Fri, Mar 12, 2010 - Page 1 News List

Wang resigns over death penalty row

LIFE OR DEATH The minister of justice’s surprise move came late last night after the Presidential Office failed to back her refusal to enforce the executions of 44 inmates

By Ko Shu-ling,Vincent Y. Chao And Shih Hsiu-chuan  /  STAFF REPORTER

“No nation in the world has ever replaced a justice minister because they believed the death penalty should be abolished,” she said, adding that if Taiwan did so, it would become “an international laughingstock.”

The Ministry of Justice has not approved an execution since December 2005.

The Executive Yuan had been ambiguous during the day, at first saying that capital punishment was a complex issue that the public should discuss and reach a consensus on. Later in the afternoon, however, the premier said Wang should sign off on the death penalties if the verdicts were not controversial and the inmates had exhausted their rights to an appeal.

Also See: Public divided on capital punishment

This story has been viewed 2416 times.
TOP top