TAIWAN Wild StrawBerries Movement

[News] Wild Strawberries interviewed by KPFT Human Right Show

2009-01-17T18:31:00.001+08:00

The Wild Strawberry were interviewed by Houston's FM 90.1, KPFT, the Pacific Network, during the Human Rights Show sponsored by the Amnesty International. Please go to the following web site to listen to the interview:
http://archive.kpft.org/mp3/090116_190000hr.MP3

http://archive.kpft.org/
In the row "The Human Rights Show" for "Friday January 16, 2009 7:00 pm

[Report] Freedom House report released in Taipei

2009-01-14T23:00:00.002+08:00

Freedom House released its Freedom in the World 2009 report with a press conference at the Far Eastern Plaza Hotel in Taipei today. The event was hosted by the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy. The 2009 report found a decline in global freedom for the third consecutive year. Sub-Saharan Africa and the former Soviet states were the regions that saw the greatest decline. There was some improvement in freedom in South Asia.

David reported those issues related to Taiwan on the Freedom House 2009 in the World Survey Release.

Michael Hsiao said the student movement in Taiwan started in the 1980s with a focus on campus freedom. It peaked in 1990 when students paid attention to outside the campus walls. In the 1990s the student movement dropped but then in the early part of this decade it came up again with attention on human rights and social concerns. Chen Yunlin’s visit made students learn that there was something wrong and they learnt about democracy. In 2008 people realised democracy could disappear. Hsiao said that he liked the Wild Strawberries but thinks they should call themselves “Wild Passion Fruit” because passion fruit are very tough on the outside and can’t be crushed like strawberries.

For the whole report, please go to [David on Formosa] Freedom House report released in Taipei

Taipei District Prosecutors Humiliate the Accused of Their Ongoing Investigations

2009-01-14T00:35:00.000+08:00

I posted about this mocking insult that Taipei prosecutors executed on the accused of their ongoing investigations. Or, if you have just 3 minutes of spare time, watch the video below.

Be warned: I am not responsible for any health problem as a result of watching/reading it. Proceed at your own risk.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Afpm1EIgEfQ

[Important] San Diego channel 6 TV reports the WSM

2009-01-13T20:43:00.002+08:00

[BerrySeed] Journal Forum Group of WS

2009-01-13T20:30:00.001+08:00

We would like to share some good news with everyone that Taipei Wild Strawberries has officially launched a Journal Forum Group which will be responsible for publishing e-news and composing editorials to the print media.

A1 Yoshi will serve as our founding Editor-in-Chief, responsible for day-to-day operations and in charge of eleven staff members. Littlegrass and Rousseau, both senior editors, will each lead a team to regularly compose letters to print media and monitor news media.

Some of you may have noticed that two op-ed articles by BerrySeed in the 1231 and 0103 issues were also published in Section A15 of The Liberty Times, marking a milestone for our group. We expect to contribute at least one such article each week to print media. (Please note that BerrySeed is the official pen name of the Taipei Wild Strawberries Journal Forum Group.)

With regard to the monthly e-news publication, the tentative launch date is set for the beginning of February. Considering the primary target audience is current and past movement participants as well as supporters, the content will include (but not limited to) editorials, behind-the-scenes tidbits, Strawberries activity reports, upcoming event calendars, and readers' corner, etc.

The core message of our first issue is tentatively "Reflection of the Past, Contemplation of the Future." Going forward, the Journal Forum Group will work in close collaboration with other groups to provide PR and editorial assistance. Moreover, the group plans to build a website with archived issues when appropriate. The Wild Strawberries Movement sincerely hopes to continue the battle for human rights with a pen as its mighty weapon and knowledge as power.

Please do not hesitate to direct any questions to BerrySeed or reply to this article. We will also be seeking freelance writers and will provide details at a later date.

BerrySeed

WSM participating Freedom House event in Taiwan

2009-01-12T21:30:00.003+08:00

Freedom House will be presenting Freedom in the World 2009, the organization's annual survey of political rights and civil liberties worldwide to determine each country's freedom status--- either Free, Partly free or Not Free.

Since Taiwan's inclusion of the survey in 1972, this is the first time Taiwan have been chosen as the venue for publication. WS's international students division got in touch with Freedom House which lead to the acceptance of 3 hosts from WS to be seated in the media zone, four more students are able to participate in the group section.

Broadcasting group students will be doing live broadcasting online on the day. Because of the small number of participants are involved, please tune in to the internet live channel for the latest developement. The broadcasting will start at 9am. For more information on the Freedom House, please search online or query at WS's BBS forum. ptt2.cc action1106 board

[Important] Freedom House Press Conference in Taipei

2009-01-12T21:27:00.000+08:00

Dear all,

Freedom House press conference in Taipei, Taiwan on 1/13 will be live broadcasted by WS anchors, starting from 9AM.If you want to watch Freedom House live show at 9:00AM on 1/13, please go tohttp://zh-tw.justin.tv/action1106 !

Another thing,Please vote for WS's live webcast of Freedom House press conference on 1/13 at: http://openzap.com/show/twitter.com/cyrixhero

Cyrix
http://twitter.com/cyrixhero

Opening Ceremony of WildBerry House (野苺之家)

2009-01-11T12:17:00.003+08:00

Wild Strawberries Movement is turning into a new stage which students are attempting to be an organization. Meanwhile, the sit-in action has temporarily ceased since 4th Jan.
"WildBerry House" is going to be the root for strawberries spreading our beliefs and ideas at the campuses and through the country.
The Opening ceremony was held on the morning 11st Jan. NGOs and scholars were invited to witness this milestone of our movement!

The address of WildBerry House:
No.9, Alley 7, Lane28, Tung-An St. Zhung-Zheng District, Taipei City
(台北市中正區同安街28巷7弄9號)

You are welcome to visit anytime you wish!

[Taipei Times] Taiwan' s Dreyfus Affair

2009-01-04T15:54:00.001+08:00

(Read the Full Text)
I have seen messages on pro-Taiwan discussion boards calling for things like revolution, civil war, and so on, but as an Irishman (whose country has gone through all this before), I don’t agree.

I do believe that the Taiwanese can start their rebellion against the KMT dictatorship with a peaceful Gandhi-style campaign. The campaign would include extremely noisy protests and demonstrations, strikes (especially in companies owned by the KMT or pro-KMT business-folks), boycotts (like postal workers refusing to handle mail directed to the government or KMT offices, dock workers refusing to handle ships coming from or bound for China), blockades, occupations, refusals to pay taxes or fines and many more acts of civil disobedience. The list is endless.

I know that in Taiwan there is not the same militant and rebellious mentality as, say, in Greece, but for the sake of Taiwan’s future, all Taiwanese who care one iota about their country’s future had better learn from the Wild Strawberries, and fairly quickly.

ALAN MULCANY

Swords, County Dublin, Ireland

2008~New Year 2009 Activities for Human Rights by WS

2008-12-30T21:02:00.006+08:00

(1)New Year Countdown Party
Location: Liberty Square
Time: 20:00 Dec. 31st 2008
Music Concerts, Media Show Review 2008, Prospect of 2009

(2)Human Right Flag-raising Assembly
Gathering Time: 5 a.m. Jan. 1st 2009 AT Liberty Square
Walking to Ketagalan Blvd.
When the flag sets up, wear the mask of Chen Yun-lin.
When the ceremony blesses ROC, raise the slogan of Human Rights.
Please be quiet through out the whole process.

(3)Human Rights Jogging
Gathering and registration spot AT Ren-ai Rd.(仁愛路出口) entrance, Sun Yat-Sun Memorial Hall
Gathering Time: Jan. 1st 2009 7a.m.
Start to run AT 8:00 a.m.

[Taipei Times] Police not above the law

2008-12-29T16:45:00.002+08:00

Over the past few months I have witnessed a number of incidents in which police have acted inappropriately toward peaceful protesters. Some of these incidents occurred during the time of Chinese envoy Chen Yunlin’s (陳雲林) visit to Taiwan, but there have been others, both before and after.
In all these cases, people were protesting peacefully. They merely wanted to express their opinions and be heard by the government. They were acting in a reasonable manner and had no intention of causing unnecessary disturbance to the general public.(Full Text)

1224 Wild Strawberry Press Conference Announcement

2008-12-26T12:03:00.001+08:00

This week the Wild Strawberry Movement entered its seventh week.

The response from the government has been distinguished largely by being both scant and negative. The only response has been in regard to the Assembly and Parade Law, discussed from mid-November by the government, with draft revisions made public by the Executive Yuan on Dec. 4th.

