an anti-death penalty delegation lauded Taiwan...

an anti-death penalty delegation lauded Taiwan for suspending the execution of death row inmates over the past two years and urged the country to abolish the law soon. The international delegation praised Taiwan for having the courage to put executions on hold, while blasting Taiwan's neighbours, Japan and China, for not doing the same. The delegation, which consisted of members of the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty (WCADP) , the Anti-Death Penalty Asian Network and Amnesty International, said that the organisations fully support Taiwan's efforts to scrap the death penalty. The delegation made the remarks during a meeting with Judicial Yuan President Lai In-jaw.
The members of the delegation said they very much looked forward to seeing Taiwan abolish the death penalty soon and serve as a model for other countries that retain capital punishment on their law books. Prior to full abolition, Taiwan should formally adopt a moratorium on carrying out the death penalty, the group suggested, adding that it hoped Taiwan's legislature will repeal the capital punishment law. They further urged that the legislature soon ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Thomas H. Speedy Rice, one of the members of the delegation and a WCADP commissioner, said judges should express their ideas on human rights in court judgments in an effort to educate the public.