Tavia wrote:

...

...

In 'Shadow', Avon twice refers to the mandatory death sentence for possession of Shadow

Thanks, Anna, for all the convincing examples that execution was used

under

...

civilian law in the Federation.

Yes, it was an excellent email. Also in Games Servalan states that "fraud and theft" are capital offences. Though admittedly that is series 4 and the political situation had changed vastly by that point.

My position now is that there is no "official" death penalty in the Federation for murder.

...

The point about military law being different from civilian law is an interesting one. Quite apart from feeling that people who sign up in military roles should not necessarily lose their human rights, the pragmatic reason for opposing inhumane punishments under military law is the opportunity it gives for repression in the hands of potential dictators: take power, declare a state of emergency, impose military law and execute anyone who opposes you seems to be a fairly standard series

of

...

events.

Smart stuff.

...

It's fairly clear that Federation military and civil codes are different from Servalan's contempt for politicians of the civil administration. However I have wondered (wild speculation ahead) if the Domes on Earth in TWB were operating under some sort of a 'state of emergency' situation.

No evidence I'm afraid.

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This might allow for the indiscriminate heavy drugging of civilians that

we

...

observed, without implying that this was necessarily the normal

situation.

Yes. but Blake doesn't seem to know that they are all drugged. And when he is told he doesn't really think it's important.

RAVELLA: Try some. It's natural water. The stuff we get has been recycled a thousand times, and it's dosed with suppressants.

BLAKE: Improves the flavour if nothing else.

RAVELLA: Doesn't it bother you that you spend your life in a state of drug induced tranquillity?

BLAKE: Why should the Administration try to drug us?

RAVELLA: To keep control. They've been stepping up the suppressants because the number of dissidents is growing. They see what's happening and they want to stop it.

BLAKE: (INCREDULOUS) Stop what?

The Federation doesn't have to declare any 'state of emergency.' The people have enslaved themselves. They just don't care.

Jenny

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