However, when we took a closer look at the Executive Yuan version, we found that the Executive Yuan had completely ignored the 4 major demands of the Wild Strawberry Movement. The requirement that the government approve all political demonstrations, which we had asked be changed to a simply notification process, remains a compulsory
notification process, little different in practice from asking for government permission. The wording of the law regarding limitations on the location of public protests and assemblies was changed, but the law remains the same, in fact becoming even more restrictive, with the an increase in the size of the area that can be restricted from public access for protests and assemblies. Nor was the police power to dismiss assemblies revoked. Although the Special Penalty for illegal assembly was abolished, the duration of the punishment was in fact lengthened. This has had a chilling effect on the public's right to assemble.

The new Assembly and Parade Law means only a change of names, not substance, and in fact places even stricter limits on the public's right to speak freely. These changes were certainly not desired or supported by the Wild Strawberries. Once again, we wish to re-emphasize our 4 demands for modifications to the Assembly and
Parade Law: (1)change the application for a parade permit to a notification system; (2) curb the arbitrary authority of the police to arrest demontrators and dismiss protests; (3) change the law so that violations are treated as administrative violations requiring fines, rather than criminal acts carrying jail sentences; and (4) lift restrictions on places where assemblies and parades can be held. The
Wild Strawberries refuse to sanction the government's modifications to the Assembly and Parade Law, which suppress the right of the people to speak and act freely. We hope that in future discussions of the Assembly and Parade Law, the government will support the version drafted by Legislator Chu Feng-chih (朱鳳芝).

[Red Caution] A documentary regards to Chen, Yun-lin's visiting and the drawback in Taiwan

2008-12-21T14:31:00.008+08:00

2008.12.27(Saturday) 7：00p.m. at Liberty Square
The first presentation of the documentary "Red Caution" with the forum on "Taiwan Crisis。Mobilize All the People"

This documentary is made by local associations in Taiwan. In order to review the violation of the nation during the China envoy, Chen's visiting on November 2008.

Preview (8mins clip): (The team has the subtitle in English and Japanese, but not on this clip so far.)

The broadcast platform

2008-12-20T23:26:00.004+08:00

Since 17:30 19th December, the previous account for broadcasting had been announced to violate the Service Condition that we were disqualified to use it now. We are still questing the exact reason.

For keeping the broadcasting, we registered for a new account: http://www.justin.tv/anchor1106
If there is any problem while watching, please write to 1106action@gmail.com

[Taiwan News] Reporters Without Borders condemns Taiwan president’s failure to respect press independence

2008-12-19T17:16:00.001+08:00

(Taiwan News) – Reporters Without Borders, an organization aims to safeguard press freedom and promote human rights, issued a statement on Dec. 17 with a topic of “Public media threatened, despite government denials” to voice concerns for the suppression of Taiwan media workers’ freedom of speech by the government, condemning President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) failure to respect press independence. (more)

[Taipei Times] EDITORIAL: Hollow promises of media freedom

2008-12-19T17:08:00.000+08:00

Reporters Without Borders, an NGO devoted to press freedom, issued a statement on Wednesday saying that despite recent assurances to the contrary from President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), it was concerned that media independence in Taiwan remains under threat from the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) government.

The statement highlighted KMT attempts to control the programming of Public Television Service (PTS). The party’s legislators have proposed that PTS would require item-by-item approval from the Government Information Office (GIO) for all budget matters.

The KMT’s “campaign to reaffirm its influence over the public TV stations seems to have strengthened,” the statement read, before urging the president “to set up mechanisms that guarantee media independence.” (more)

[Taipei Times] Watchdog still concerned about media interference

2008-12-19T17:05:00.001+08:00

Despite President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) denial in a letter to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the international press freedom watchdog is concerned that the independence of the nation’s media is threatened and has urged the Ma government to refrain from manipulating the media.

“Taiwan should be a press freedom model in Asia and the independence of the public media is one of the key components of a free and diverse press system,” the group said in a statement released on Wednesday. “We want to believe in President Ma’s promises, but they must be translated into action.” (more)

[Taipei Times] INTERVIEW: Taiwan must fight to keep democracy: ex-UN official

2008-12-19T17:01:00.001+08:00

INTERVIEW: Taiwan must fight to keep democracy: ex-UN official

COUNTING BLESSINGS: Youth must learn to appreciate the freedoms they enjoy today, especially compared with the Chinese, ex-UN human rights official Nisuke Ando said
By Jenny W. Hsu
STAFF REPORTER
Friday, Dec 19, 2008, Page 3

Former UN Human Rights Commission chairman Nisuke Ando praised Taiwan as a model of democracy for China and said the public must pressure the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) administration not to return the country to the totalitarian system of the White Terror period.

Ando was among several international human rights advocates to speak at the International Human Rights Conference in Kaohsiung on Wednesday last week, the 60th anniversary of the UN General Assembly’s adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. (more)

[20 mins Video Clip on 1211 Incident] When WS and Tibetans were forced away

2008-12-18T22:12:00.007+08:00

1/ 3

2/ 3

3/ 3

It has been a week since it happened at the cold and dark night. What have the society paid for it? What will people comment on this history? There is no translation for the sounds, but the process is clearly presented. The night is never silent. How about us? 1211 incident is how I name this issue in order to memorize the brutality and tragedy of human society and our greediness. If we remove the mask of greediness, it should a smiling face with friendly embrace to the world, to human rights, isn't it?

[Rationale] Regarding the theft incident on 13 December at Liberty Square

2008-12-15T22:09:00.003+08:00

At about 9 am on 13 December, a student surnamed Lai found their notebook computer was missing. Workers of the Wild Strawberry Movement, after obtaining the agreement of everyone present, began to check through the personal belongings at the site. They then found the student Lai's computer under the jacket of a man claiming to be a student from Fu Jen University's Chinese Department.

Because of the principle of presumption of innocence, students of the Wild Strawberry Movement first asked the man to explain why he had student Lai's computer. However, his words stuttered and he was unable to give a reasonable explanation. Therefore at approximately 9:30 am on the same day, the students of the Wild Strawberry Movement sought the assistance of a police officer
at the site. They reported the incident to the police. When the police checked the man's ID it was discovered that the information he had given to the Wild Strawberry Movement was false. Furthermore, he was not a student in Fu Jen University's Chinese Department.

In regard to this matter that arose, we habitually used a "rational, peaceful and nonviolent" action in accordance the movement's demands and central principle. Furthermore we refuse to make any wild accusations of guilt without proper examination. However, this matter has been reported in some sections of the media using a "Wild Strawberries violence, attempt to conceal quarrel"
form of description. In addition no students at the site or people who were present during the incident have been interviewed by the media. Therefore this one sided and incorrect information has made the students who were present feel disturbed and upset. We feel regret about this and feel very dissatisfied about the media reporting the Wild Strawberries' upholding the principle of "innocent until proven guilty" as a cover up.

Presently this matter is being investigated by the judicial system. Those present during the incident will make no further comment on this matter.

Here comes the official WS google group!

2008-12-15T18:20:00.003+08:00

BUT everything is in Mandarin @@" If you can read, you may want to subscribe in for getting the latest information. If not, I will try to keep you updated here.

Go to 1106Action google group

[Taipei Times] INTERVIEW: Rights lawyer says Taiwan democracy under threat

2008-12-15T06:05:00.001+08:00

Taiwan still stands as a beacon of hope for the rule of law and democratic development in Asia but recent government-related human rights violations have caused its rays to shine less brightly, said David Kilgour, a Canadian human rights lawyer, urging the public to closely monitor the administration in order to safeguard the country’s democracy.

Kilgour, the vice president of the Taiwan-Canadian Friendship Group in the Canadian parliament, a well-known international human rights lawyer and activist and a former prosecutor, was one of the invited speakers at the International Forum on the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of human Rights held in Kaohsiung City on Thursday.

Citing the example of police brutality and riots last month during the visit of Chinese envoy Chen Yunlin (陳雲林), Kilgour said many friends of Taiwan were concerned about dramatic deteriorations in the rule-of-law, human dignity and democratic practices in Taiwan in recent months. (more)

[Condole] Mr. Liu passed away

2008-12-14T22:55:00.005+08:00

There was a man who left the world silently when the mass media was so loud. Mr. Liu, the man who committed self-immolation on the Liberty Square passed away in the early morning Dec. 14th.

