Thou shalt not kill
Referring to the 44 convicts on death row in Taiwan, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Lo Shu-lei (羅淑蕾) said last week: “I’m glad that the devils can finally go to hell” (“Lawmakers acclaim Wang’s resignation,” March 13, page 3).
How fortunate Taiwan is to have government officials who are tactful enough to choose their words wisely while speaking publicly.
Lo is either ignorant of, or has forgotten, Jesus’ admonishment in Matthew 7:1 — “Judge not, so that you yourselves be not also judged.”
Moreover, before he goes on condemning people to eternal damnation and perdition, Lo had best give some thought to the expression that only madmen and savages profess to know the mind of God.
An absolutely crucial fact that one must keep in mind is that of the 44 convicts presently on death row in Taiwan, there is a possibility that a number of them are not guilty of the crimes they were accused of.
A perfect example of this phenomenon is the group of men referred to as the “Hsichih Trio” [Editor’s note: The “Hsichih Trio” are not among the 44 individuals on death row].
President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), when he was minister of justice, refused to sign the trio’s execution order for lack of evidence, while US forensics expert Henry Lee (李昌鈺) testified in the trio’s favor in court in May 2007.
In 2003, the three men were freed after the High Court overturned their sentences. The Taiwan Supreme Court then ordered the High Court to “re-examine” the case. On June 29, 2007, the High Court issued a guilty verdict. It also reinstated the death penalty.
Protesters outside the courtroom began to scream that the Taiwanese judicial system was guilty and that the defendants were innocent.
One of the defense lawyers, Su You-chen (蘇友辰), said: “The ruling is ridiculous. The judicial system is stained. Judicial reform is bullshit.”
Here’s a question we should all be asking ourselves: Would it be preferable to let 100 guilty people go free rather than have one innocent person unjustly imprisoned?
I shudder with revulsion, fear and disgust when I think about how many of the 44 convicts currently on death row in Taiwan may be innocent.
This is one of the strongest arguments against the death penalty — that there will always be a significant danger that an innocent person will be condemned to death.
The danger is all the greater in Taiwan, where the judicial system is stained red with human blood. It is easily manipulated and abused. Far too often, it is used as a “club” to smash the heads of people whose only crime is to have said or done something to anger a powerful and influential politician. It is a disgrace.
Former minister of justice Wang Ching-fen (王清峰) said she would rather “go to hell” than order the executions of the 44 convicts on death row.
There is no doubt in my mind that Wang is a sincere, courageous woman with the highest ethical principles.
However, there is precious little difference between capital punishment and a life term in prison. The former kills quickly, while the latter tortures someone to death slowly.
Former president Chen Shu-bian (陳水扁) is facing such torture. Chen, like Wang, was a human rights activist. Does Chen truly deserve life imprisonment? Does no one see the irony of this man who once crusaded for human rights — and through his efforts, saving the lives of those unjustly imprisoned — now himself being horribly victimized with the unspeakable burden of life in prison?
MICHAEL SCANLON
East Hartford, Connecticut
In a summer of intense political maneuvering, Taiwanese, whose democratic vibrancy is a constant rebuke to Beijing’s authoritarianism, delivered a powerful verdict not on China, but on their own political leaders. Two high-profile recall campaigns, driven by the ruling party against its opposition, collapsed in failure. It was a clear signal that after months of bitter confrontation, the Taiwanese public is demanding a shift from perpetual campaign mode to the hard work of governing. For Washington and other world capitals, this is more than a distant political drama. The stability of Taiwan is vital, as it serves as a key player
Yesterday’s recall and referendum votes garnered mixed results for the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT). All seven of the KMT lawmakers up for a recall survived the vote, and by a convincing margin of, on average, 35 percent agreeing versus 65 percent disagreeing. However, the referendum sponsored by the KMT and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) on restarting the operation of the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant in Pingtung County failed. Despite three times more “yes” votes than “no,” voter turnout fell short of the threshold. The nation needs energy stability, especially with the complex international security situation and significant challenges regarding
Much like the first round on July 26, Saturday’s second wave of recall elections — this time targeting seven Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers — also failed. With all 31 KMT legislators who faced recall this summer secure in their posts, the mass recall campaign has come to an end. The outcome was unsurprising. Last month’s across-the-board defeats had already dealt a heavy blow to the morale of recall advocates and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), while bolstering the confidence of the KMT and its ally the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP). It seemed a foregone conclusion that recalls would falter, as
The fallout from the mass recalls and the referendum on restarting the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant continues to monopolize the news. The general consensus is that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has been bloodied and found wanting, and is in need of reflection and a course correction if it is to avoid electoral defeat. The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) has not emerged unscathed, either, but has the opportunity of making a relatively clean break. That depends on who the party on Oct. 18 picks to replace outgoing KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫). What is certain is that, with the dust settling