By Cui Xiaohuo (China Daily)
From: China Daily, 6 November 2009
Beijing's first permanent lethal injection facility has been completed, ahead of plans to abolish execution by firing squad for criminals next year.
The new facility is within the Beijing No 1 Detention Center in Chaoyang district, the Beijing Youth Daily reported yesterday, quoting sources from three intermediate courts. Court personnel responsible for executions have recently received training in operation of the beds, injection pumps and other equipment.
Beijing's justice authority did not provide details about the new facility yesterday, and it is unknown how many execution beds the facility has prepared.
Most criminal executions this year were carried out by a firing squad at various sites in suburban Beijing, the justice authority said. Condemned prisoners are blindfolded and turned away from court marshals.
A small number received a lethal injection.
Experts familiar with execution methods said the reform had taken years to implement.
"This is no longer the time for public executions," said Qu Xinjiu, a criminal law professor at the China University of Politics and Law.
"The harshness of the execution is not necessary to horrify the public and torture the criminals, who also deserve decent deaths," said Zhao Bingzhi, secretary-general of the China Law Science Society Criminal Law Research Institute.
Zheng Xiaoyu, executed on July 10, 2007, was the last senior official to die from lethal injection. He was convicted of corruption during his tenure as director of the State Food and Drug Administration.
Zhao said lethal injection for corrupt officials was not an act of mercy for those in power.
"The officials who received lethal injections were known because of media reports. But the practice is not restricted to officials only, the other cases just went unreported," said Zhao.
It costs the Beijing government about 700 yuan ($103) to carry out one execution by firing squad. Lethal injection is expected to cost more money because of the technology involved.
Media reported in June that courts will likely use sodium thiopental, a rapid anaesthetic, as a component of the injection. The process takes about one minute.
The US also use this drug for condemned prisoners.
Lethal injection practices have been gradually put into operation since 1997 in 15 provinces and municipalities around China.
Justice authorities in Beijing have been reluctant to use the practice widely.
The Beijing government does not release the number of executed criminals each year.
(China Daily 11/06/2009 page26)
Showing posts with label method of execution. Show all posts
Showing posts with label method of execution. Show all posts
Saturday, 7 November 2009
Monday, 31 August 2009
China: Lethal injection spreads in north-east
More NE Chinese cities to adopt lethal injection
From Xinhua, 24 August 2009
SHENYANG, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- All 14 cities in northeast China's Liaoning Province are expected to have adopted the lethal injection as the means of execution by the end of the year, putting an end to shooting, the provincial higher people's court announced Monday.
Liaoning had 10 cities that used lethal injection by the end of last year and another four cities would follow this year, said Zuo Lianbi, vice president of the Higher People's Court of Liaoning, at a press conference.
Zuo also called on courts of the four cities to prepare venues and train staff for the injection, which would be less painful for convicted criminals and preserve their physical integrity.
Lethal injection was first used in Liaoning in 2001 to execute two convicted murderers in Shenyang, the regional capital.
Shooting was the only means of execution in China under the Criminal Law that took effect in 1979, but the revised 1996 version of the Code of Criminal Procedure stipulated that lethal injection was also allowed.
The first lethal injection in the country was conducted in Kunming, capital of Yunnan Province, in southwest China, on March 28, 1997.
In 2001, the Supreme Court of China called on courts at all levels to gradually adopt lethal injection for people given death sentences.
Related stories:
More lethal injections for Chinese province -- 19 February 2009
AI condemns China's expanded lethal injection -- 5 January 2008
China: Another province takes up the needle -- 20 June 2006
From Xinhua, 24 August 2009
SHENYANG, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- All 14 cities in northeast China's Liaoning Province are expected to have adopted the lethal injection as the means of execution by the end of the year, putting an end to shooting, the provincial higher people's court announced Monday.
Liaoning had 10 cities that used lethal injection by the end of last year and another four cities would follow this year, said Zuo Lianbi, vice president of the Higher People's Court of Liaoning, at a press conference.
Zuo also called on courts of the four cities to prepare venues and train staff for the injection, which would be less painful for convicted criminals and preserve their physical integrity.
Lethal injection was first used in Liaoning in 2001 to execute two convicted murderers in Shenyang, the regional capital.