News in Mandarin: Liberty Times

[Open letter] from Tibetan immigrant refugees in Taiwan

2008-12-14T22:42:00.004+08:00

Respected ROC government and kind people
who care about the human rights of Tibetans,

With due respect, we are here to request and appeal for your urgent help. Here about 110 Tibetan illegal immigrant refugees under a very bad situation, We have nothing to do at this moment and only seek your help to refuge in Taiwan.

It is very clear to all over the world that Tibet is under China and Tibetans ae facing very big problems in and outside Tibet. Especially inside Tibet, we don't have human right, freedom of religion, freedom of speech and there is no human value for Tibetans. So at this situation, Tibetans are force to flue to nearby countries such as India, Nepal and Bhutan for better life and better education for coming generations. Even in those countries, we are facing basic problems to survive. So finally we bought Indian and Nepalese fake passport and legally enter this beautiful island for better life. We heard that Taiwan is democratic state, have human respect, human right, freedom of religion and land of equality to all cast and
tribes. But now we are in Taiwan and facing very big problem of survival. We never aspect such thing will happen in Taiwan.

We already appealed many applications to your presidential office and other related your department. Even on 12th Aug 2008, we all refugees came to your presidential office for help and even to ministry of issue. But till now your government didn't find any solution for our issue. So we are here again today for your kind help. We only seeking refugee asylum in Taiwan. We don't have country and we don't have
place to go back. Today thousands of Tibetans are all around the world
as refugees.

So last but not the least, please…please help us to give certain identification to stay legally in Taiwan. We hope that you will take this a serious matter.

With best regards
Tibetan immigrant refugees in Taiwan
====
The original complete letter:

滯台西藏難胞請願書

致關心西藏人權的台灣中華民國政府和社會善心人士：

當我們的鄉土自1959年被中共武力鎮壓統治後，幾十萬藏族同胞包括我們的精神領袖達賴喇嘛被逼流亡異國，開始艱苦的流亡生涯如今每年仍有許多藏胞為了爭取自由和人權離鄉背井翻越喜馬拉雅山流亡到印度、尼泊爾等世界各地，在僑居地因沒有國籍，永遠過著難民的生活。為了生存，我們這群西藏難胞舉債使用印度或尼泊爾護照來中華民國台灣尋求生路，不料因不識華文華語也不瞭解法律規定，雖然以合法身份入境，卻因逾期居留面臨被逮捕遣返的命運，一旦被遣返回印度、尼泊爾，又將面臨一場牢獄之災，更不幸的極可能被遣返回西藏，喪失寶貴生命。

依聯合國國際人權組織難民的定義，國際間公認將流亡海外藏胞視為國際難民（International Refugees），處理國際難民的最重要原則為「不予遣返」，依照人權的標準來看，遣返國際難民相當於意圖謀殺。我們這一群逾期居留滯台難胞，若貴政府依相關法令處理，則必須遣返西藏，若遣返印度、尼泊爾等原發照國，則服刑後依然要面臨遣返西藏的命運。

如今我們來到嚮往已久民主自由和繁榮的中華民國台灣，希望能在貴國為了維持基本生存而奮鬥，但不幸的貴國尚未有庇護國際難民相關法令，使我們從滿懷希望轉變為極度失望和挫折。身在貴國卻時時刻刻擔憂會被逮捕的惡夢，想找一份工作又因為沒有合法身份而無能為力加上沒有任何經濟來源，令我們舉步維艱，甚至日常生活都有困難。我們這一群滯台難胞衷心期盼基於人道與人權的關懷，台灣中華民國政府和社會各界善先人士能夠伸出援手給我們一條生路。這是發自滯台西藏難民的至誠心聲，希望台灣中華民國政府能夠給予我們生存的空間，使我們看到未來的陽光。為盼！

http://annpohugo.wordpress.com/2008/12/14/tibet/

FAPA Statement regarding police break-up of Wild Strawberry sit-in

2008-12-14T22:32:00.001+08:00

December 12th , 2008
Contact: (202) 547-3686

Washington DC. Today, the Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA) expressed its anger and dismay at the forcible removal of the "Wild Strawberries" students and a group of some 100 Tibetans from Freedom Plaza in Taipei in the night of December 10th 2008 – International Human Rights Day.

The students had been encamped at the Freedom Plaza since November 6th 2008, when they initiated the "Wild Strawberry Movement" and organized a month-long sit in on Freedom Plaza in Taipei, protesting the excessive use of force by police during the visit of Chinese envoy Chen Yunlin, and urging the Ma government to revise the Assembly and Parade Law.

FAPA considers the student sit-in a peaceful expression of concern, which is guaranteed under the principle of freedom of speech and of assembly. FAPA thus deeply regret that at 4:00 am in the early morning of December 11th, some 200+ police with shields and sticks arrived at the Plaza and first evicted a group of some 100 Tibetan refugees, who had been at the Plaza since December 9th, urging the Taiwan government to grant them residence and work permits.

Then at 5:30 am, the police moved in on the remaining group of some 40 students, who sat down on the ground, interlocking hands and arms. After considerable pushing and shoving, the students were forced on several trucks and transported back to National Taiwan University.

According to reports from Taiwan, the police moved in when the encamped students started to assist the Tibetan refugees, providing them with warm clothing against the cold, tents, food, and other supplies. The police stated that the students were evicted "…because they had not applied for a permit under the Assembly and Parade Law" – precisely the same anachronistic law the students were trying to get changed.

FAPA President Prof. Bob Yang stated that "…as Taiwanese-Americans we highly value the basic principles of human rights and democracy in Taiwan, and consider these actions by the Ma government a severe infringement on freedom of speech and of assembly." He added: "We will raise this issue in our contacts with the US State Department and with members of Congress."

Please notice that there is NO official google group opened by Wild Strawberries Movement

2008-12-14T13:29:00.003+08:00

So far, there is no official google group of Wild Strawberries movement; we are not sure if the following google group is managed by whom that we would like to remind you, please protect your personal information and concern carefully before you add in that google group.
http://groups.google.com.tw/group/wild-strawberry1106?hl=zh-TW

[GroundReport] Taiwan Government Cracks Down on Student Protests of 'Wild Strawberries' Movement

2008-12-13T20:18:00.002+08:00

The forced eviction of Wild Strawberries Movement at the Freedom Square this morning (Dec 11), just a few hours after the International Human Rights Day, shows the Taiwan government's hypocrisy in the implementation of human rights .

On International Human Rights Day (12/10), Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou asked the Legislature to give endorsement to two international human rights documents (the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights) to help implement human rights protection in Taiwan. The speech was made in Asian Democracy and Human Rights Award, an annual event organized by the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy. (more)

Demonstrations in Taiwan in the Press

2008-12-13T17:53:00.002+08:00

[Taiwan News] Social groups in Taiwan protest KMT’s attempt to interfere in PTS operations

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The opposition Democratic Progressive Party yesterday returned the proposal made by ruling Kuomingtang Policy Committee Chief Executive Lin Yi-shih (林益世) to the Legislative Procedural Committee. Lin’s proposal to amend the Public Television Act to increase number of board member of Public Television Service has met protests by PTS employees, visual workers, Association of Taiwan Journalists (AJT) among 63 social groups for the ruling party’s attempt to intervene in PTS operations. ...

[Taipei Times] Scores of civic groups rally in support of Public Television Service

More than 60 civic organizations staged a protest outside the Legislative Yuan yesterday, demanding the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus reconsider a proposal on controlling the budget for Public Television Service (PTS). The KMT caucus froze the NT$450 million (US$13.5 million) budget for PTS for the second half of this year and has come up with a proposal that all programming budget be approved by the Government Information Office (GIO) first.

The proposal has drawn criticism from the opposition, civic groups, filmmakers and academics, who called it a KMT attempt to control the media. ...

[Taipei Times] Crowd condemns violence ahead of hearing

Accompanied by hundreds of supporters, three women who have filed lawsuits against the police for allegedly beating them during anti-China protests last month, marched to the Taipei District Court for their first court hearing yesterday. “Our judicial system is not perfect, but we still have some expectations of it. That's why we're trying to seek justice through the judiciary against police abuses,” Judicial Reform Foundation executive director Lin Feng-cheng (林峰正) told a crowd gathered at Liberty Square in support of the complainants before marching to the courthouse a few blocks away. ...

[Taipei Times] EDITORIAL: Picking off the Wild Strawberries

2008-12-13T17:51:00.001+08:00

Enough has been said about the timing of Taipei City police in dispersing the tail of the Wild Strawberry Student Movement at Liberty Square on Thursday morning — only hours after Human Rights Day ended — so there is no need to dwell on the irony of it all.

