Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/04/21
By: Chen Cheng-wei and Elizabeth Hsu

Taipei, April 21 (CNA) Out of every 10 people in Taiwan, there are nearly 9 who

oppose the idea of abolishing capital punishment, mainly because they think such a move would undermine public order and deprive the authorities of a deterrent to would-be criminals, according to a poll released Thursday.

The survey by the Cabinet’s National Development Council (NDC) found that 87.9 percent of Taiwanese want the death penalty to be retained, 4.8 percent are against it, and 7.3 percent have no clear position on the issue.

In a statement, the NDC said concern over the deterioration of public order was the main reason cited by those who want the death penalty to remain on the law books.

They indicated that in the absence of the death penalty, there would be no deterrent to potential criminals, the NSC said.    [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan Today
Date: April 21, 2016

Changhua high-speed rail station in central Taiwan was named April 12 popular

choice winner of the Architizer A-plus Awards in the bus and train stations category, further enhancing the country’s reputation as a hotbed of innovative architectural design.

Beating out more than 100 submissions from around the world, the structure reached the finals of the awards conducted by the leading U.S.-headquartered architecture database. It went on to outpoll Austria’s Vienna Central Station, the Netherland’s Arnhem Central Masterplan and Delft Station, and the U.S.’s Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center.

The greenhouse-like station is fronted by a large multipaned glass wall providing uninterrupted views of the rural landscape and enabling sunlight to stream through the spacious concourse. Curved columns channel in more sunlight, as well as natural breezes to keep the building cool all year round.

Designed by renowned Taiwan architect Kris Yao, the split-level structure incorporates the elegance of flowers and inspires comparisons with rice paddies. Flower and rice growing are signature sectors in Changhua—a county often described as the breadbasket of Taiwan.     [FULL  STORY]

‘GREEN GARRISON’:Lawmakers said military police assistance in relation to transitional justice investigations would be fascist and give the government full discretionary power

Taipei Times
Date: Apr 22, 2016 – Page 3　
By: Alison Hsiao / Staff reporter

A bill aimed at promoting transitional justice proposed by the Democratic

Progressive Party (DPP) caucus was yesterday discussed by the legislature’s Judiciary and Organic Laws and Statutes Committee, with Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers questioning the need for draft legislation and the ad hoc committee it proposes.

The draft legislation outlines four main missions to be carried out by the government under the leadership of a “transitional justice promoting committee” to be established under the Executive Yuan: opening up political archives, eliminating authoritarian symbols and conservation of unjustly seized sites, redressing the judiciary’s unlawfulness and restoring historical truth, and dealing with ill-gotten KMT party assets.

KMT lawmakers gathered in the front of the meeting room and shouted that the legislation is the DPP’s “green dictatorship” and part of a political feud with the KMT.

“Wasn’t Taiwan a democracy during the time when Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) was president? Why is the DPP calling for transitional justice only now?” KMT Legislator Lai Shyh-bao (賴士葆) asked.     [FULL  STORY]