Joint Statement on Detentions in Taiwan

連署點：Open letter on erosion of justice in Taiwan

A Joint Statement from international scholars and analysts concerned
with the apparent politicization of the prosecutorial arm in Taiwan:

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November 4, 2008

JOINT STATEMENT

US, European and Australian scholars and writers express concern about
prosecutions in Taiwan

The undersigned, scholars and writers from the US, Europe and
Australia wish to express their deep concern about the recent series
of detentions in Taiwan of present and former DPP government
officials. To date there have been at least seven such cases (See list
below).

以下聯署的國際學者對於近日台灣政府一連串拘留卸任與現任民進黨政府官員的行動，深表憂慮。直至今日，據我們瞭解共有七件類似案件。

It is obvious that there have been cases of corruption in Taiwan, but
these have occurred in both political camps. The political neutrality
of the judicial system is an essential element in a democracy. It is
also essential that any accused are considered innocent until proven
guilty in the court of law.

很明顯的，貪污這個問題在台灣依然存在，但是這樣的案例在兩大政黨裡均曾發生。司法系統維持政治中立是民主的基本要素。堅持任何被指控者在裁定有罪前均
是無罪的法律理念也是必要的。

We also believe that the procedures followed by the prosecutor’s
offices are severely flawed: while one or two of the accused have been
formally charged, the majority is being held incommunicado without
being charged. This is a severe contravention of the writ of habeas
corpus and a basic violation of due process, justice and the rule of
law.

我們認為檢察官所採取的法律程序有著嚴重的缺失：雖然當一、兩位被指控者已被正式起訴時，大多數被指控者卻在未被正式起訴情況之下就遭到收押禁見。這嚴
重違反了人身保護令以及正當法律程序、公義與法治。

In the meantime, the prosecutor’s offices evidently leak detrimental
information to the press. This kind of 『trial by press』 is a violation
of the basic standards of judicial procedures. It also gives the
distinct impression that the Kuomintang authorities are using the
judicial system to get even with members of the former DPP government.
In addition, the people who are being held incommunicado are of course
unable to defend themselves against the misreporting and the leaks in
the news media.

在此同時，檢察官辦公室很明顯地將相關不利消息透露給媒體。這種「透過媒體辦案」的方式違反司法程序的基本標準；也讓外界認為國民黨政府利用司法系統來
報復已下台的民進黨政府。此外，被收押禁見的人，在與外界斷絕聯繫的情況下，無法澄清外界不實報導與媒體洩密。

We do firmly believe that any alleged wrongdoings must be dealt with
in a fair and open manner in an impartial court. Justice through the
rule of law is essential to Taiwan’s efforts to consolidate democracy
and protect fundamental human rights.

我們深信任何宣稱的犯罪行為應該以公正與公開的方式，在中立的法庭裡審判。透過法治落實司法，才能強化台灣民主與保障基本人權。

We do not want to see Taiwan’s hard-earned democracy jeopardized in
this manner. Taiwan can justifiably be proud of its transition to
democracy in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It would be sad for
Taiwan and detrimental to its international image if the progress
which was made during the past 20 years would be erased. Taiwan needs
to move forward, not backwards to the unfair and unjust procedures as
practiced during the dark days of Martial Law (1947-87).

我們不願見到台灣辛苦得來的民主陷入如此困境。台灣因為在八零年代後期與九零年早期成功轉型為民主國家，而引以為傲。如果過去二十年來的民主進展從此抺
煞，這不僅將令人難過，台灣的國際形象也將受到嚴害傷害。台灣必須向前邁進，而不應是開倒車回到過去戒嚴黑暗時代的不公與不義。

Signed:

簽署人：

Nat Bellocchi, former Chairman of the American Institute in Taiwan
Julian Baum, former Taiwan Bureau Chief, Far Eastern Economic Review
Coen Blaauw, Formosan Association for Public Affairs, Washington DC
David Prager Branner, Director at Large (East Asia), American Oriental
Society
Gordon G. Chang, author, 『The Coming Collapse of China.』
June Teufel Dreyer, Professor of Political Science, University of
Miami, Florida
Edward Friedman, Professor of Political Science and East Asian
Studies, University of Wisconsin, Madison
Bruce Jacobs, Professor of Asian Languages and Studies, Monash
University, Melbourne, Australia
Richard C. Kagan, Professor Emeritus of History, Hamline University,
St. Paul Minnesota
Jerome F. Keating, Associate Professor, National Taipei University
(Ret.). Author, 『Island in the Stream, a quick case study of Taiwan’s
complex history』 and other works on Taiwan
Daniel Lynch, Associate Professor, School of International Relations,
University of Southern California
Victor H. Mair, Professor of Chinese Language and Literature,
University of Pennsylvania
Donald Rodgers, Associate Professor of Political Science, Austin
College, Texas
Terence Russell, Professor of Chinese Language and Literature,
University of Manitoba
Scott Simon, Professor of Sociology and Anthropology, University of
Ottawa
John J. Tkacik Jr., Senior Research Fellow, The Heritage Foundation,
Washington DC
Gerrit van der Wees, Editor Taiwan Communiqué, Washington DC
Vincent Wei-cheng Wang, Professor of Political Science, University of
Richmond, Virginia
Arthur Waldron, Lauder Professor of International Relations,
University of Pennsylvania
Stephen Yates, President of DC Asia Advisory and former Deputy
Assistant to the Vice President for National Security Affairs
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Specific cases of concern:
– The arrest and detention on October 15th of former Interior
minister Yu Cheng-hsien;

– The arrest and detention on October 27th of former Hsinchu Science
Park Director and Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection Dr.
James Lee;

– The arrest and detention on October 29th of DPP Chiayi County
Commissioner Chen Ming-wen;

– The indictment on October 30th of DPP Tainan City Councilor Wang
Ting-yu;

– The arrest and detention on October 31st of former National
Security Council (NSC) secretary-general and Deputy Prime Minister
Chiou I-jen;

– The questioning of former Foreign Minister Dr. Mark Chen on
November 3rd and insinuations in the press that he might be charged
and arrested.

– The arrest and detention on November 4th of DPP Yunlin County
Magistrate Ms. Su Chih-fen.

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Ma Yung-cheng, another presidential office official in the Chen
Administration, was taken into custody on embezzlement charges
yesterday. Note how the wave of arrests has coincided with the
publicity push over the Chen Yunlin visit.

Can we see some action in the international media on this? It would be
a good way to put into perspective the lack of access to the Chen
Yunlin visit that the media were complaining about.

相關報導 及進一步的資訊：
Taipei Times : Open letter on erosion of justice in Taiwan
簡余晏部落格：搶救司法，請大家用英文去連署公開信
ilyagram : 「公開信：台灣，被侵蝕的司法/正義」