Shooting was the only means of execution in China under the Criminal Law that took effect in 1979, but the revised 1996 version of the Code of Criminal Procedure stipulated that lethal injection was also allowed.
The first lethal injection in the country was conducted in Kunming, capital of Yunnan Province, in southwest China, on March 28, 1997.
In 2001, the Supreme Court of China called on courts at all levels to gradually adopt lethal injection for people given death sentences.
Related stories:
More lethal injections for Chinese province -- 19 February 2009
AI condemns China's expanded lethal injection -- 5 January 2008
China: Another province takes up the needle -- 20 June 2006
Wednesday, 8 July 2009
Top Indian court upholds hangings
From BBC News
India's Supreme Court has rejected a petition to replace hanging with lethal injection as the country's sole method of execution.
The court said there was no evidence to suggest that hanging was less painful.
Activist Ashok Kumar Walia had argued that hanging was a "cruel and painful" method of execution and should be replaced by lethal injection.
Indian authorities say the death penalty is rarely carried out and is usually reserved for serious cases.
There has been just one execution - in 2004 - in India in the past 10 years.
"How do you know that hanging causes pain? And how do you know that injecting the condemned prisoner with a lethal drug would not cause pain?" Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan was quoted by the Times of India newspaper as saying.
Justice Balakrishnan and Justice P Sathasivam said that experts believe that hanging - meant to dislocate the neck and sever the spinal cord - caused instant death.
"Many countries, still practising death penalty, have various methods of execution - death squad which guns down a condemned prisoner from close range, hanging by the neck, electric chair and by injecting a lethal drug.
"In India, we have a very, very liberal sentencing system based on a humane law. The courts in the rarest of the rare cases award death sentence," the newspaper quoted the judges as saying.
Only in the most horrific or politically sensitive cases is the death penalty awarded.
The court suggested that Mr Walia should campaign for the outright abolition of capital punishment in India.
A 1983 ruling by the Supreme Court stated that the death penalty should be imposed only in "the rarest of rare cases".
Page last updated at 12:29 GMT, Tuesday, 7 July 2009 13:29 UK
Related stories:
India: "Abusive lottery must be abolished" -- 30 May 2008
India's Supreme Court has rejected a petition to replace hanging with lethal injection as the country's sole method of execution.
The court said there was no evidence to suggest that hanging was less painful.
Activist Ashok Kumar Walia had argued that hanging was a "cruel and painful" method of execution and should be replaced by lethal injection.
Indian authorities say the death penalty is rarely carried out and is usually reserved for serious cases.
There has been just one execution - in 2004 - in India in the past 10 years.
"How do you know that hanging causes pain? And how do you know that injecting the condemned prisoner with a lethal drug would not cause pain?" Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan was quoted by the Times of India newspaper as saying.
Justice Balakrishnan and Justice P Sathasivam said that experts believe that hanging - meant to dislocate the neck and sever the spinal cord - caused instant death.
"Many countries, still practising death penalty, have various methods of execution - death squad which guns down a condemned prisoner from close range, hanging by the neck, electric chair and by injecting a lethal drug.
"In India, we have a very, very liberal sentencing system based on a humane law. The courts in the rarest of the rare cases award death sentence," the newspaper quoted the judges as saying.
Only in the most horrific or politically sensitive cases is the death penalty awarded.
The court suggested that Mr Walia should campaign for the outright abolition of capital punishment in India.
A 1983 ruling by the Supreme Court stated that the death penalty should be imposed only in "the rarest of rare cases".
Page last updated at 12:29 GMT, Tuesday, 7 July 2009 13:29 UK
Related stories:
India: "Abusive lottery must be abolished" -- 30 May 2008
Papua New Guinea: 'Waiting for' execution guidelines
By PNG correspondent Liam Fox
From ABC Australia
Papua New Guinea's attorney-general says he is waiting for guidelines to be drawn up to allow the enforcement of the death penalty.
PNG's criminal code allows for people to be sentenced to death by hanging but the penalty has never been carried out.
There have been several high-profile murders recently and in parliament today attorney-general Alan Marat was asked why the penalty has never been enforced.
He says there are no regulations governing how an execution would be conducted and he is waiting for his department to draw them up.
