JAPAN HANGS THREE MURDERERS
WebPosted Thu Nov 30 02:32:24 2000

TOKYO--Three murderers were hanged in Japan on Thursday, sparking 
criticism of the country's policy on capital punishment. 

 The convicts executed Thursday included a 52-year-old serial robber and 
killer, a 57-year-old man who killed his wife and her family, and a 
55-year-old murderer. 

 The hangings were the first executions since last December. 

 That pattern of year-end executions has become a target of criticism by 
human rights organizations. 

 Amnesty International said the executions were hurried so they could be 
accomplished before an expected cabinet shuffle. They say the government 
didn't want to set the precedent of having a justice minister not 
authorize an execution. 

 There have been 39 executions since 1993, when a moratorium was lifted. 
Death row currently houses 47 prisoners. 

 Public support for capital punishment has risen dramatically in Japan 
since a deadly nerve gas attack on a Tokyo subway in 1995 killed 12 and 
made thousands sick. 

 Seven former members of the doomsday cult Aum Shinri Kyo have received 
death sentences for participating in the attack. 

 A nationwide poll last year showed 80 per cent of the population of 
Japan supported using the death penalty. 

 
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