Japan: Four hanged on Christmas Day(convicted murderers executed)

Times Online ^ | 12/26/06

[TigerLikesRooster]

The Times December 26, 2006

Four hanged on Christmas Day

TOKYO Four prisoners, including two men in their seventies, were hanged on Christmas Day as the Japanese Government ended a 15-month moratorium on the death penalty. The hangings were the first since September 2005, when a convicted murderer was executed. The death penalty is supported widely in Japan and analysts said that the Government wanted to carry out executions in 2006, which would have been the first year without hangings since 1992.

The timing of the executions has been condemned by Christians, who makes up 1 per cent of the largely Shinto and Buddhist country. “It was such an insensitive act,” Makoto Suzuki, a Christian active in the anti-death penalty movement, said. “Christmas is the day to reaffirm humanity.”

According to reports, the four were Yoshimitsu Akiyama, 77, and Yoshio Fujinami, 75, both convicted murderers; Hiroaki Hidaka, 44, a taxi driver from Hiroshima convicted of murdering four; and Michio Fukuoka, 64, who killed three people. (AFP)

[TigerLikesRooster]

I am sure that, if they were carried out in U.S., liberals would denounce the execution but not their timing, though.

They hate Christmas celebration.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Ping!

[kinoxi]

If they deserved it then good.

[ansel12]

I don't know if they still do it, but years ago I read that the condemned men never knew when they were going to die.

During the years of incarceration, every time footsteps hit the hallway, they could be the executioners or just the constant noise of a prison.

[HiTech RedNeck]

True, "if." We don't know enough to say.

Japan still has a somewhat baroque system of justice. It's still possible there to get a confession shoved in your face to sign without understanding it. The kind of thing, that for good or ill, was nixed in this country long ago.

[kinoxi]

I wasn't aware. Do you have some information that contradicts these events?

[happinesswithoutpeace]

Too bad Shoko Asahara wasn't on the list.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #7

You can't hang him. He can levitate.:-) Actually, he bounced up and down from a cushion and they took his picture while he is in the air.

[paudio]

I am sure that, if they were carried out in U.S., liberals would denounce the execution but not their timing, though.

Heck, Sadam was hanged in Baghdad, by the Iraqis, not Americans... Yet, the liberals are howling...

[happinesswithoutpeace]

LOL!

[GATOR NAVY]

The timing of the executions has been condemned by Christians, who makes up 1 per cent of the largely Shinto and Buddhist country. “It was such an insensitive act,” Makoto Suzuki, a Christian active in the anti-death penalty movement, said. “Christmas is the day to reaffirm humanity.”

I wouldn't expect 1% of the population here to have any more effect on things than I would 1% of the population in Japan.

[backhoe]

More details here:

Japan: Four hanged on Christmas Day

Also at #13:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1758450/posts?page=13#13

[Lib-Lickers 2]

geezers Gallowed