"I want to take that regulation to cabinet for endorsement but it's just not ready, but as soon as it's ready maybe we start implementing," he said.
Dr Marat says his department is also looking at whether executions could be carried out by lethal injection.
Related stories:
Papua New Guinea: Ending its isolation? -- 26 April 2006
From ABC Australia
Papua New Guinea's attorney-general says he is waiting for guidelines to be drawn up to allow the enforcement of the death penalty.
PNG's criminal code allows for people to be sentenced to death by hanging but the penalty has never been carried out.
There have been several high-profile murders recently and in parliament today attorney-general Alan Marat was asked why the penalty has never been enforced.
He says there are no regulations governing how an execution would be conducted and he is waiting for his department to draw them up.
"I want to take that regulation to cabinet for endorsement but it's just not ready, but as soon as it's ready maybe we start implementing," he said.
Dr Marat says his department is also looking at whether executions could be carried out by lethal injection.
Related stories:
Papua New Guinea: Ending its isolation? -- 26 April 2006
Thursday, 19 February 2009
More lethal injections for Chinese province
Another province in China will replace firing squads with lethal injection as its method of execution.
Official newsagency Xinhua reported the chief justice of Liaoning province in northeast China last Saturday announced the end of execution by shooting (14 February).
Lethal injection was first used in Liaoning in November 2001, but shooting was still used to carry out death sentences in six of the province's 14 cities, said Wang Zhenhua, president of the Liaoning Provincial Higher People's court.
"Lethal injection reduces the pain and fear of the condemned. It is a more humane way for them to die," said Mou Ruijin, associate professor of the Law School of Northeast University.
According to Xinhua, "officials from the Liaoning Provincial Higher People's Court said lethal injection was more acceptable for convicts and their family members".
In June 2006 Zhejiang province in eastern China announced it would carry out all executions by lethal injection from 1 September that year.
A senior official of the Supreme People's Court (SPC) said in January 2008 that lethal injection would eventually replace shooting in all executions ordered by intermediate courts.
SPC vice-president Jiang Xingchang said at the time that half of the country's 404 intermediate people's courts, which carried out most executions, currently used lethal injections.
"It is considered more humane and will eventually be used in all intermediate people's courts," Jiang told China Daily.
He said the SPC would assist local courts by distributing the toxin used in lethal injections.
Yunnan province in southwest China was the first to move exclusively to lethal injection in 2003.
According to Xinhua, the first lethal injection in China was carried out in Kunming on March 28, 1997.
Human rights campaigners have long rejected claims that lethal injection was "more humane" than other forms of execution, arguing the scientific evidence showed it could actually cause convulsions and a prolonged and painful death.
Related stories:
AI condemns China's expanded lethal injection -- 5 January 2008
Minister wants ‘tranquil’ killing: Japan -- 29 October 2007
Indonesia considers lethal injection -- 19 March 2007
China: Another province takes up the needle -- 20 June 2006
Official newsagency Xinhua reported the chief justice of Liaoning province in northeast China last Saturday announced the end of execution by shooting (14 February).
Lethal injection was first used in Liaoning in November 2001, but shooting was still used to carry out death sentences in six of the province's 14 cities, said Wang Zhenhua, president of the Liaoning Provincial Higher People's court.
"Lethal injection reduces the pain and fear of the condemned. It is a more humane way for them to die," said Mou Ruijin, associate professor of the Law School of Northeast University.
According to Xinhua, "officials from the Liaoning Provincial Higher People's Court said lethal injection was more acceptable for convicts and their family members".
In June 2006 Zhejiang province in eastern China announced it would carry out all executions by lethal injection from 1 September that year.
A senior official of the Supreme People's Court (SPC) said in January 2008 that lethal injection would eventually replace shooting in all executions ordered by intermediate courts.
SPC vice-president Jiang Xingchang said at the time that half of the country's 404 intermediate people's courts, which carried out most executions, currently used lethal injections.
"It is considered more humane and will eventually be used in all intermediate people's courts," Jiang told China Daily.
He said the SPC would assist local courts by distributing the toxin used in lethal injections.
Yunnan province in southwest China was the first to move exclusively to lethal injection in 2003.
According to Xinhua, the first lethal injection in China was carried out in Kunming on March 28, 1997.
