES OR NO ANSWER DID NOT OFFER SUFFICIENT CHOICE TO THE ELECTORATE. THE CAPC RECOMMENDED THAT VOTERS SHOULD SPOIL THEIR BALLOTS BY WRITING ON THEM THAT THEY WISHED TO SEE LIFE IMPRISONMENT AS AN ALTERNATIVE. THE NUMBER OF SPOILT BALLOTS SUGGESTS THAT NOT MANY PEOPLE LISTENED TO THIS ADVICE.
4. THE REFERENDUM ARRANGEMENTS PROVIDED FOR PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE OFF THE ISLAND ON 28 AUGUST TO CAST THEIR VOTES ON 20 AUGUST.
LESS THAN 200 TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THIS FACILITY.
5.
I ADVISED THE PREMIER TWO WEEKS AGO
THEN
-
AND A FEW OTHERS SINCE
OF THE LIKELIHOOD OF HMG INTRODUCING AN ORDER IN COUNCIL
PAGE
CONFIDENTIAL
1