Newly-appointed "Justice Minister" Tseng Yung-fu, who entered office Monday under pressure to address a recent controversy over the death penalty, said enforcing capital punishment would not violate United Nations human rights conventions.

Former "Justice Minister" Wang Ching-feng was forced to resign on March 11, after her insistence on not signing off on the executions of 44 inmates currently on death row sparked outrage from victims' families and some legislators.

The furor died down while "acting minister" Huang Shih-ming temporarily held the post, but public pressure remained to name a new "justice minister" who would be willing to see the executions through, even if no execution of a death penalty inmate has been carried out since late 2005.

Asked if carrying out the death penalty would not violate the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which Taiwan has signed into law, Tseng said the covenant only hopes that signatories reduce the use of capital punishment.

That has happened in Taiwan, Tseng said, citing the reduction in the number of death sentences meted out and the elimination of laws in which the death penalty is the only punishment option.

"Carrying out a death penalty cannot be considered as violating the treaties," Tseng said.

China Daily/CNA

(HK Edition 03/23/2010 page4)