Human rights campaigners have long rejected claims that lethal injection was "more humane" than other forms of execution, arguing the scientific evidence showed it could actually cause convulsions and a prolonged and painful death.
Related stories:
AI condemns China's expanded lethal injection -- 5 January 2008
Minister wants ‘tranquil’ killing: Japan -- 29 October 2007
Indonesia considers lethal injection -- 19 March 2007
China: Another province takes up the needle -- 20 June 2006
Wednesday, 22 October 2008
Indonesia: 'Firing squad not torture'
A constitutional challenge to Indonesia's method of execution has failed, with a court ruling the pain of execution by firing squad did not amount to torture.
Lawyers for the three men sentenced to death for the October 2002 Bali bombing argued death by shooting violated the constitution's ban on torture.
But the Constitutional Court yesterday rejected the application to have the executions carried out by another method.
"There is no method of execution without pain," presiding judge Mohammad Mahfud said, according to newsagency AAP.
"The feeling of pain suffered by those convicted of the death penalty is the logical consequence attached to the process of death," The Age reported he said.
Other methods of execution such as beheading, electrocution or lethal injection carried "the risk of inaccuracy in the execution which, in the end, will create pain", but this did not amount to torture under the constitution.
Executions can proceed
The attorney general's office claimed in August that the constitutional challenge was no impediment to the executions being carried out.
But yesterday's decision means the government can have the men shot without claims the legal process had not run its course.
A spokesman for the attorney general said last week the government would announce plans for the executions on Friday (24 October).
Torture claim
Amrozi bin Nurhasyim, Ali Ghufron (also known as Mukhlas) and Imam Samudra asked the court to rule the firing squad unconstitutional, instead requesting a method such as lethal injection or beheading, which they have claimed in the past was more "Islamic".
They argued a delay between the shots by a firing squad and their deaths would constitute torture.
Surgeon Jose Rizal told the constitutional court in September that aiming at the heart may not be accurate.
"An accurate shot causes instant death, but it if misses, it takes time to die," he said.
Catholic priest Charlie Burrows told the court he witnessed the execution of two Nigerian drug traffickers in June 2008, when the men took seven minutes to die after they were shot.
"They were moaning again and again for seven minutes," he told said in court. "I think it is cruel, the torture."
Defence lawyer Wirwan Adnan yesterday claimed the court's 76 page decision recommended the government consider other execution methods that could ensure a fast death.
Related stories:
Bali bombers: One week to live? - 13 October 2008
Uncertain when Islamist bombers will die -- 25 August 2008
Bali executions will inspire martyrs: expert -- 25 February 2008
Bali bombers may soon get their wish -- 10 November 2007
Bali: Execution closer for bombing leaders -- 09 October 2007
Bali bombers lodge appeals -- 08 December 2006
Execution delay for Bali bombers -- 21 August 2006
Bali bombers closer to execution -- 11 April 2006
Lawyers for the three men sentenced to death for the October 2002 Bali bombing argued death by shooting violated the constitution's ban on torture.
But the Constitutional Court yesterday rejected the application to have the executions carried out by another method.
"There is no method of execution without pain," presiding judge Mohammad Mahfud said, according to newsagency AAP.
"The feeling of pain suffered by those convicted of the death penalty is the logical consequence attached to the process of death," The Age reported he said.
Other methods of execution such as beheading, electrocution or lethal injection carried "the risk of inaccuracy in the execution which, in the end, will create pain", but this did not amount to torture under the constitution.
Executions can proceed
The attorney general's office claimed in August that the constitutional challenge was no impediment to the executions being carried out.
But yesterday's decision means the government can have the men shot without claims the legal process had not run its course.
A spokesman for the attorney general said last week the government would announce plans for the executions on Friday (24 October).
Torture claim
Amrozi bin Nurhasyim, Ali Ghufron (also known as Mukhlas) and Imam Samudra asked the court to rule the firing squad unconstitutional, instead requesting a method such as lethal injection or beheading, which they have claimed in the past was more "Islamic".
They argued a delay between the shots by a firing squad and their deaths would constitute torture.
Surgeon Jose Rizal told the constitutional court in September that aiming at the heart may not be accurate.
"An accurate shot causes instant death, but it if misses, it takes time to die," he said.
