Recent Articles

Executions in Japan -- 2006 - 2008

Tim Goodwin
January 02, 2009 02:36

Japan has executed 28 people since December 2006. All were hanged for crimes including murder.Justice minister Mori Eisuke+ Appointed minister 24 September 2008+ Approved 2 executions (to end 2008)28 October 2008Michitoshi Kuma, 70 (Fukuoka)Masahiro Takashio, 55 (Sendai)Justice minister Okiharu...

Japan may execute before year ends

Tim Goodwin
December 15, 2008 19:59

There are fears Japan may carry out more executions after the current session of parliament is due to end on 25 December.The country doesn't usually execute while parliament is in session, raising concerns of a spate of hangings each time the Japanese parliament (Diet) goes into recess.Japan has...

Pakistan's mixed signals on death penalty

Tim Goodwin
December 04, 2008 09:07

Two human rights organisations have urged the government of Pakistan to suspend executions while it considers a proposal to commute all death sentences.The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) asked the government to ensure no-one was...

Indonesia: Five more set to die

Tim Goodwin
November 24, 2008 12:24

Indonesia plans to execute five people before the end of this year, including a Nigerian convicted of drug offences.According to a report by The Jakarta Post, assistant attorney general for general crimes Abdul Hakim Ritonga said the remaining four were Indonesians.The newspaper said the executions...

Viet Nam: Death penalty reduction debated

Tim Goodwin
November 23, 2008 12:19

Deputies in Viet Nam's national assembly (NA) have debated a proposal to reduce the number of capital crimes, including for corruption, bribery and producing fake drugs.According to Thanh Nien News, the current session of the NA considered an amended draft criminal code, which would see the death...

Australia tries to reclaim principle

Tim Goodwin
November 13, 2008 13:18

The Australian government has attempted to restore its credibility on the death penalty after the prime minister last month appeared to support the execution of the Bali bombers.Ten days before the executions were carried out, prime minister Kevin Rudd said Australia was "universally opposed to the...

Australia: Rudd supports Bali executions

Tim Goodwin
November 13, 2008 12:33

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd today confirmed his support for the execution of the three Bali bombers, saying they 'deserve' the 'justice' they will receive.Rudd was responding to comments by the three yesterday that there would be revenge attacks if they were executed, and expressing no...

Execution wrong - even for terrorists

Tim Goodwin
November 11, 2008 12:02

Comment by Tim GoodwinThis story was first published on ABC Australia's Unleashed. Read the debate on the story here.After more than two years of delays and legal brinkmanship, it seems it is finally going to happen. In the coming days Indonesian firing squads will shoot the three men sentenced to...

Australia defends selective appeals for life

Tim Goodwin
November 11, 2008 11:54

The Australian government has again opened itself up to accusations of double standards over the death penalty, with the confirmation it would only consistently oppose the execution of Australian citizens.Foreign affairs minister Stephen Smith said this week he would raise the cases of three...

Australian government reminded of death penalty opposition

Tim Goodwin
November 11, 2008 11:54

The Australian government has been reminded of the stance it took on the death penalty before it won office, after a member of parliament introduced a resolution yesterday calling for clemency for three young Australians under sentence of death in Indonesia.New South Wales MP Chris Hayes introduced...