Taiwan’s use of capital punishment is in accordance with ROC law, while rigorous judicial examinations are conducted before carrying out executions, Deputy Minister of Justice Chen Shou-huang said May 13.
Chen was responding to the Amnesty International global human rights report for 2011, in which the organization again criticizes Taiwan for resuming executions, stating that this represents a step backward for human rights in the country.
The deputy minister pointed out that nearly 80 percent of the Taiwan people support capital punishment. “Although scrapping the death penalty is a long-term goal of the government, a consensus must first be achieved before this can be carried out,” he said.
The Ministry of Justice deals with capital punishment cases carefully, and the legal system provides many guarantees, including an exhaustive appeals process, to ensure that defendants’ rights are upheld, Chen explained.
Meanwhile, Government Information Office Minister Philip Yang said as there is still no consensus in Taiwan on abolishing the death penalty, the government will continue to encourage discussions and communication on the issue. (SB)