Taiwan Tati Cultural and Educational Foundation

Elections bring hope for a better Taiwan

Mark Kao

The results of the recently concluded nine-in-one elections have given the overseas Taiwanese community new hope for the nation’s future. These elections demonstrated that Taiwanese are willing to work hard for their freedom and preserve their vibrant democracy.

For the first time since the transition to democracy in the early 1990s, Taiwan has a more level political playing field. Until now, elections were too often determined by who had the most money, power and influence.

Court palms off A-bian’s bid for medical parole

Taipei Times

Former president Chen Shui-bian is escorted by security staff following a medical procedure in a hospital in Greater Taichung on Dec. 13, last year. Minister of Justice Luo Ying-shay yesterday denied involvement or giving instructions on a judiciary hearing on Chen’s medical parole request.
Photo: Tsai Shu-yuan, Taipei Times

The Taiwan High Court yesterday rejected former president Chen Shui-bian’s (陳水扁) application for medical parole, saying his case should be taken up in the administrative court.

The High Court added that the decision could be appealed in the Supreme Court.

The judges said Chen’s parole case relates to his treatment at prison facilities controlled by the Ministry of Justice’s Agency of Corrections, so it comes under the jurisdiction of the administrative authority.

Moribund Constitution needs to go

Chen Chao-ju 陳昭如

What is the significance of a constitution in a democracy? Last month the first openly lesbian judge on Germany’s Federal Constitutional Court, Susanne Baer, visited Taiwan. She always carried a pocket-sized copy of the German constitution — the Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany — and wherever she went, whether she was giving a lecture or participating in a seminar, and whether she talked about human rights, equality or dignity, she took this little book out of her pocket and brought it to life by quoting and reading from it.

Chen release a step to reconciliation

Taipei Times Editorial

The Ministry of Justice’s Agency of Corrections on Monday rejected former president Chen Shui-bian’s (陳水扁) application for medical parole. However, in an unusual move, Minister of Justice Luo Ying-shay (羅瑩雪) made three suggestions: that Chen could file another appeal to the Taipei District Court, lodge an objection with the Taiwan High Court, or ask the corrections agency for a new diagnosis. This has fueled hopes that another petition could be approved, and, as the world marked International Human Rights Day yesterday, could be seen as a positive development.

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