What is of more concern here is the obliviousness of the police to their growing image as a partisan agency and the slapdash approach they use in determining when and how to enforce the law.

On Thursday, Zhongzheng First Precinct head Chen Ming-cheng (陳銘政) said that several complaints had been received about the protesters’ presence in the square. The offended parties were not identified, nor were the merits of the complaints canvassed. (more)

[The shocking irony the day after the Human Rights Day]

2008-12-13T11:23:00.002+08:00

NB There are three very similar articles on this issues resulting from the urgent announcement back to Dec. 11st. Different people wrote about this that there are at least three versions in these days.

Less than twenty-four hours after the President Ma vowed to safeguard human rights and claimed that Taiwan enjoys the freest parades and assemblies around the world, at 3 am on December 11th, law enforcement authorities dispatched approximately 300 officers and numerous police transport wagons surrounding Liberty Square. Wild Strawberries demonstrators and approximately 100 exiled Tibetans were forcibly removed from the square via police transport wagons.

The Wild Strawberries strongly protest against such excessive police tactics to disperse the students, especially given the most recent rational and peaceful rally (on Sunday) and the subsequent publicly announced intention of leaving the Square as well as the close communication with police officers on the logistics. Clearly the new Zhongzheng Bureau chief Chen Ming-cheng (unlike his predecessor) ignored signs of good faith and refused to believe that the students were planning to leave Liberty Square, considering he forcibly removed the students at 4:00 a.m., when students were fast asleep and media reporters had left for the day. We challenge President Ma’s notion that Taiwan enjoys freedom of parade and assembly and questions whether the current Administration can only tolerate opposition voices for a month. More importantly, was unexpectedly dispersing the students at 4:00 a.m. the best response from President Ma Ying-jeou and Premier Liu Chao-hsueng?

Around 3 a.m., police officers and several police transport wagons arrived at Liberty Square to prepare to remove protesters. Within the hour, officers forcibly took 111 Tibetans away and increased to four police wagons. At around 4:30 AM, more than 200 officers surrounded 40 students, who then staged an impromptu sit-in. Assistant Professor Lee Ming-tsung (of the National Taiwan University’s Department of Sociology) rushed to the square and negotiated with the police. After negotiation efforts failed, the police started to remove the students’ supplies at the Square and soon after, the students themselves. Several students were injured during the removal process; one male student was kicked by the police. One student claimed up to the Strawberry Tower and confronted with the police. Around 5:20 a.m., the police dragged and carried 40-some students onto the transport wagons.

The Wild Strawberries strongly condemn the lack of legal grounds for the police to remove the resources at Liberty Square [which were to be donated to exiled Tibetans]. As the police dispersed the exiled Tibetans, the officers pointed out that they were dissatisfied with Wild Strawberries' donations to the exiled Tibetans. Officers indicated that if the Wild Strawberries had not assisted the Tibetan protesters [with resources left over from the Wild Strawberries sit-in], they would not have forcibly dispersed the incoming protesters (exiled Tibetans). That the forcible removal by the police was the result of the Wild Strawberries helping out exiled Tibetans indicates the authoritarian nature of our current Administration as well as the Administration’s fear of more unified and collaborative citizens. In Europe and the United States, the rights of exiled Tibetans are safeguarded and humanitarian assistance is often offered. On the other hand, the Ma Administration’s hypocrisy is painfully apparent: while President Ma recently stated the H.E. Dalai Lama will be invited to visit Taiwan at the “appropriate time,” the Administration decided to forcibly remove exiled Tibetans and the Wild Strawberries (who offered assistance) during the wee hours, and only four hours after the International Human Rights Day. Police action begs the question of how President Ma can declare that Taiwan will become a human rights country.

The Wild Strawberries condemn the enforcement of the unconstitutional Parade and Asssembly Law and the unfair treatment towards the exiled Tibetans. While the Wild Strawberries were transported to the front gates of National Taiwan University via three police transport wagons [in Taipei], exiled Tibetans who are far less familiar with the city were transported to Neihu’s Dahu Park and Guandu [suburbs of Taipei]. The exiled Tibetans did not resist police efforts while dispersed, only those who speak Chinese among them shouted out “Ma Ying-jeou - please save Tibet.” According to Article 29 of the “Police Enforcement Act,” the Wild Strawberries expressed objections as the police dispersed the protesters. The Wild Strawberries will file a formal complaint and demand a full police report of the dispersion this night citing Article 29 of the “Police Enforcement Act.”

04:11

Around 3 am, police officers and several police transport wagons arrived at Liberty Square. Now the police wagons prepared to remove the Wild Strawberries and the exiled Tibetans have increased to four. Tibetans of three police wagons have been forced away. Protesters in Liberty Square now need our support. Friends who can come here please do immediately!

04:41

Within one hour, all the exiled Tibetans have been forced ways by the police. Now more than 200 officers are surrounding 40 students, who then staging an impromptu sit-in. 2 to 3 journalists who have received the information are on the way to Liberty Square.

04:48

The police has started to carry the students onto the transport wagons. Some students are claiming up to the Strawberry Tower and confronting with the police. The situation is urgent.

[1211Press Release] The day right after Human Rights Day. The governemnt exiled Tibetans and WS

2008-12-12T20:39:00.001+08:00

On International Human Rights Day, President Ma Ying-jeou vowed to safeguard human rights, saying that “= st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Taiwan enjoys the freest parades and assemblies around the world.” Less than four hours after Human Rights Day, at 4 am on December 11th 2008, law enforcement authorities dispatched approximately 300 officers and numerous police transport wagons surrounding Liberty Square. Wild Strawberries demonstrators and approximately 100 exiled Tibetans were forcibly removed from the square via police transport wagons.

The Wild Strawberries strongly protest against such excessive police tactics to disperse the students, especially given the most recent rational and peaceful rally (on Sunday) and the subsequent publicly announced intention of leaving the Square as well as the close communication with police officers on the logistics. Clearly the new Zhongzheng Bureau chief Chen Ming-cheng (unlike his predecessor) ignored signs of good faith and refused to believe that the students were planning to leave Liberty Square, considering he forcibly removed the students at 4:00 a.m., when students were fast asleep and media reporters had left for the day. We challenge President Ma’s notion that Taiwan enjoys freedom of parade and assembly and questions whether the current Administration can only tolerate opposition voices for a month. More importantly, was unexpectedly dispersing the students at 4:00 a.m. the best response from President Ma Ying-jeou and Premier Liu Chao-hsung?

Around 4 a.m., police officers and several police transport wagons arrived at Liberty Square to prepare to remove protesters. Within the hour, officers forcibly took 111 Tibetans away and increased to four police wagons. At around 4:30 AM, more than 300 officers surrounded 40 students, who then staged an impromptu sit-in and called out “Abuse of State Power, Unconstitutional Parade and Assembly Law”. Assistant Professor Lee Ming-tsung (of the National Taiwan University’s Department of Sociology) rushed to the square and negotiated with the police. Officers indicated that if the Wild Strawberries had not assisted the Tibetan protesters [with resources left over from the Wild Strawberries sit-in], they would not have forcibly dispersed the incoming protesters (exiled Tibetans).

After negotiation efforts failed, the police started to remove the students’ supplies at the Square and soon after, the students themselves. Several students were injured during the removal process; one male student was kicked by the police. To add insult to injury, officers were disrespectful towards and ridiculed the students, all the while almost gleefully declared that they can “finally take them away.” Around 5:20 a.m., the police dragged and carried 40-some students onto the transport wagons.

The Wild Strawberries condemn the enforcement of the unconstitutional Parade and Asssembly Law and the unfair treatment towards the exiled Tibetans, who did not resist police efforts to disperse them. While the Wild Strawberries were transported to the front gates of National Taiwan University via three police transport wagons [in Taipei], exiled Tibetans who are far less familiar with the city were transported to Neihu’s Dahu Park and Guandu [suburbs of Taipei]. Towards the end of the removal operation as the police was speaking to the press, a supporter of Tibet shouted out “Ma Ying-jeou - please save Tibet.”

That the forcible removal by the police was the result of the Wild Strawberries helping out exiled Tibetans indicates the authoritarian nature of our current Administration as well as the Administration’s fear of more unified and collaborative citizens. In Europe and the United States, the rights of exiled Tibetans are safeguarded and humanitarian assistance is often offered. On the other hand, the Ma Administration’s hypocrisy is painfully apparent: while President Ma recently stated the H.E. Dalai Lama will be invited to visit Taiwan at the “appropriate time,” the Administration decided to forcibly remove exiled Tibetans and the Wild Strawberries (who offered assistance) during the wee hours, and only four hours after the International Human Rights Day. Police action begs the question of how President Ma can declare that Taiwan will become a human rights country.

