Want China Times, CNA 2014-05-10
The European Union expressed disappointment over Taiwan's execution of five death row inmates in late April and called for an immediate moratorium on executions.
A man stands in a prison cell. (Photo/Li An-pang) |
The European Union expressed disappointment over Taiwan's execution of five death row inmates in late April and called for an immediate moratorium on executions.
The
European Union's stance against the death penalty is consistent and has never
changed, the European Economic and Trade Office in Taipei said Friday.
The
European Union opposes capital punishment under all circumstances and calls for
its universal abolition, the head of the office, Frederic Laplanche, said in
Chinese in response to questions raised by reporters during a break in Europe
Day celebrations in Taipei.
The death
penalty "is inappropriate and may make irreversible mistakes due to
misjudging," he said, adding that the EU hopes to cooperate with every
other nation to promote "a more enlightened path."
In 2013,
only 22 countries around the world still practiced capital punishment,
according to Laplanche. "It is not a majority phenomenon anymore," he
added.
"It is
a matter of cooperation not confrontation," Laplanche said. "We would
like to cooperate, move forward and make progress together."
Catherine
Ashton, the high representative of the European Union for foreign affairs and
security policy, said in a statement, "I recognize the sufferings of the
victims of the crimes involved, and express my sincere sympathy to their
families. However, capital punishment can never be justified."
The five
inmates put to death on April 29 were found guilty of a total of 11 murders,
deputy justice minister Chen Ming-tang said in an announcement following the
executions.
Chen has
maintained Taiwan's stance on keeping the death penalty but reducing its
frequency of use, citing the Ministry of Justice's efforts to review the law on
the matter.
The number
of death row inmates in Taiwan now stands at 47 after the executions, including
two whose cases are being retried. The last time Taiwan executed convicts was
on April 19, 2013, when six inmates were put to death.
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