TAIWAN: JUSTICE MINISTER RESIGNS OVER DEATH PENALTY
Taiwan's justice minister resigned after failing to win support for her opposition
Taiwan's justice minister resigned after failing to win support for her opposition to the death penalty.
Wang Ching-feng had said she would not give the go-ahead for any executions.
She added she would gladly die instead of any of the 44 inmates on death row, if only they got a chance to rehabilitate themselves.
Wang's resignation has been approved by President Ma Ying-jeou and Premier Wu Den-yih.
Ms Wang's comments were criticised by President Ma Ying-jeou, by her own Kuomintang party and by victims of violent crime.
An opinion poll compiled after her remarks suggested three-quarters of the Taiwanese public supported capital punishment.
"I would rather step down than sign any death warrant," she said.
"If these convicts can have an opportunity to rehabilitate themselves, I would be very happy to be executed or even go to hell in their stead."
Wang Ching-feng had said she would not give the go-ahead for any executions.
She added she would gladly die instead of any of the 44 inmates on death row, if only they got a chance to rehabilitate themselves.
Wang's resignation has been approved by President Ma Ying-jeou and Premier Wu Den-yih.
Ms Wang's comments were criticised by President Ma Ying-jeou, by her own Kuomintang party and by victims of violent crime.
An opinion poll compiled after her remarks suggested three-quarters of the Taiwanese public supported capital punishment.
"I would rather step down than sign any death warrant," she said.
"If these convicts can have an opportunity to rehabilitate themselves, I would be very happy to be executed or even go to hell in their stead."
— SOURCES
- (Sources: BBC, Chinapost, 12/03/2010)