TAIWAN. MORATORIUM ON DEATH PENALTY RECOMMENDED

before complete and unconditional abolition of the death penalty is enshrined in the law, the government of Taiwan could consider suspending the use of the death penalty as an interim measure, said Nicholas Howen, secretary-general of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ).
"The government can take immediate steps towards abolition of the death penalty, such as reducing the number of crimes with the death penalty," Howen added. Howen was in Taipei to assess progress toward the enactment of the draft human rights act, which was currently under review by the Executive Yuan. During his visit, he met with Hsieh, Yeh Chun-jung, the chairman of the Cabinet's Research, Development and Evaluation Commission and the Judicial Reform Foundation. When Howen proposed declaring a moratorium on the death penalty to Hsieh, Howen said that the premier expressed concern over how it might be done.