[Deathpenalty] death penalty news---worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Dec. 24



KOREA:

Korea Recognized as Death Penalty-Free Nation


A human rights body Monday celebrated the news that Korea has moved
towards becoming a nation free of the death penalty.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said Amnesty International
recognizes South Korea as a country free of capital punishment, although
it still maintains the Death Penalty Law, on the grounds that there have
been no executions for the last 10 years.

"This is a very symbolic move," NHRC spokesman Yook seong-cheol said.
"But it is necessary for the country to abolish the death penalty by law
in the end."

The recognition is legally non-binding but the nation cannot ignore it as
it carries moral weight and reflects world opinion, Yook said.

Since the establishment of the nation in 1948, a total of 998 convicts
have been executed, but there have been no executions since 1997 when 23
convicts were put to death. There are 64 people now on death row.

Some 88 countries have abolished the death penalty and 11 countries that
partially maintain the system for certain crimes. There are 29 countries
that have not carried out executions for more than 10 years.

The United Nations General Assembly also recently approved a resolution
calling for a suspension on executions worldwide. The resolution calls for
"a moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death
penalty."

To send out the message calling for the ultimate abolition of the system,
NHRC members also held an event on Christmas eve in front of the
commission's headquarters in downtown Seoul.

They gave away 64 roses to passers-by, which represents the number of
convicts awaiting execution.

"Since 10 years have passed without execution under the death penalty, we
should now move forward to abolishing this unnecessary and inhuman
punishment in more active way," Yook said.

In 2005, the abolition of capital punishment was first proposed to the
government by the commission with the support of many religious and civic
groups.

The most recent bill, proposed last September, is still pending at the
National Assembly.

(source:  The Korea Times)