偵辦國務機要費及前總統陳水扁家族所謂洗錢案的特偵組，十一日再次傳訊陳水扁後，以涉嫌貪污治罪條例罪將他聲押。特偵組並未提出確鑿証據，卻作威作福，以手銬扣押一位卸任總統，對司法如此濫權，罔顧人權與程序正義，全美台灣同鄉會成員至感憤怒，要表示最強烈的抗議。

全美台灣同鄉會原寄望台灣司法能以正當法律程序，依証據公正調查及審理陳水扁家族的海外鉅額資金問題，但特偵組的作為，卻公然棄置「無罪推定」的最重要司法原則於不顧，先作有罪定論，再到處找証據，無事証則押人取供，濫用「自由心証」，為達鏟除陳水扁和其他民進黨人士之目的，不擇手段。

在李登輝及陳水扁兩個本土政權執政下，台灣司法逐漸走向獨立與公正，但馬英九的黨國體制復辟，再度把司法作為整肅異己、維護其外來政權的政治工具。馬政權上任不及半年，其大舉調查、扣押、起訴現任或前民進黨官員的行動，已形成一個固定模式，令人不能不質疑這個復辟政權正有計畫的以司法之名，進行對本土政治領袖的絕滅政策。

馬政權以司法作為其政治清算鬥爭的遮羞布，要清除所有帶本土意識，有礙其向中國輸誠投降的民進黨人士，使本土派無法在地方或中央執政。它也藉此作為恐嚇台灣人的手段，以收寒蟬效應，壓制台灣本土政黨的成長。

這個以司法進行絕滅本土領袖的模式，經扣押邱義仁、李界木、余政憲、陳明文、蘇治芬等案件，已昭然若揭。對這些案件，檢察官所掌握罪証均薄弱，卻作有罪先定論，再設法找人証，押人取供。馬政權以地方選舉將屆，利用司法鏟除民進黨的候選人。這是蹧蹋司法，進行政治迫害。兩個本土政權在司法公正上所取得的進步，馬政權執政六個月已經大倒退，難怪一些關心台灣的美國學者忍不住聯署共同聲明，要求馬政權嚴守人權與程序正義。

我們同意這些美國公正學者的見解；在此除向馬政權嚴正抗議外，我們要向馬政權及其司法部門、台灣人民及美國政府提出三點要求：

第一，我們要求司法回歸公正、公平、符合正當程序、嚴守無罪推定的原則，不能將司法作為打壓異己的政治工具。

第二，我們要求台灣人民認清馬政權黨國體制獨裁，不容異議、不重人權的本質和以司法之名鏟除異己的白色恐怖的行為，向馬政權嚴正抗議，並嚴加監督。

第三，我們要求國際社會，特別是美國政府與國會議員，對馬政權師法中共專制，罔顧人權，倒行逆施，提出嚴正警告。民主與人權是美國與台灣的共同價值，馬政權的作為不值得美國同情與支持。

全美台灣同鄉會會長 謝榮峻

2008/11/11

Dear FAPA Alabama Central Chapter members:

Below is my congratulation letter to Senator Sessions for being re-elected as the US senator. I encourage you to write a letter to congratulate him, too.

Gary

- Letter to Senator Sessions –

On behalf of the FAPA Alabama Central Chapter and as an active Taiwanese American constituent of yours, I wish to extend my congratulations to you with your November 4 victory. I want to wish you well in the next session of Congress as you seek to serve all your constituents and your country.

As a citizen, I know that each and every election is a challenge and realize that keeping democratic ideals alive takes persistence and dedication. As a Taiwanese American I am proud of the fact that my homeland, Taiwan, has learned the art of democracy well and stands as a true democratic friend of the United States in this difficult moment in history.

However, during the past week, Taiwan has gone through some serious turmoil. Rallies have been held in several Taiwanese cities to protest the fact that President Ma Ying-jeou’s administration is not protecting Taiwan’s interests and sovereignty during negotiations with China, which are currently taking place in Taipei, at the occasion of the visit of the Chinese chairman of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait.