Last but not least, the Wild Strawberries strongly condemn the lack of legal grounds for the police to remove the resources at Liberty Square [which were to be donated to exiled Tibetans]. The Wild Strawberries will file a formal complaint and demand a full police report citing Article 29 of the “Police Enforcement Act.”

[Taiwan News] Taiwan Wild Strawberry Movement students to form observation group in case trial against state violence

2008-12-12T17:29:00.001+08:00

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The case filed by citizens against state violence will open at Taipei District Court Friday. The three plaintiffs, Wild Strawberry Movement students, scholars, and social groups plan to form an observation group to attend the hearing.

The observation group is formed to observe and take records of the court session. On the same day Dec. 12, social groups and student protesters will also hold a “private court” to try the state violence case at the Liberty Square. (more)

The Biggest Ironic Show in Taiwan, 4 hours after the Human Rights Day.

2008-12-12T09:04:00.001+08:00

[Wild Strawberries, Taipei, Taiwan]
Dec 11th , 2008

After four hours of Human Rights Day, Taiwanese government forced students and Tibetan refugees to leave the Liberty Square, and moved everything students had sat up there at Dec 11th, 2008, 4 am in the dark. Handling only 30 students of Wild Strawberries Student Movement, who is protesting police violence and defend human rights, Taiwanese government used more than 300 officers with shield and weapons to circle around students, dozens of heavy-guarded buses, to drag them one by one to the buses and cleaned the Liberty Square.

While police force tried to untie students against their will to leave, several students were hurt during the process by violently beating or twisting while some policemen was laughing with arrogant attitude. One student recalled: “Yes, I remember the faces they had while they tore us down. They were laughing. They cursed us, shouting ‘finally I can chase you out! Sons of Bitch! ” Another student said that they were trying to negotiate with the police that they are going to leave peacefully, voluntarily. But this request was answered with more police with weapons at hand to surround 30 students in the center at dark.

At the north side of the Liberty Square, about 100 Tibetan refugees were also forced to walk into the police buses by themselves peacefully in the dark. They hold posters such as “I love Taiwan” and said they were in debt to come here and have stayed here several years without any legal status. Taiwanese government tried to ignore them instead of helping them. But if they got return to India or Tibet, they will get serious punishments and they’ve rather die. Most of them cannot speak Mandarin and did not resist against police at all. However, the Taiwanese police divided them deliberately into 6 buses and drove them to six different sites among the suburban mountains to “dispose” in the morning. Students of wild strawberries were trying anxiously to reach and locate them by cell phone, but Tibetans, as foreigners in Taiwan, could hardly recognize where they were in Taipei.

How could Taiwan, claiming to be a democratic, free country, did such crime without any humanity concern to Tibetans and students? How could police force imply such mean and well-planned strategies to treat an peaceful students movement and Tibetan refugees? Ironically, less than 24 hours ago, President Ma in Taiwan announced in public, saying “Taiwan is the most free country to assembly and parade in the world” in an occasion of hosting an human rights award ceremony, while two or three students and Tibetan among the audience were forced to leave. What a lie, what a show.

Why Taiwanese government ignore but tolerant the students’ movement at Liberty Square for more than one month, but suddenly they changed their mind and forced students to leave? The answer is the group of Tibetan refugee with more than 100 members, coming to Liberty Square to stay since this Tuesday. During the negotiation with police, students were warned in advance: “ If you helped those Tibetan, you can protect yourselves.” However, students share their sleeping bags, jackets, scarf, water, shelters and food with Tibetan during the night, while the weather was chilly and windy in Taipei. Students were told: “it is because you helped Tibetan, so we have to force you out!”

After the “cleaning” of Liberty Square, students and Tibetans came back to the Liberty Square after they were “abandoned” by police. Students hold an press conference together with Tibetans and announce that they are going to stay there. The representative of the Tibetan refugees also expressed his appreciation for students helps. Students of Wild Strawberries also announced their strongest support for Tibetan refugees and expressed their anger at the government’s cruel treatment on Tibetans.

How could a democratic state turn Tibetan refugee around and bully its own young people to help Tibetan refugees? This awkward attitude is the vivid image that President Ma is trying to do: to impress Beijing. Ma is busy to correct his talking about the visit of Dalai Lama recently, saying : “It is not a good time for him to visit Taiwan”, while Dalai Lama was visiting France. He then further chased out the peaceful Tibetan refugees with students in Liberty Square.

The Wild Strawberries Movement was begun at Nov 6th 2008 in Taipei, while an Chinese envoy visited Taiwan and Taiwanese government used heavy police force and heavy tactic to prevent the envoy from hearing Taiwanese protesting violence. They’ve got more than 140,000 people’s signature to support them and more than 900 scholars in Taiwan supports them as well. It was their 35 day silent sit-in at liberty square and they hold a peaceful parade this passing Sunday. They’ve announced to change their site this week and planned to leave the Liberty Square soon.

* CNN i-report: what happened at the beginning…(video) http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-156557

* How police treat students and Tibetan yesterday (news + video) http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2008/12/12/2003430879
http://taiwanstudentmovement2008.blogspot.com/2008/12/three-hours-after-human-rights-day.html

Liberty Square Protest

2008-12-12T02:25:00.000+08:00

Podcast about the protests.
http://billcreata.podomatic.com/player/web/2008-12-11T04_48_52-08_00

[Taipei Times] Wild Strawberries forced to vacate Liberty Square

2008-12-12T02:21:00.000+08:00

The Wild Strawberry Student Movement yesterday criticized the government after the surprise eviction by police early yesterday morning of the 40 student protesters and a group of Tibetan activists who remained at Liberty Square following the students’ rally on Sunday.

“[The eviction took place] less than 24 hours after President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) said [at a Human Rights Day event] that people in Taiwan enjoy the most freedom to assemble and parade [in the world],” movement spokesman Lo Shih-hsiang (羅士翔) told a press conference.

“At about 5am, the students who were staging a silent sit-in at Liberty Square were besieged and removed by police along with about 100 Tibetan activists, without any warning. We are very ashamed by [the police action],” Lo said. (more)

Save Tibet / Save Taiwan

2008-12-12T02:12:00.001+08:00

After the incident yesterday it might be a smart move to contact the tibetians and help each other:
http://www.savetibet.org/

Three hours after Human Rights Day, Tibetans and Wild Strawberries were forced away from "Liberty" Square

2008-12-11T23:31:00.001+08:00

1211 3:30 a.m. Tibetans were forced to leave. The policemen sent all the Tibetans away by three police patrol cars; then turned to WS. Within 1.5 hour, the policemen destroyed all the houses and Strawberries tower and lifted students away brutally. Approx. 30 Wild Strawberries were moved away (like a piece of meat or some inanimate stuff) by more than 200 policemen with nightsticks and shield. Please tell me, why at night? At deep sleepy night, at 3:30?? Three hours after Human Rights Day? Are they thief? Why to force Tibetans away? They were already homeless refugees. Some of them could not even speak Mandarin. They were sent and abandoned in six different corners in Taipei. Why illegal? Did those policemen know that the law they use had already announced a violation of Constitution Law? And it is going to be revised soon in the Legislative Yuan. Who is illegal? When students ask them to sign the "disagreement with the administration decision" according to article 29 in Police Law, they refused. Do they really read the law before they became a police???

Police officer is demanding that they remove their audio / visual equipment in 30 minutes.

2008-12-11T17:22:00.004+08:00

It is time for minuteman!

Allons enfants de la Patrie,

Le jour de gloire est arrivé !

Contre nous de la tyrannie,

L'étendard sanglant est levé

Arise, children of the Fatherland,

The day of glory has arrived!

Against us the tyranny's

bloodied banner is raised

[Kmtnews] Polices Disperse “Wild Strawberry Movement” Protestors

2008-12-11T17:15:00.001+08:00

This time KMT seems to be well prepared and have all information already on their webpage

http://www.kmtnews.net/client/eng/NewsArtical.php?REFDOCID=00az4moy1n7wilvt&TYPIDJump=00air17gdql55u7h

[Taiwan News] Taiwan Wild Strawberry Movement returns to protest inadequate law enforcement

2008-12-11T16:46:00.001+08:00

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – After 50 students at the Liberty Square was dispersed by police early in the morning, about 30 students returned to the same site at 9 am to protest inadequate law enforcement by the police.