Catholic priest Charlie Burrows told the court he witnessed the execution of two Nigerian drug traffickers in June 2008, when the men took seven minutes to die after they were shot.
"They were moaning again and again for seven minutes," he told said in court. "I think it is cruel, the torture."
Defence lawyer Wirwan Adnan yesterday claimed the court's 76 page decision recommended the government consider other execution methods that could ensure a fast death.
Related stories:
Bali bombers: One week to live? - 13 October 2008
Uncertain when Islamist bombers will die -- 25 August 2008
Bali executions will inspire martyrs: expert -- 25 February 2008
Bali bombers may soon get their wish -- 10 November 2007
Bali: Execution closer for bombing leaders -- 09 October 2007
Bali bombers lodge appeals -- 08 December 2006
Execution delay for Bali bombers -- 21 August 2006
Bali bombers closer to execution -- 11 April 2006
Saturday, 5 January 2008
AI condemns China's expanded lethal injection
Amnesty International (AI) has "strongly condemned" this week's announcement that China was expanding the use of lethal injection, calling on the country instead to move towards abolishing the death penalty.
Jiang Xingchang, vice-president of the Supreme People's Court (SPC), told China Daily that lethal injection would eventually replace shooting in all executions ordered by intermediate courts.
"It is considered more humane and will eventually be used in all intermediate people's courts," Jiang said.
He said half of the country's 404 intermediate people's courts, which carry out most executions, currently use lethal injections.
Human rights organisations estimate China executes more people each year than the rest of the world combined.
Jiang told China Daily that the SPC would assist local courts by distributing the toxin used in lethal injections, rather than requiring court officials to come to Beijing to collect it.
"The SPC will help equip intermediate courts with all required facilities and train more professionals, particularly in the central and western regions," he said.
AI said rather than changing the method of injection, China should be abolishing undignified and inhumane state killings, particularly in the leadup to this year's Olympic Games.
Catherine Baber, Director of AI's Asia-Pacific programme, said: "This move goes against the spirit of the Olympic Charter for the Beijing Olympics, which places the preservation of human dignity at the heart of the Olympic movement.
"There is nothing dignified or humane in the state killing of individuals by whatever means."
The organisation also noted the announcement came only weeks after the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution calling for a worldwide moratorium on executions.
Arbitrary, inhumane
In its statement, AI challenged Jiang to explain how lethal injection was more humane as a method of execution than shooting.
"The extension of the lethal injection programme flies in the face of the clear international trend away from using the death penalty and ignores the problems inherent in this punishment," Baber said.
"Arbitrary application, miscarriages of justice including execution of the innocent, and the cruel and inhumane nature of the death penalty cannot be solved by changing the method of execution."
AI said the "particular concerns" involved with lethal injection included:
The organisation said it had welcomed the SPC's review of all death sentences passed in China, which came into effect in January 2007, saying the change was expected to result in a reduction in the number of executions.
But it condemned "the lack of transparency" in China which would make it "impossible to assess or verify any change in the number of executions being carried out".
Baber said: "The Chinese authorities must take concrete steps towards the abolition of death penalty.
"As a first step, China must make public the actual numbers of people executed and radically cut the number of capital offences.
"A positive legacy for the Beijing Olympics can only be achieved when China's world record of executions comes to an end."
Consider "ground realities"
In an interview with China Daily, Chief Justice Xiao Yang acknowledged the global trend towards limiting and abolishing the death penalty, and said "China is also working toward that direction".
But he stressed the goal could not be achieved overnight.
"We cannot talk about abolishing or controlling the use of death sentences in the abstract without considering ground realities and social security conditions," he said.
With the strong public belief in the "an eye for an eye and a life for a life", he said it was also unrealistic for China to abolish the death penalty in the short-term, even for non-violent criminals.
Related stories:
Party claims economic penalty 'prudent' -- 4 August, 2007
China: Courts claim fewer executions -- 31 July, 2007
China executes drug regulator -- 12 July, 2007
China call for cautious death penalty - again -- 8 April, 2007
China: Judges try to limit death penalty -- 14 November, 2006
China reforms good, but not enough -- 8 November, 2006
China: Supreme Court review from January -- 1 November, 2006
Political questions over China's new appeal judges -- 2 July, 2006
China to retain death penalty, with reforms -- 13 March 2006
Jiang Xingchang, vice-president of the Supreme People's Court (SPC), told China Daily that lethal injection would eventually replace shooting in all executions ordered by intermediate courts.
