BOYCOTT AFTER VAN HANGING

A GREATER Dandenong councillor said she would never again fly with
Singapore Airlines or buy Singaporean products following the "barbaric"
execution of convicted drug smuggler Nguyen Tuong Van last week.

But the airline has flown to its defence, asking Greater Dandenong
residents to make a commercial choice and understand it was not linked to
the execution.

Noble Park North Ward Cr Maria Sampey, who yesterday (Wednesday) attended
Nguyen's funeral in Melbourne, said earlier this week she and her family
would embark on a boycott of all things Singaporean in protest at the
hanging which she had previously described as a "medieval" act.

"I think that the punishment does not fit the crime," she said.

"I will not be flying Singapore Airlines for the rest of my life, and will
be telling family members not to buy anything to do with Singapore."

Cr Sampey also raised the matter at this week's council meeting, stating
she would undertake the protest because Nguyen's mother Kim was not allowed
to hug her son before he was executed.

Singapore Airlines public relations manager for the South West Pacific
region, Kate Pratley, said the airline had nothing to do with Nguyen's
execution.

"It is not appropriate for us to have, or express, a view about specific
court rulings as they relate to the administration of justice, which is not
something we, as an airline, can influence," she said.

Ms Pratley urged people not to make the airline suffer for the decision
which was beyond its control.

"People have a choice available to them and it is for the customer to
decide who they fly with," she said.

"We hope that our customers in Australia will understand this matter is not
connected, in any way, with Singapore Airlines, and that they will make
their choices on commercial grounds."

Meanwhile, Nguyen's former Springvale-based primary school held a prayer
vigil at almost the same time the 25-year-old was hanged in Changi prison
for drug trafficking.

St Joseph's Primary School in Springvale was one of several primary schools
that Nguyen and his brother Khoa attended in the late 1980s after their
mother Kim moved from Richmond to Springvale to live.

St Joseph's deputy principal Dominic Tamburro said the whole school
assembled and prayed for Nguyen on the morning of his execution. He said
the prayer service was part of an assembly held at 8.45am, just 15 minutes
before Nguyen's scheduled execution. Mr Tamburro said that students
understood Van Nguyen's situation.

"I think most kids are up to date, and their families are pretty up-to-date
and familiar with current affairs," he said. "Part of (the school's) drug
education program is awareness about drug issues."