The Wild Strawberry Movement began on Nov. 6 during the period of Taiwan visit made by Chen Yunlin (陳雲林), chairman of China’s Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait, asking the Parade and Assembly law be amended. On Dec. 7, a rally was held in peace and ended the one-month movement. Several students still stayed for the sit-in. Since the next day, Tibetan movement supporters have staged a sit-in on the right side of the Liberty Square in protest of China’s violent acts. (more)

[Taiwan News] Cabinet to communicate with legislature on human rights covenants (after decades)

2008-12-11T16:41:00.001+08:00

Premier Liu Chao-shiuan instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Thursday to actively seek negotiations with legislators to win their long-delayed endorsement of two international human rights covenants.

Liu issued the directive at a weekly Cabinet meeting, during which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs delivered a report on the progress in promoting ratification of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. (more)

Video from this nights events

2008-12-11T16:37:00.000+08:00

http://tw.youtube.com/watch?v=Jhe4xc5F3IQ

[Urgent] At 4 a. m., more than 200 policemen forced 40 students and Tibetan friends away on Liberty Square!

2008-12-11T08:28:00.009+08:00

Dear Sir/Madam
We are very sorry to inform you that Wild Strawberries' site in Liberty Square, Taipei was forced to close by police tonight at 4 am. We will, however, keep in touch with you via this email account later. thank you.

Media Team

==
04:11
Two police truck and huge amount of policemen came to Liberty Square to force Tibetan friends away. More and more police truck arrived and they brought three trucks of Tibetans away.
警方於夜間三點多，帶著兩輛警備車與大批警力來到自由廣場，準備驅離聚集在自由廣場上的圖博朋友與野草莓們目前警備車已增加到四輛，並以優勢的警力，帶走三車圖博人士。
請能至現場的朋友們，儘速趕過去，現場需要我們的支援！

04:41
Within an hour, all Tibetans were forced away by policemen.
At this moment, more than 200 policemen surrounded approx. 40 students. Student sat quietly on the ground. Two to three journalist were on the way to the square.
在不到一小時的時間，警方已將圖博朋友驅離現場。目前超過兩百名的警力，以方陣將約莫40名學生包圍；學生靜坐在地，而已有兩、三名記者接到通知，趕往現場。

04:48
Started to "lift" away students by police patrol car (the big trick to transport criminal.)
已開始將同學抬上警備車驅離現場。

There will be a press conference held on 9:00 on Liberty Square, 11st Dec. 2008.

The war has begun

2008-12-11T07:29:00.007+08:00

From Beijing with LOVE

[emergent!] police forced us to leave

2008-12-11T04:42:00.001+08:00

Wild Strawberries' site in Liberty Square, taipei was forced to close by police tonight at 4 am tonight.

[緊急] 野草莓自由廣場場地可能被驅離

2008-12-11T04:08:00.001+08:00

現在凌晨四點。

[Taipei Times] Journalists demand interview with NPA head over incident

2008-12-11T00:47:00.001+08:00

A group of independent journalists gathered outside the National Police Agency (NPA) yesterday, demanding an interview with NPA Director-General Wang Chuo-chiun (王卓鈞) on an incident last week in which two independent journalists were asked to leave the scene of a protest.

“We would like to interview NPA Director-General Wang today on our right to record and report news events as civilians and as independent journalists,” Sun Chiung-li (孫窮理), an independent journalist affiliated with news Web site Coolloud, told police officers blocking the entrance to the building. (more)

Ma: ... Taiwan has also become the freest country in the world for those wishing to assemble or parade.

2008-12-11T00:10:00.006+08:00

[Taipei Times] EDITORIAL: Ma's ironic Human Rights Day

Thursday, Dec 11, 2008, Page 8

At the invitation of the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) delivered a keynote speech yesterday marking International Human Rights Day in Taipei.

In his speech, Ma expressed the wish that the legislature would speedily approve the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to show the importance Taiwan attaches to human rights. ...

[China Post] Ma calls for legislative endorsement of human rights covenants

President Ma Ying-jeou yesterday called on lawmakers to endorse two documents for the protection of human rights, but the opposition camp claimed that human rights conditions have been back pedalling since he took office in May.

Ma asked the Legislature to give its long-delayed endorsement to two international human rights documents to help implement human rights protection in Taiwan. ...

Comment:

By far the best statement is: In his speech, Ma said: “The government has worked incessantly to uphold human rights ... Taiwan has also become the freest country in the world for those wishing to assemble or parade.”

The freest country in a wold only including China and North Korea???
If not, Mr. Ma just lied in public and obvious for million of people.

Sorry, maybe I have always been in the wrong places in this world, but I would even call the cabinets ideas for a new assembly law are in my eyes extremely restrictive.

I presented the German Assembly law some time ago and there are much more liberal countries in Europe.

I live in a country with gay marriage, weed smoking and a liberal Jew as our capitals mayor and I would state, Mr. Ma has just been in the wrong countries.

Human Rights Day series activities on Liberty Square, Taipei

2008-12-10T22:10:00.003+08:00

11st Dec. 19:00 A review on one-month-old Wild Strawberries

12nd Dec. 14:00 Taipei Local Court: to support A girl who were pushed by THREE policemen that her arm was broken. Please gather on Liberty Square with some NGOs first and then go to support the friend and investigate the court.

12nd Dec. 19:00 Forum on the new Version of Parade and Assembly law purposed by Administration Yuan

Wild Strawberries are still here; if you could, please keep watching on us and caring about the current human rights situation in Taiwan and the world!

Support and Advice to Wild Strawberries

2008-12-10T21:58:00.002+08:00

Hello Wild Strawberries,

First of all, I want to congratulate you guys on a successful march on Sunday. It just goes to show what people power can accomplish when it is organized and peaceful. However, I was disturbed by an article I read in the Taipei Times today that said KMT officials went to Washington D.C. and denied that police had stopped protesters from waving Republic of China flags or that they closed down the record store that was playing patriotic Taiwanese music. Hopefully NGOs such as Freedom House and Heritage Foundation will remain incredulous about the KMT's version of things, but I think the Strawberries can help counteract the KMT misinformation campaign. If any of you personally know someone who had an ROC flag taken from them, why not have them write letters to the Heritage Foundation and US Congress, giving their first-hand account of what actually took place? Of course, the more people involved the better. I personally saw a flag taken from a women on Taiwanese television and am willing to testify on what I saw.

I think it also would be a good idea for Taiwanese abroad to act in solidarity with the Wild Strawberries in Taiwan in order to help the movement make a greater international impact. I live in Taiwan now, but am from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where there are universities such as Carnegie Mellon, Pitt, and Duquesne and many Taiwanese both teach and take classes at these institutions. There are of course many more Taiwanese on the west coast of the US, in New York City, and all throughout Europe as well. I know it would not be easy to organize abroad, but it would be worth the effort, since not many people seem to know what is going on in Taiwan right now, or they may be getting their information from unreliable sources-- like Ma's stooges.

In Solidarity,

Scott Beck
Taipei, Taiwan

[NTDTV] Student Protest Continues in Taiwan

2008-12-10T21:24:00.001+08:00

Mon, Dec 2008, 08:20:00

WONG:
And in Taiwan a student movement known as the wild strawberries are calling on Taiwanese president Ma Ying-jeou to apologize for alleged police brutality. The country's police force clamped down on demonstrators during last month's visit by Chinese Communist Party official Chen Yunlin. NTD's Ben Hedges brings us there. (more)

Wikipedia pages need some refreshment

2008-12-10T20:07:00.007+08:00

[Radio Taiwan International] Looks as if Mr. Ma tries to work on his damaged image in the world

2008-12-10T19:12:00.003+08:00

Ma urges legislature to ratify human rights treaties

President Ma Ying-jeou attended the Asian Human Rights Awards on Wednesday, World Human Rights Day. Speaking at the ceremony, he urged the Legislature to sign off on international human rights agreements Taiwan first signed in the sixties. (more)

President supports changes to detention act

President Ma Ying-jeou said Wednesday that he supports better treatment for criminal suspects awaiting trial. Currently, those held in detention prior to their trials are treated no differently to those convicted of crimes. (more)

Taiwanese Press on 1207 March of still fighting Wild Strawberries

2008-12-10T18:41:00.005+08:00

... including some wrong reports that the protests ended:

[China Post] Students end sit-in with demonstration

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- College students demanding the right to hold public demonstrations without restrictions decided to end their month-long sit-in after staging a march in Taipei yesterday.