"It is considered more humane and will eventually be used in all intermediate people's courts," Jiang said.
He said half of the country's 404 intermediate people's courts, which carry out most executions, currently use lethal injections.
Human rights organisations estimate China executes more people each year than the rest of the world combined.
Jiang told China Daily that the SPC would assist local courts by distributing the toxin used in lethal injections, rather than requiring court officials to come to Beijing to collect it.
"The SPC will help equip intermediate courts with all required facilities and train more professionals, particularly in the central and western regions," he said.
AI said rather than changing the method of injection, China should be abolishing undignified and inhumane state killings, particularly in the leadup to this year's Olympic Games.
Catherine Baber, Director of AI's Asia-Pacific programme, said: "This move goes against the spirit of the Olympic Charter for the Beijing Olympics, which places the preservation of human dignity at the heart of the Olympic movement.
"There is nothing dignified or humane in the state killing of individuals by whatever means."
The organisation also noted the announcement came only weeks after the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution calling for a worldwide moratorium on executions.
Arbitrary, inhumane
In its statement, AI challenged Jiang to explain how lethal injection was more humane as a method of execution than shooting.
"The extension of the lethal injection programme flies in the face of the clear international trend away from using the death penalty and ignores the problems inherent in this punishment," Baber said.
"Arbitrary application, miscarriages of justice including execution of the innocent, and the cruel and inhumane nature of the death penalty cannot be solved by changing the method of execution."
AI said the "particular concerns" involved with lethal injection included:
- diverting attention from the suffering inherent in the death penalty by suggesting that death by lethal injection is humane. Evidence showed that it can cause convulsions and a prolonged and painful death.
- the potential to cause physical and mental suffering through botched implementation.
- the involvement of health personnel in executions. Virtually all codes of professional ethics that considered the death penalty opposed participation by medical or nursing personnel.
The organisation said it had welcomed the SPC's review of all death sentences passed in China, which came into effect in January 2007, saying the change was expected to result in a reduction in the number of executions.
But it condemned "the lack of transparency" in China which would make it "impossible to assess or verify any change in the number of executions being carried out".
Baber said: "The Chinese authorities must take concrete steps towards the abolition of death penalty.
"As a first step, China must make public the actual numbers of people executed and radically cut the number of capital offences.
"A positive legacy for the Beijing Olympics can only be achieved when China's world record of executions comes to an end."
Consider "ground realities"
In an interview with China Daily, Chief Justice Xiao Yang acknowledged the global trend towards limiting and abolishing the death penalty, and said "China is also working toward that direction".
But he stressed the goal could not be achieved overnight.
"We cannot talk about abolishing or controlling the use of death sentences in the abstract without considering ground realities and social security conditions," he said.
With the strong public belief in the "an eye for an eye and a life for a life", he said it was also unrealistic for China to abolish the death penalty in the short-term, even for non-violent criminals.
Related stories:
Party claims economic penalty 'prudent' -- 4 August, 2007
China: Courts claim fewer executions -- 31 July, 2007
China executes drug regulator -- 12 July, 2007
China call for cautious death penalty - again -- 8 April, 2007
China: Judges try to limit death penalty -- 14 November, 2006
China reforms good, but not enough -- 8 November, 2006
China: Supreme Court review from January -- 1 November, 2006
Political questions over China's new appeal judges -- 2 July, 2006
China to retain death penalty, with reforms -- 13 March 2006
Monday, 29 October 2007
Minister wants ‘tranquil’ killing: Japan
Japan's justice minister has speculated about introducing a "more peaceful" or "tranquil" method of execution.
Kunio Hatoyama did not say what a better alternative might be, but the remarks suggest he may be considering a change to lethal injection.
Japan currently executes prisoners by hanging.
"I am fully aware that 'death by hanging' is written in the criminal code," Hatoyama said on Wednesday after a parliamentary committee meeting, according to a Reuters report.
"A square part of the floor opens up and they fall with a thud.
"I honestly wonder if there isn't a more tranquil way of doing this."
