Xu Yuzhen (middle), secretary-general of the Kuomintang League of the Legislative Yuan, and legislators Luo Zhiqiang (right) and Xu Qiaoxin (left) held a press conference titled "Shen Boyang, are you still going to die?" (Photo by reporter Tu Jianrong)
The Kuomintang group of the Legislative Yuan held a press conference this afternoon to question the abolitionist stance of Shen Boyang, the Taipei mayoral candidate of the Democratic Progressive Party. Kuomintang legislator Luo Zhiqiang said that in 2012, Shen Boyang himself wrote on Facebook when talking about the death penalty, "It's just that I prefer to waste death." A recent case in which a domestic abuser in Tucheng killed his wife and sister-in-law was exempted from death because it did not meet the concept of killing "majority" in "Constitutional Judgment 8". He wanted to ask Shen Boyang, after 14 years, will he still do the same thing that will lead to death?
Xie Wenxiong, a man, hacked his wife and sister-in-law to death on the street in Tucheng District, New Taipei City last year, shocking the society. In August, the New Taipei District Court’s National Judge’s Court sentenced Xie to two life sentences for murder. The verdict was released recently. The collegial panel held that Xie Nan only killed two people, which did not meet the concept of killing a "majority" in Constitutional Judgment 8. It believed that three or more people must be killed to deserve the death penalty, which triggered public discussion.
Xu Yuzhen, secretary-general of the Kuomintang League, said that judicial justice and fairness in Taiwan are dead. This is the essence of the abolition of death sent by the DPP justice to Taiwanese society. In the eyes of those who support the abolition of death, should the lives of Taiwanese people be counted in numbers? The judges are writing judgments in accordance with the constitutional judgment led by the Democratic Progressive Party. They are the judges who set up many obstacles and have the responsibility to publicly express their stance to the society.
Xu Yuzhen said that 80% of the public opinion in Taiwan that opposes the abolition of death is based on Shen Boyang's Facebook post in 2012, saying, "The murderer in Norway killed many people at that time, but Norway did not reinstate the death penalty for this reason." "It's just that I prefer abolition of death." Please ask Shen Boyang to publicly express his position on whether he supports or opposes the abolition of death. Is he still advocating the abolition of death?
Luo Zhiqiang said that whether or not to support the abolition of death penalty is part of the public policy debate. Faced with this issue today, Shen Boyang said that this is a matter for the central government, not the local government, but he forgot that he is now a legislator and a representative of the central government's public opinion. This is another kind of role ambiguity. On the other hand, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wanan clearly expressed his opposition to the abolition of death penalty today, which is simple, clear and firm.
Luo Zhiqiang said that if a person who runs for mayor of Taipei is more willing to die, can society expect him to uphold the grievances of the victims and seek justice for the victims when he reaches a higher level in the future? "Let me tell you in plain language that Constitution 8 means that if not enough people are killed, there is no way to sentence them to death. Shen Boyang is a supporter of Constitution 8." "Does the standard of supporting Constitution 8 encourage murderers to kill more people? This is unacceptable to everyone. Who will complain about the grievances of the victims in hell?"
Kuomintang legislator Xu Qiaoxin also said that the mayor of Taipei must attach great importance to the public security of Taipei City. If a victim appears, the mayor's choice and value will be to excuse the perpetrator, which is of great importance. Shen Boyang should express his true attitude and opinion on the abolition of death to the citizens of Taipei, and also explain which side he was on when the social tragedy of the Tucheng case occurred. This is a value issue of social concern.
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