Vice Minister of Justice Lee Chin-yung (
Lee said that under the ministry's preliminary plan, prisoners on death row could have their sentences commuted to life sentences, criminals with life sentences could have their sentences reduced to 20 years, while prisoners with fixed sentences could have their terms reduced by half.
But many of the larger sentence reductions might never be used, as Lee said that criminals convicted of heinous crimes or large financial crimes would not be eligible. The amnesty would only apply to people who have already completed at least half their sentence.
Lee's announcement comes in response to an order issued by President Chen Shui-bian (
Chen said that he had issued the order because this year is the 20th anniversary of the lifting of martial law and the 60th anniversary of the 228 Incident, and he had made his decision in the spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation.
"Aside from those who endanger national security, seriously endanger social justice or have committed very serious crimes, those who have committed minor crimes deserve a chance to correct their wrongs and make a fresh start," he said.
Chen made the remarks while receiving former archbishop Desmond Tutu and his wife at the Presidential Office yesterday.
The proposal had drawn criticism from some lawmakers, who had said Chen was planning to pardon people related to the "state affairs fund" case or his son-in-law, Chao Chien-ming (
Others had worried the law might also be grounds for pardoning former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairman Ma Ying-jeou, who is standing trial on corruption charges.
However Lee said the proposal would be a comprehensive one, meaning sentences would not be changed on a case-by-case basis. He said that the people involved in those "sensitive political cases" would not be eligible for reduced sentences because the court proceedings are still ongoing.
He also said prisoners who had committed crimes added to the Criminal Code after 1991 would also not qualify for a reduced sentence.
Once the Executive Yuan approves the ministry's proposal, it will proceed to the Legislative Yuan for review, Chen said.
The last time the country saw a large-scale presidential pardon was 16 years ago under former president Lee Teng-hui (
Meanwhile, Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平), who had earlier given Chen his support for the plan, reaffirmed the the amnesty idea yesterday.
"It is workable as long as supplementary measures are introduced into the plan so that it can be implemented without affecting feelings of the citizenry," Wang said.
Wang said more than 70,000 people were sent to prisons on account of debts, disputes or tax evasion, which led to a jails being overcrowded.
"If their sentences were reduced by one-third or half, their discharge from prisons can not only resolve the overpopulation problem but also their family issues," Wang said.
He added that the discharged people can also increase labor productivity.
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