Lethal injection is under seige in the United States, with states reviewing the method following a number of botched executions and legal challenges claiming it is an intensely cruel and extremely painful means of killing a prisoner.
In March, Indonesia's Attorney-General said the country might replace execution by firing squad with lethal injection.
An increasing number of provinces in China have moved to lethal injection and Viet Nam is reportedly considering the move.
"No one" wants to sign the order
Last month Hatoyama sparked controversy when he suggested prisoners should be hanged automatically after their sentences were finalised, without the justice minister having to sign the order.
"The law should be abided by," he told a media conference in late September. "But no one wants to put his signature on an execution order.
"I wonder if there is any way not to delegate the responsibility solely to the justice minister."
He said there should be an "automatic and objective" procedure for executing prisoners without the minister's involvement.
He later said he wanted to set up a study group to examine the country's system for ordering executions.
Related stories:
Japan: New minister will approve hangings -- 4 September, 2007
Japan executed mentally ill man -- 26 August, 2007
Japan: Lawyers condemn three more executions --24 August, 2007
Urgent move to stop executions in Japan -- 8 August, 2007
Long wait, sudden death in Japan -- 28 August, 2006
Kunio Hatoyama did not say what a better alternative might be, but the remarks suggest he may be considering a change to lethal injection.
Japan currently executes prisoners by hanging.
"I am fully aware that 'death by hanging' is written in the criminal code," Hatoyama said on Wednesday after a parliamentary committee meeting, according to a Reuters report.
"A square part of the floor opens up and they fall with a thud.
"I honestly wonder if there isn't a more tranquil way of doing this."
Lethal injection is under seige in the United States, with states reviewing the method following a number of botched executions and legal challenges claiming it is an intensely cruel and extremely painful means of killing a prisoner.
In March, Indonesia's Attorney-General said the country might replace execution by firing squad with lethal injection.
An increasing number of provinces in China have moved to lethal injection and Viet Nam is reportedly considering the move.
"No one" wants to sign the order
Last month Hatoyama sparked controversy when he suggested prisoners should be hanged automatically after their sentences were finalised, without the justice minister having to sign the order.
"The law should be abided by," he told a media conference in late September. "But no one wants to put his signature on an execution order.
"I wonder if there is any way not to delegate the responsibility solely to the justice minister."
He said there should be an "automatic and objective" procedure for executing prisoners without the minister's involvement.
He later said he wanted to set up a study group to examine the country's system for ordering executions.
Related stories:
Japan: New minister will approve hangings -- 4 September, 2007
Japan executed mentally ill man -- 26 August, 2007
Japan: Lawyers condemn three more executions --24 August, 2007
Urgent move to stop executions in Japan -- 8 August, 2007
Long wait, sudden death in Japan -- 28 August, 2006
Monday, 19 March 2007
Indonesia considers lethal injection
Indonesia may change its method of execution and move to limit appeals for death row convicts, according to Attorney-General Abdulrahman Saleh.
Mr Saleh made the remarks, reported by AAP, at a court hearing into whether convicted Australian drug trafficker Scott Rush could make a constitutional challenge to his death sentence.
He said the government had "held several meetings with [the] Indonesian doctors' association to use a new method, to request some changes in the law, by using injection".
"Like in the USA, now people are injected so they would get unconscious and then the second injections would be the deadly toxic injection.
"That would be more humane," he said, contrasting lethal injection with Indonesia's current method of carrying out executions by six-man firing squad.
His apparent confidence in the 'humane' use of lethal injection stands in contrast to the crisis of confidence in lethal injection in many parts of the USA, with several investigations underway following repeated botched executions and concerns that lethal injection may in fact mask extreme pain by first paralysing muscles.
Mr Saleh also said he wanted to amend laws that allowed prisoners to repeatedly seek clemency, claiming this could happen up to five times.
"I hope it won't happen again in the future ... I am going to regulate [to prevent] this," he said.
Related stories:
Indonesia's drug penalty 'appropriate' for syndicates -- 29 January, 2007
Firing squad for six of Bali Nine -- 11 September, 2006
Bali 9 death sentence confirmed -- 26 April, 2006
Mr Saleh made the remarks, reported by AAP, at a court hearing into whether convicted Australian drug trafficker Scott Rush could make a constitutional challenge to his death sentence.