In addition, Taiwan’s Kuomintang government, which has been in office for only six months, has arrested a number of opposition politicians, and has systematically stripped protesters of their human rights (particularly the right of freedom of speech). 7000 police are currently on the streets of Taipei and have rendered Taiwan close to a “police state.”

Democracy, freedom, human rights and the rule of law that were achieved with blood, sweat and tears by Taiwan’s previous generation are being trampled upon.

We hope that you will pay close attention to this matter as this situation continues to unfold.

For more information please contact the Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA) at 202-547-3686 or home@fapa.org

Sincerely,

Gary Cheng

2005 年第一次連胡會時，人權團體即要求國民黨：「政權可以失落，人權不可以失落。」應該要向中國政府強烈要求釋放政治犯，及改善人權狀況。2008 年，馬政府上台後，強調與中國的對等交流，然而，所謂的「對等」，竟是降低台灣的人權法治標準，來迎合中國。近日，中國特使陳雲林來台，國民黨政府正是以中國的人權標準，來對待台灣的抗議民眾。

列舉馬政府種種降低人權標準的粗暴作法諸如：淨空高速公路車道，連媒體隨行車輛，都遭到警察以「逼車」方式強行要求離開；禁止民眾在公共場合舉國旗；禁止民眾在公共場所說「台灣不是中國的」；民眾在圓山附近手持DV拍攝被警方帶走；民眾想要施放印有「黑心」圖樣的氣球被警方制止；民眾騎機車懸掛支持西藏獨立的「雪山獅子旗」，被以「違反集會遊行法」的理由，禁止通行並將人直接從車上架離………

大法官曾表示：「言論自由為人民之基本權利，憲法第十一條有明文保障，國家應給予最大限度之維護，俾其實現自我、溝通意見、追求真理及監督各種政治或社會活動之功能得以發揮。」因此警察在執行勤務時，不僅有義務對表達意見的人民給予適當保護，更應該協助人民行使表達意見之自由。然而，台灣警察在面對人民行使基本權利時，卻常是橫加阻擋和壓制。特別是這段期間警方密集地超越了勤務執行的界線及比例原則，嚴重妨害了人民表達意見的自由。這些活生生的人權侵犯實例，無疑對台灣政府自我標謗為「民主自由國家」是最大的諷刺。

除了強烈譴責警察執法過當的行為，台灣人權促進會嚴正發起民間社團連署，要求：

一、馬總統應該為其出賣三十年台灣人權法治成果、附和獨裁國家，向全國人民公開道歉。
二、警政署長王卓鈞、國安局長蔡朝明，應立刻下台。
三、號召成立義務人權律師團，接受民眾舉報人權侵害個案，做為進一步向國家提出集體控訴的基礎。
四、呼籲在第一線執法的警察同仁們，維護憲法價值是每一個執法者的天職，盲目聽從上級的違法違憲指令，將構成犯罪行為。勿淪為箝制人民基本權利的打手。
五、呼籲立法院立即修正「集會遊行法」。

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November 4, 2008

二十位國際學者與關心台灣的國際友人於今日發表聯署聲明，就近日一連串台灣政府不符合司法程序，收押與起訴民進黨政府官員的舉動，表示高度關心與憂心。這份共同聲明也於今日寄送司法院院長賴英照與法務部部長王清峰。

這是國民黨政府一系列大動作收押民進黨政府官員以來，國際學者首度發表公開聲明，呼籲台灣司法維持中立，勿受政治影響，以確保台灣民主與人權。

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

—————— ————- ————- ————-

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.

Dear TAA-ALC members:

Huntsville TAA would like to invite our members to join them for the Fall picnic and hiking at one of the famous state parks, Desoto Falls. Please see the flyer in the link below for directions. If you are interested, please plan to arrive at Desoto Falls (shown in the map) around 11:00 AM on Saturday, 10/25/08. We will have lunch there before hiking. Please bring your own lunch or snacks. Look forward to seeing you at Desoto Falls!

Gary

Map of DeSota Falls & Little River Falls