Participants yesterday at a study meeting on death sentence reached an initial consensus that the capital punishment should be maintained during the war period, while abolishing death sentence will be a long-term goal for the nation. A task force set up by former Justice Minister Wang Ching-feng to study the possibility of abolishing capital punishment held its 1st meeting with more than 20 scholars and representatives of civil groups backing and against capital punishment participating.
The meeting, hosted by Vice Justice Minister Wu Chen-huan, was also attended by heads of the departments of Corrections, Prosecutorial Affairs, and Prevention, Rehabilitation and Protection under the Ministry of Justice (MOJ).
MOJ officials and representatives from the private sector also agreed that no timetable will be set for the abolition of death penalty in view of diverse opinions on the issue in Taiwan society.
Wu said discussion at the group's 1st meeting was focused mainly on procedural matters for future discussions.
But he said the word "abolition" will no longer appear at the name of the "task force promoting the abolition of capital punishment" to underline the neutral stance held by the MOJ.
Monthly meetings and discussions will be held for the next 8 months, he said.
Tsai Rei-tsung, director of the MOJ Department of Prosecutorial Affairs, explained that such meetings are meant to serve as a vehicle for gathering opinions on the issue.
Minister Wang resigned on March 11 after her refusal to sign execution orders for 44 inmates on death row; sparking outrage among relatives of crime victims and some legislators and ballooned into a heated public debate.
Taiwan has not carried out the death sentence since late 2005 when then Minister Shih Mao-lin signed execution orders for 2 brothers who were convicted of murder.
When answering questions raised by legislators, new Minister Tseng Yung-fu who took office on Monday said that he would give orders to execute inmates on death row in accordance with the nation's legal and judicial administrative laws.
But Tseng also stressed that such orders will be given only after his ministry conducts a thorough review of all cases concerning death sentences out of the respect for human life.
Answering similar questions concerning capital punishment on the trip to South Pacific allies, President Ma Ying-jeou acknowledged there are many nations that have abolished death sentences.
But there are still countries, notably the U.S. and Japan, maintaining capital punishment, he pointed out.
The International Covenant on Civil Rights and Political Rights underscores the respect for human lives, but it points to the director of gradual phasing out death penalty rather than abolishing it instantly, Ma explained.
The controversial issue can be solved only after people in Taiwan reach a general consensus, he said.
The more pragmatic approach for now is to gradually reduce the cases of death sentences, Ma added.
Source: China Post, March 23, 2010
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