He said the government had "held several meetings with [the] Indonesian doctors' association to use a new method, to request some changes in the law, by using injection".
"Like in the USA, now people are injected so they would get unconscious and then the second injections would be the deadly toxic injection.
"That would be more humane," he said, contrasting lethal injection with Indonesia's current method of carrying out executions by six-man firing squad.
His apparent confidence in the 'humane' use of lethal injection stands in contrast to the crisis of confidence in lethal injection in many parts of the USA, with several investigations underway following repeated botched executions and concerns that lethal injection may in fact mask extreme pain by first paralysing muscles.
Mr Saleh also said he wanted to amend laws that allowed prisoners to repeatedly seek clemency, claiming this could happen up to five times.
"I hope it won't happen again in the future ... I am going to regulate [to prevent] this," he said.
Related stories:
Indonesia's drug penalty 'appropriate' for syndicates -- 29 January, 2007
Firing squad for six of Bali Nine -- 11 September, 2006
Bali 9 death sentence confirmed -- 26 April, 2006
Tuesday, 20 June 2006
China: Another province takes up the needle
A number of countries in Asia are turning to lethal injection in the hope that it will provide a more efficient, politically palatable and less traumatic method of killing prisoners.
Recent reports in Viet Nam indicated the Police Ministry was in favour of a move to lethal injection (see the ADP report here).
In China, Yunnan Province reportedly pioneered the use of lethal injection following the 1996 amendments to the Criminal Procedure Law, and other provinces have since followed suit. Amnesty International has cited official press reports that Yunnan bought 18 buses in March 2003 and converted them to operate as mobile execution chambers.
Now China's Eastern Zhejiang province has embraced the trend, with the announcement that all executions will be carried out by lethal injection from 1 September this year.
The Zhejiang Provincial Supreme Court announced the change on 1 June, according to a report by the China Daily newspaper.
Lethal injection will replace the province's current use of firing squads.
China Daily reports that Supreme Court director Ying Yong said: "Execution by lethal injection demonstrates tremendous progress in China's criminal judgment proceedings and due to our solid efforts, Zhejing Province is capable of carrying out a death penalty of this kind."
"We won't be merciful with those who deserve the death penalty, but to those who haven't committed a grave crime, we won't carry out such a penalty," he said.
Recent reports in Viet Nam indicated the Police Ministry was in favour of a move to lethal injection (see the ADP report here).
In China, Yunnan Province reportedly pioneered the use of lethal injection following the 1996 amendments to the Criminal Procedure Law, and other provinces have since followed suit. Amnesty International has cited official press reports that Yunnan bought 18 buses in March 2003 and converted them to operate as mobile execution chambers.
Now China's Eastern Zhejiang province has embraced the trend, with the announcement that all executions will be carried out by lethal injection from 1 September this year.
The Zhejiang Provincial Supreme Court announced the change on 1 June, according to a report by the China Daily newspaper.
Lethal injection will replace the province's current use of firing squads.
China Daily reports that Supreme Court director Ying Yong said: "Execution by lethal injection demonstrates tremendous progress in China's criminal judgment proceedings and due to our solid efforts, Zhejing Province is capable of carrying out a death penalty of this kind."
"We won't be merciful with those who deserve the death penalty, but to those who haven't committed a grave crime, we won't carry out such a penalty," he said.
Sunday, 26 February 2006
Viet Nam easing the executioner's burden
In the last two years, the Vietnamese government has considered changing the method of execution from the current firing squad to either lethal injection or an automatic firing machine (aimed at the prisoner and then fired with the press of a button).
Recent reports in official state media quoted a Police Ministry study favouring a move to lethal injection.
According to a Reuters story in early February, state media quoted the study’s findings on lethal injection: "The method's advantage is to cause less pain to the death-row inmate, the execution time is short, some parts can be automated so it will minimise the psychological difficulties for executioners."
So, humane all round then.
Recent reports in official state media quoted a Police Ministry study favouring a move to lethal injection.
According to a Reuters story in early February, state media quoted the study’s findings on lethal injection: "The method's advantage is to cause less pain to the death-row inmate, the execution time is short, some parts can be automated so it will minimise the psychological difficulties for executioners."
So, humane all round then.
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