Taiwan Tati Cultural and Educational Foundation

The three Taipei District Court judges in the Lin Yi-shih are trying a smoke and mirrors dodge and escape the public wrath. They are asking for an evaluation of their sentencing by a committee of fellow judges, prosecutors, lawyers and law specialists. So why is this smoke and mirrors.

First, if a committee finds that they were wrong, the committee has no power to change their sentence. Lin Yi-shih still gets away with a light sentence. If the committee (and of course who will select the committee--that is important) finds that they were OK in their interpretation, then Lin Yi-shih has a chance for an even lighter sentence. In either case, Ma's right hand man, Lin Yi-shih has the likely chance to profit from it all instead of receiving the harsher sentence for corruption and bribe taking.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama holding a meeting with British Prime Minister David Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg in London on May 14, 2012. (Photo/Clifford Shirley)

DHARAMSHALA, May 8: Refusing to bow down to pressure from China, the United Kingdom has made it clear that the country will make its own decision on who they meet. This comes after Beijing demanded a public apology from the UK following Prime Minister David Cameron’s meeting with the Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama last year.

The Downing Street has made it clear that ministers “will decide who they meet and where they meet them” while admitting that they have had difficulties arranging meetings with senior figures in the Chinese government as a result of the stand-off.