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Murder of child fuels death penalty debate in Taiwan

Executing criminals is not the answer, says Holy See representative
Murder of child fuels death penalty debate in Taiwan

Convicted murderer Tsao Tien-so is escorted by policemen at a detention center before his execution in New Taipei City on June 5. The death penalty is again being debated in Taiwan following the murder of a 4-year-old child in Taipei March 28. (Photo by AFP)

Published: April 01, 2016 10:03 AM GMT
Updated: April 01, 2016 10:21 AM GMT

The apparent random beheading of a 4-year-old girl in Taipei by a stranger has reignited the debate over Taiwan's use of the death penalty.

The young girl nicknamed "Little Light Bulb" was with her mother Claire Wang who was cycling toward a metro station March 28 when a 33-year-old unemployed man attacked her with a meat cleaver.

The suspect, Wang Ching-yu, has been taken into custody; police say he has a history of drug abuse and mental illness.

The attack and widespread public outrage reignited the death penalty debate in Taiwan, which has executed 32 criminals since 2010.

Much of the discussion has occurred online with many netizens endorsing the country's use of the death penalty.

A digital image that included the words: "Support the death sentence for use against killers who murder kids," received more than 230,000 shares on Facebook in less than 24 hours. A Facebook page dedicated to the same theme received more than 240,000 "likes" within a similar time period.

Many Taiwanese netizens also have accused death penalty opponents of ignoring the security and safety of Taiwanese society.

The Facebook page Taiwan Alliance to End the Death Penalty has been inundated by messages from death sentence supporters upset over the child's horrific murder.

The group even came under fire from a Kuomintang lawmaker, Yan Kuanheng, who posted on Facebook: "Taiwan Alliance to End the Death Penalty don't cover up for all death penalty prisoners, especially child murderers!"

The group's chief executive Lin Hsinyi responded to death penalty supporters on Facebook.

"I know everyone is sad and angry. But simply shouting at death penalty opponents cannot solve the real problem," wrote Lin.

David Chiu, a Catholic in Taipei and death penalty opponent, said supporters of capital punishment are reacting emotionally.

"People are now using the death penalty debate as a way to express their emotions," Chiu told ucanews.com.

The outgoing Holy See representative in Taiwan, Msgr. Paul Russell, said he regretted that he was not able to influence an anti-death penalty movement during his term in office, which began in 2008.

"We have not succeeded in building a greater consensus for the abolishment of the death penalty," Msgr. Russell said March 30.

"People will continue to commit very terrible crimes. We saw it couple of days ago at the MRT in Taipei," he said. "But executing criminals is not the answer. Pope Francis is very clear on this point."

As part of the Year of Mercy, Pope Francis in February called for a global moratorium on the use of the death penalty.

Claire Wang, the mother of the young victim said on her Facebook account that she does not want people to use her daughter's death to argue over the death penalty.

"For me, it just my beloved one gone accidentally. I really want to peacefully manage the things left behind," Wang wrote.

Talking to media, Wang also cautioned against using her daughter's murder as fuel for political arguments, AFP reported.

Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwan's president-elect, has said that if the death penalty is to be abolished there needs to be a public consensus on the issue and a well-thought-out and implemented policy. Taiwan had a moratorium on the death penalty from 2006 to 2010.

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