Taiwan's new justice minister, who was appointed after his predecessor refused to authorise executions, said Monday he had ordered a review of the cases of all 44 prisoners on Taiwan's death row.
Tseng Yung-fu was also quoted by the official Central News Agency as suggesting that his ministry would carry out the death sentence in cases where the condemned prisoners' guilt had been confirmed.
"The justice ministry will decide whether to execute any of the death row prisoners and will not avoid its responsibility if the review confirms they were guilty," Tseng was quoted as saying.
He also told the news agency that carrying out executions would not violate 2 UN human rights conventions to which Taiwan was a signatory and which oblige signatories to reduce the number of executions.
"Carrying out executions (of those already convicted) should not go as far to violate the two conventions," Tseng said, after he was sworn in as minister.
Tseng replaced Wang Ching-feng, who resigned this month after attracting a storm of criticism over her refusal to order the execution of any of the 44 prisoners on death row.
Her decision triggered condemnation from lawmakers and activists in favour of the death penalty, as well as a statement from the cabinet that Taiwan was not about to abolish capital punishment.
Tseng nevertheless said that a special committee appointed by Wang to consider whether Taiwan should abolish the death penalty would Tuesday hold its first meeting as scheduled.
The option of abolishing the death penalty was still open, Tseng was quoted as saying.
Wang's predecessor was also opposed to the death penalty and Taiwan has not carried out an execution since 2005.
Source: Agence France-Presse, March 22, 2010
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