EU Policy On The Death Penalty
The Honorable George W. Bush
Governor of the State of Texas
State Capitol
P.O. Box 12428
Austin, Texas 78711
Washington, August 9, 2000
Dear Governor Bush,
We, as the representatives of the Presidency of the European Union,
France, together with the next president, Sweden, and the European
Commission wish to convey to you an urgent humanitarian appeal by the EU
on behalf of Mr. John Satterwhite. We make this request in the framework
of the European Union's policy of seeking a global moratorium on the use
of the death penalty (which we have long renounced in Europe), as a step
toward its worldwide abolition.
The execution of Mr. Satterwhite, a U.S. citizen, is scheduled to be
carried out by Texas State Authorities on August 16,2000.
The case of Mr. Satterwhite seems to us to particularly merit your
clemency, as Mr. Satterwhite is considered by many experts to be both
mentally ill (borderline paranoid schizophrenic) and mentally retarded.
Furthermore, according to Mr. Satterwhite's defense, there was mitigating
evidence withheld by the state and not made known to the jury.
We urge you to demonstrate compassion with regard to this case.
The EU considers that the execution of Mr. Satterwhite would be
contrary to generally accepted human rights norms. In particular, it is
our opinion that his execution would violate the United Nations Economic
and Social Council (ECOSOC) Resolution 1989/64 of 24 May 1989 on the
implementation of the safeguards guaranteeing protection of the rights of
those facing the death penalty. As you know, this resolution recommends
that United Nations Member States eliminate the death penalty for persons
s>uffering from mental retardation or extremely limited mental
competence, whether at the stage of sentence or execution. It would also
be contrary to Resolution 2000/65 adopted at the last session of the
United Nations' Commission on Human Rights, which specifically urges all
States that still maintain the death penalty "not to impose the
death penalty on a person suffering from any form of mental disorder or to
execute any such person".
The European Union respectfully urges you to commute Mr
.Satterwhite's sentence to any other penalty compatible with international
law.
Sincerely,
Bo Eriksson,
Charge d'Affaires, a.i. of Sweden to the US
Delegation of the European Commission
Présidence française de l'Union Européenne -
http://www.presidence-europe.fr
