Teacher Wang, Po-Chi was interviewed by PTV News: The first verbal debate on the existence and abolition of the death penalty. CHEN Chien-jen: Respect the Judiciary Yuan’s ruling.
Release time: 2024-04-22 19:31 Update time: 2024-04-22 20:31
CHEN,KUAN-HSUN , CHANG,TZU-CHIA / Comprehensive Report
Thirty-seven death row inmates across Taiwan claim that the death penalty is unconstitutional and are petitioning for an interpretation of the constitution. The issue of the existence and abolition of the death penalty, which has been debated for many years, will be held at the Constitutional Court tomorrow (23rd) for an oral debate. The Ministry of Justice stated that more than 80% of public opinion opposes the abolition of death penalty and advocates that the death penalty is constitutional, while some civil society groups have different opinions. Whether the death penalty should be abolished or not has also triggered attacks and defenses among political parties. The blue camp emphasized that the Constitutional Court should not expand its powers to replace legislative power. Executive Yuan Premier CHEN Chien-jen responded that he respects the outcome of the Judiciary Yuan’s constitutional interpretation case.
Dissatisfied with his friends’ unwillingness to support him, PENG,CHIEN-YUAN burned down the KTV and took five lives. He was sentenced to death.
HUANG,LIN-KAI, who was still serving in the army, was dissatisfied with being pressed for debts by his girlfriend after breaking up, so he strangled her to death with a scout rope and was sentenced to death.
As for WANG,HSIN-FU, who has received repeated support from civil society and was accused of killing a police officer, he is already the oldest death row inmate in Taiwan.
The rescue list also includes CHIU,HAN-SHUN, who was convicted of kidnapping the boy LU,CHENG and killing his body. He has been in prison for more than 30 years and is the longest-term death row inmate in Taiwan.
LU,CHENG’s father pointed out, “This is the biggest pain in my life. If you don’t execute (the death penalty), you are torturing me. Punish us good people and save the bad people. What kind of government is this?”
There are currently 37 death row inmates in Taiwan who have not been executed by firing squad. The last time was four years ago, when Weng Ren-hsien was executed by firing squad for committing arson and burning his relatives to death. Now, the issue of whether the death penalty should be maintained or abolished will be debated in the Constitutional Court for the first time.
The Ministry of Justice has stated that the death penalty is constitutional, but groups such as the Taiwan Alliance to End the Death Penalty and the Association for the Judicial Reform Foundation hold the opposite view. This time, the issues range from whether it is constitutional, whether to limit the death penalty to the types of crimes it applies to.
LU,CHENG-YEN, director of the Legal Policy Department of the Judicial Reform Foundation, said, “The deterrent or crime prevention effect of the death penalty is actually not as good as everyone thinks. This time he used it as a serious debate topic, which actually has a negative impact on social dialogue within the system.” , it should be helpful.”
In the face of the abolition of the death penalty, in addition to the conflicting opinions between the pros and cons of society, it is also a difficult problem for successive heads of state. President Tsai Ing-wen said in her New Year’s Day speech this year (2024) that Taiwan has not abolished the death penalty, and all prisoners on death row are interpreting the constitutional law. program.
Executive Yuan Premier CHEN Chien-jen pointed out, “Under the constitutional system, we should give the highest respect to the decisions made by the Judicial Yuan.”
Kuomintang legislator WU,TSUNG-HSIEN believes that “the United States, Japan, and South Korea all still have the death penalty, but no one would say that they are non-human rights countries. I don’t think everyone would say that, but everyone most often attacks Russia, which has human rights problems. But there is no death penalty.”
The Ministry of Justice commissioned a private survey on the abolition of the death penalty many years ago. At that time, 76% of the people surveyed did not support the abolition of the death penalty. The latest statement emphasized that more than 80% of public opinion opposes the abolition of the death penalty.
Some scholars have reminded that no matter whether death is abolished in the future, there must be complete supporting facilities.
Wang, Po-Chi, An associate professor in the Department of Criminal Justice of Ming Chuan University, pointed out, “Assuming that the death penalty may be abolished in the future, what will be the follow-up supporting measures, such as the subsequent treatment measures for death row prisoners?”
WU,CHING-CHIN, a professor at the Department of Law at Aletheia University, said, “If the death penalty is not abolished, how can we prevent miscarriage of justice? This is difficult to right. It means that we should try to be more precise in our procedures.”
A life-and-death debate on whether to retain or abolish the death penalty will be held on the 23rd. In principle, a verdict must be made within three months of the conclusion of the debate. If necessary, it may be extended by two months. The outcome is highly anticipated.