No room for stay of execution in rule of law: Wu

Responding to press inquiries about his approval late the previous day of Wang's verbal offer to resign after Wang said that no nation has ever replaced a justice minister simply because he or she believed that the death penalty should be scrapped, Wu said he accepted Wang's offer after consulting with President Ma Ying-jeou.

While abolishing capital punishment is a worldwide trend and the government respects Wang's stance on the issue that human rights should be protected, Wu told reporters before attending a legislative session that until the existing law is revised, death sentences handed down by the courts should be executed in accordance with the law.

Since Taiwan is a country governed by rule of law, Wu said, there should be no room for pause in sticking to the letter of the law.

Wang chose to quit because she could not simultaneously uphold her personal insistence on not to execute any prisoner on death row and fulfill her official duties, Wu said, adding that he respects her decision and thus approved her resignation.

Noting that Ma agreed with his decision, Wu shortly afterward formally approved Wang's written resignation.

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