With supporters and sympathizers joining their ranks, the students marched on the boulevard that link the Anti-Corruption Plaza, the Legislative Yuan, and the Executive Yuan (Cabinet) in the capital to protest the regulations that they say limit people's constitutional right to demonstrate freely. ...

[Taipei Times] Wild Strawberry protest stays peaceful

EVERYBODY STAY CALM: The student protesters and supporters applauded police officers for only issuing warnings and not blocking them or clashing with them
By Flora Wang and Loa Iok-sin
STAFF REPORTERS
Monday, Dec 08, 2008, Page 1

The Wild Strawberry Student Movement marked its one-month anniversary in Taipei yesterday with a rally featuring a mock funeral for the nation’s human rights, attracting several thousand participants of all ages. The demonstrators, who only reported their planned event to the police instead of seeking approval from law enforcement authorities as required by the Assembly and Parade Law (集會遊行法), peacefully marched to the Legislative Yuan, the Control Yuan, the Executive Yuan, the National Police Agency (NPA) and Ketagalan Boulevard in front of the Presidential Office. ...

[Taipei Times] REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK: Wild Strawberries protest proves the skeptics wrong

Many people may have had reservations about whether the loosely-knit Wild Strawberry Student Movement would be capable of staging a successful and peaceful rally as planned when they heard that the students had decided not to report their planned protest to the police in defiance of the Assembly and Parade Law (集會遊行法). Even Ho Tung-hung (何東洪), an associate professor of psychology at Fu Jen Catholic University and a participant in the Wild Lily Student Movement (野百合學運) of the 1990s, expressed reservations when talking to the Taipei Times several days prior to Sunday’s demonstration.

Ho, who had been offering advice to the Wild Strawberries as a student movement veteran, had expressed doubts about whether the students would be able to handle such a large-scale rally. ...

[Tawan News] Taiwan’s Wild Strawberry Movement ends with a peaceful rally

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – On the one-month anniversary, Wild Strawberry Movement had assembled protesters all over the island to stage a demonstration in Taipei Sunday, protesting the “death of human rights” to Ma Ying-jeou government. Since the previous application for right of way was overruled, it is feared that clash may erupt between students and police officers. Fortunately, the four-hour rally came to an end in peace, with students expressing their gratitude to the police for the peaceful result. ...

[Taiwan News] Thousands turn out for Wild Strawberries demo in Taiwan

About 3,000 Taiwanese college students marched in the capital yesterday to protest a law that they say limits people's constitutional right to demonstrate freely.

The students, many in black shirts symbolizing impaired human rights, shouted slogans as they paraded in a downtown district with police and government buildings. ...

Human Rights in the Taiwanese Press

2008-12-10T17:50:00.003+08:00

[Taiwan News] Social groups release documentary testifying Taiwan’s backward human rights

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Social groups Taiwan Society and Friends of Taiwan released a documentary “Red Marshall Law” yesterday on the eve of International Human Rights Day and of the 29-year anniversary of Formosa Incident, criticizing Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) government’s downgrading Taiwan and harming human rights. ...

[Taiwan News] Taiwan PTS protests press freedom interfered by lawmakers

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Public Television Service (PTS) Board Director Cheng Tung-liao (鄭同僚) and President Sylvia Feng (馮賢賢) among other top executives yesterday placed a statement on Chinese-language newspapers to protest the Legislative Yuan’s resolution that TV stations under the Taiwan Broadcasting System should ask for the consent of governing authorities before using each item of next year’s budget. The statement said that lawmakers had moved Taiwan’s freedom of press and democracy backward and breached the consensus of withdrawal from media of political party and the military. ...

[Taipei Times] TAHR slams Ma over rights abuses

TOP 10 VIOLATIONS: The rights association said that instead of exporting Taiwanese democracy to China, the government has imported Chinese repression
By Jenny W. Hsu
STAFF REPORTER
Wednesday, Dec 10, 2008, Page 1

The suppression by police of protests during last month's visit by a Chinese official topped this year's top 10 human rights violations, the Taiwan Association for Human Rights (TAHR) said yesterday, urging the government to stop sabotaging the nation's hard won democracy by promptly amending the Assembly and Parade Law (集會遊行法). ...

[Taipei Times] All the president's men reject 'police brutality'

In an effort to improve his reputation abroad, President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) sent a legislator, a police bureaucrat and a justice ministry official to Washington on Monday to argue that recent charges of Taiwanese police brutality were a “misunderstanding.”

After making a 90-minute presentation at the Heritage Foundation — a conservative think tank — the team moved on to the US Congress to distribute a statement denying that police were anything other than victims in the protests against Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait Chairman Chen Yunlin's (陳雲林) visit last month. ...

[Taipei Times] Documentary on brutality during Chen visit released

A pro-independence organization yesterday released a documentary recounting how the police used excessive force to block people from expressing their opinions and protesting during the visit of Chinese envoy Chen Yunlin (陳雲林), and said the documentary would be delivered to several international human rights organizations in the hope they would pay more attention to Taiwan’s human rights situation.
“By producing the documentary, we hope to draw the attention of international society [to the fact] that human rights in Taiwan have been seriously violated and democracy has been jeopardized during President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) administration,” Secretary-General of the Taiwan Society Lo Chih-cheng (羅致政) told a press conference yesterday. ...

[Taipei Times] Human rights advocates air concerns

DEJA VU: Threats to civil liberties and freedom of the press as well as pretrial detentions of opposition figures have led some to feel they are back in the Martial Law era
By Ko Shu-ling
STAFF REPORTER
Wednesday, Dec 10, 2008, Page 3

On Dec. 10, 1948, the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Sixty years later, Taiwan prides itself on its peaceful democratization. However, many human rights and media watchdogs, both local and international, have expressed concerns over an increase in human rights violations and restrictions on civil liberties since President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) took office in May. ...

[Human Rights Day] Taiwan Foundation for Democracy honors Sima Samar

2008-12-10T11:25:00.002+08:00

The Taiwan Foundation for Democracy (TFD) will today honor Sima Samar, chairwoman of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, with its 2008 Asia Democracy and Human Rights Award for her dedication to improving the status of women in Afghanistan.

(...Full Story...)

“Young people in Taiwan or in Afghanistan or in any other parts of the world are the owners of this world, the futures of this world. They have to be more respect for human rights and human dignity so they will be more responsible for a peaceful future for this planet,” she said.

Hey, Wild Strawberries are still fighting!

2008-12-10T00:28:00.002+08:00

Today(1209) when I was on the Liberty Square, there was a man who ran to me and asked if the movement is going to end. There were several reports in the Mass media told people that Wild Strawberries Movement was ended after the peaceful and successful march on 7th Dec. However, this information is not true.

We are still here!

The No Borders Human Rights concert (1209 evening on Liberty Square, Taipei) was successful. Human rights activities from Nepal, Afghanistan, Hong-Kong were presented and addressed the current human rights situation in their own countries. The music played by foreigners friends who care about human rights in Taiwan was energetic and cheerful delivering the message of Love, Peace and Freedom to the world. People ignited candles on a no-border-line world map on those places where the participants are from and those places need the human rights. No border is what we expect to be realised with regards to freedom, peace and love. These are the value all human beings share and what we need to protect and fight for.

Wild Strawberries are still there. We are not the juicy pink strawberries on the cake, but the wild one which can endure time and challenging. It had been more than 800 hours passed. We are still here and there. We have already been in the history and in people's mind. And we are growing and spreading.

If you could, please keep watching this innovative and hopeful student movement by students in Taiwan. And if you could, you are welcome to give advice that what we should do to wake the deaf government up. You may put comment here, or you can send commentary to taiwanstudentmovement2008@gmail.com

[The Huffington Post] Wild Strawberries: Taiwanese Student Movement Stirs Anew

2008-12-10T00:25:00.002+08:00

Taipei, Taiwan - A defiant, peaceful march by 5,000 protesters to the grounds of the Presidential Palace yesterday marked the first month's anniversary of a renewed and re-invigorated national pro-democracy student movement.

The protesters, some wearing mocking costumes of former emperors and current mainland Chinese Communist officials, demanded that the current Taiwanese government of President Ma Ying-jeou abolish a law that requires protesters to see and obtain prior permission for all public protests. They made their point by merely notifying local officials of the march but not waiting for approval.

