'Inhuman'
Hatoyama snubs Kamei
Kyodo News
Justice
Minister Kunio Hatoyama said Friday he would not meet with
lawmaker Shizuka Kamei, an opponent of the death penalty
who described the minister this week as not being human.
On Wednesday, Kamei, the acting leader of the People's New
Party, said Hatoyama "lacks the credentials as justice
minister and as a human being."
Kamei was responding to Hatoyama's proposal the previous
day to release justice ministers from having to sign all
execution orders carried out for death-row inmates.
"Would it be right to treat human life to be killed one
after another by just pressing a button?" said Kamei.
In response, Hatoyama said Friday that he would refuse to
meet with Kamei because "My character was attacked 100
percent."
"I don't agree with abolishing the death penalty that would
allow a person to live no matter how many people he or she
kills," Hatoyama said. "My standpoint is to eliminate
heinous crimes that claim lives. The criticism is
irrelevant."
The justice ministry will set up a study group soon to
discuss the matter with the heads of the criminal affairs,
correction and rehabilitation bureaus, Hatoyama said.
The
Japan Times: Saturday, Sept. 29, 2007
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