January 8 

Taiwan Abolishes Death Penalty Law

TAIPEI, Taiwan  - Taiwan's legislature on Tuesday abolished a law that required the death penalty for kidnapping, gang robbery and other violent crimes.

 The Justice Ministry hailed the law's abolishment as a crucial step that might lead to the scrapping of capital punishment in the next three years.

 Although the death penalty is no longer compulsory for the violent crimes, judges can still sentence criminals to death if the court considers it fair punishment.

 Under a law passed in 1944, the death penalty was given to convicted kidnappers or robbers who also murdered, raped or seriously injured their victims. Those who organized gang robberies were also sentenced to death.

 In the past 10 years, 176 Taiwanese were executed under the law, including 39 convicted kidnappers.

 The Justice Ministry said in a statement that the figure indicated that ``we failed to deter crime even by imposing the severest criminal punishment.'

LOS ANGELES TIMES

Taiwan Abolishes Death Penalty Law

By Associated Press

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Taiwan's legislature on Tuesday abolished a law that required the death penalty for kidnapping, gang robbery and other violent crimes.

The Justice Ministry hailed the law's abolishment as a crucial step that might lead to the scrapping of capital punishment in the next three years.

 Although the death penalty is no longer compulsory for the violent crimes, judges can still sentence criminals to death if the court considers it fair punishment.

 Under a law passed in 1944, the death penalty was given to convicted kidnappers or robbers who also murdered, raped or seriously injured their victims. Those who organized gang robberies were also sentenced to death.

 In the past 10 years, 176 Taiwanese were executed under the law, including 39 convicted kidnappers.

The Justice Ministry said in a statement that the figure indicated that "we failed to deter crime even by imposing the severest criminal punishment."