Japan: Impose A Permanent Moratorium On All Executions And Take Urgent Steps Towards Its Abolition Of The Death Penalty
MEDIA STATEMENT – 31 AUGUST 2014
The Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network (ADPAN) condemns
the execution of two Japanese death row prisoners, Mitsuhiro Kobayashi,
age 56, and Tsutomu Takamizawa, age 59, who were executed on 29th
August 2014 at Sendai Detention Center and Tokyo Detention Center
respectively. This is the second and third execution in this year that
took place within two months since last June when Masanori Kawasaki,
aged 68 was executed on 26 June at Osaka Detention Center.
This recent executions of Mitsuhiro Kobayashi, Tsutomu Takamizawa and Masanori Kawasaki is really disappointing
more so since the recent release of Iwao Hakamada on 27 March 2014, who
had spent 45 years on death row. In Hakamada’s case, the court in
releasing him expressed concern that investigators could have falsified
the evidence against him.
Since Prime Minister Abe’s government took office in December 2012
eleven people have now been executed, whilst a total of 127 inmates
remain on death row.
ADPAN, together with its member in Japan, Center for Prisoners’ Rights, condemns
these ‘secret executions’. The death penalty is a gross human rights
violation, a state-sanctioned murder, unique in its cruelty and
finality. Needless to say, death penalty is irreversible and cannot be
remedied.
ADPAN, a network of Asia Pacific organizations and individuals
working for the abolition of the death penalty, calls upon the Japanese
government, also being a member of the UN Human Rights Council, to
comply with United Nations General Assembly Resolutions adopted in 2007,
2008, 2010 and 2012, and to immediately impose a moratorium on all
executions and take steps towards the abolition of the death penalty.
Charles Hector
For an on behalf of ADPAN
For further information, please contact Ms Nalini at contactadpan@gmail.com or +60193758912.
*ADPAN PDF Version: Final Press Statement Japan Execution 29082014
*ADPAN member CPR issued a statement condemning the execution: http://www.cpr.jca.apc.org/sites/all/themes/cpr_dummy/Doc/CPR%20Statement%20on%20Execution%20August%2029%202014.pdf
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