Along the route they were briefly warned and stopped by Taiwanese security officials but without incident. The march was punctuated with a mock funeral for human rights, just two days before celebration of International Human Rights Day.(Read More)

[Dec 9 concert in support of Wild Strawberries] Music Trumps Nationality. Human Rights Know No Borders.

2008-12-08T21:57:00.002+08:00

Dear Friends,

I would very much appreciate your passing on to your friends in Taiwan (and anyone else for that matter) this urgent appeal to turn out in a show of international support for what the Wild Strawberries have been able to achieve. This is a straight-up human rights issue, and green/blue issues are banished for the night of Dec 9, when we have some musicians from Japan, Canada, the US and elsewhere coming out to show the Wild Strawberries that theirs is a movement that has the support of the world.

I hope that everyone recognizes that the Taiwan government's human rights roll-back of the last several months has serious implications for all of us in Taiwan, foreigners included, and especially those of us who have made the Taiwan struggle for human rights, freedom and democracy our own. Mr. Ma is quite clearly going by the PRC playbook, so, if we don't rise up and put a stop to it, well, PRC-style repression will not be long in coming. Think of this as Taiwan's answer to the Tienanmen Massacre!

We have a good musical line-up, some speeches, and we will have prepared a world map, without any national borders showing, by which we wish to say that (1) music knows no borders, just as human rights is universal, and (2) in solidarity with Taiwanese, who are being denied the right to decide whether or not they can even have a country, then we will forego our nationalities for the evening.

We wish to give graphic, camera-ready expression to this using a map, and each international guest is invited to come up and give their name, and say where they are from -- without mentioning country. The more places we have represented, the more powerfully we can make the point that the Wild Strawberries enjoy international support.

Several representatives from international human rights organizations will also be present.

Sure hope to see you there. Please pass the word, bring friends and so on.

All this takes place at downtown Taipei's Liberty Square, 5 minutes' walk from the MRT CKS Memorial Hall station.

That's tomorrow night, Dec 9, beginning at 7pm and running until 11.

Thanks much.

Peace. Lynn

[Support] Detroit activity Support WSM

2008-12-07T22:24:00.000+08:00

2008.12.07 Detroit is currently snowing and the temperature is blow freezing. About 100 people from Detroit, Lancing, Flint, Ann Arbor, and several from Toledo, Ohio and Toronto, Canada, gathered in Novi Town Center to show support to the Wild Strawberry Movement.

[International Harald Tribune] Taiwanese students protest demonstration law

2008-12-07T20:21:00.002+08:00

TAIPEI, Taiwan: About 3,000 Taiwanese college students marched in the capital Sunday to protest a law that they say limits people's constitutional right to demonstrate freely.

The students, many in black shirts symbolizing impaired human rights, shouted slogans as they paraded in a downtown district with police and government buildings. (more)

[Yahoo News] Taiwanese protest police 'abuse' during anti-China demos

2008-12-07T20:20:00.000+08:00

TAIPEI (AFP) - Hundreds of college students protested in Taipei on Sunday against what they called police abuse in handling anti-China demonstrations last month and demanded an apology from President Ma Ying-jeou.(more)

[Support from Paris, France] Alerte aux droits de l'homme à Taiwan

2008-12-07T00:16:00.002+08:00

More information in French can be found in Club des Taiwanais

Statement about President Ma's violation on Human Rights and a series of issues: Alerte aux droits de l'homme à Taiwan

On December 7th, Taiwanese in PARIS protests Taiwan government led by Ma violates human rights
Where: Human right plaza: Trocadéro
Time: 15:30
Where to meet: Parvis des Droites de l'Homme (You will see the flag right on metro exit)

Wild Strawberries March on December 7th, 2008 – Schedule & Agenda

2008-12-07T00:14:00.002+08:00

December 7th marks the one month anniversary of the Wild Strawberries Movement and with your participation, we would like to march for human rights in Taiwan!

Please join us to rehearse the march that has been voluntarily reported to law enforcement authorities

I. Preparation

Noon Registration and Assemble at Liberty Square

1:00 p.m. Non-Violent Civil Resistance Workshop
- General session on safety rules and guidelines on conducting a peaceful march
- Joint pledge for a peaceful march by all participants, including students, private citizens, and NGOs
- “Wild Strawberries Fight Song” led by Takao Fight Song Band and an exhibition show

II. March Route

2:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. March Commences from Liberty Square
- Follow along Chung-Shan S. Road, passing the Legislative Yuan and Administrative Yuan.
- After turning right onto Chung-Hsiao E. Road, will walk along Lin-Sen S. Road and Chi-Nan Road before returning to Chung Shan-S Road with the final destination at Ketagalan Boulevard
- Command car arrives at Ketagalan Boulevard (ETA 4:30 p.m.)

4:30 p.m. Memorial Service for Human Rights

5:30 p.m. Return to Liberty Square
- Following the memorial service, the group will leave Ketagalan Boulevard and cross over Chung Shan S. Road via the Ai-Kuo W. Road intersection to return to Liberty Square.

III. Evening Reception

6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. The Wild Strawberries Evening Reception
- Wild Strawberries Movement representatives from all over Taiwan will share their thoughts and experiences over the last month
- Declaration of future goals and objectives
- Performance by Mr. Ling Sheng-Hsiang

[Support] March on 1207 San Diego, U.S. A.

2008-12-06T22:15:00.001+08:00

1. San Diego Berries is broadcasting from http://www.justin.tv/taiwancenter [is live now].

2. San Diego TV station (Fox , channel 6) is going to broadcasting TACC-SD candle light rally to support of WSM. The TV camera crew will be starting at 8 PM ( Taipei time 12 noon) at TACC (Taiwanese American Community Center), following interview Prof Chris Fan. San Deigo want to spread out the WSM as much as they can.

[1205 Press Release] Strawberries Urging Police's Cooperation in Upcoming March

2008-12-06T22:09:00.000+08:00

Wild Strawberries today forwards its application to police for the upcoming protest march. The district police station responsible for the protest venue refused to accept student’s application citing the unlawful nature of the protest in accordance with The Law of Assembly and Protest. The district police chief also indicate that there will be crack down if students insisting going ahead with the protest. The Wild Strawberries are appalled with police reaction, and like to remind police that amendment to the Law of Assembly and Parade is imminent, the police should therefore respect the wishes of students, namely, holding protest without seeking prior clearance from authority, protect and defend protesters’ right as prescribed in constitution. However, by refusing students application for protest, Wild Strawberries fear that if the protest does go ahead, violent crack down by police much like that of Chinese envoy’s visit will reappear on the street of Taipei.

Wild Strawberries hereby reiterate its opposition to the Law of Assemble and Parade in its current form. And vehemently oppose government’s use of the law to silence the dissidents.

Apart from submitting protest application, Wild Strawberries also prepared a detailed protest and route plan for the police, hoping that the police can uphold its constitutional obligation in defending students’ right to protest and express.

The purpose of this march is to highlight the absurdity of the Law, which stipulated that a protest can not be hold without clearance from the authority. But, what if the authority is the target of the protest? Will authority approve protest knowing itself is the subject of protest?

The Wild Strawberries regret police’s refusal to accept protest application, and this only strength our resolute to see The Law of Assemble and Parade being amend. The Wild Strawberries will demonstrate to government that a protest march can be peaceful and rational, government shouldn’t be fearful of people; rather, expression of different voices is a sign of mature democracy, and it should be encouraged rather then brutally suppressed.

[Taiwan News] Taiwan ex-President Lee Teng-huei visits Wild Strawberry Movement protesters

2008-12-06T20:58:00.001+08:00

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Former president Lee Teng-huei (李登輝) today visited Wild Strawberry Movement students at Liberty Square and promised to provide assistance to protesters with their demand to amend the Parade and Assembly Law.

Lee originally planned to visit the students Sunday on the Movement’s one-month anniversary but advanced his visit for a conflicting schedule. He told the students to take care of themselves amidst the cold weather and cheered for the demonstration to be staged tomorrow.

Lee said he agreed on the movement’s law amendment demand. The true essence of democracy lies in “power of the people”, said Lee, and government should not ask a demonstration to be held followed by application, but only to dispatch the police when violence occurred. (Read more)

A letter to WS students from Prof. Leigh

2008-12-06T18:41:00.002+08:00

Sent: Monday, December 1, 2008 12:25:22 AM
From: James Leigh
Professor Emeritus in the College of Education
University of Missouri
Columbia, Missouri, USA

Dear Students:
I recently returned to the United States from a visit to your beautiful country,
where I had the opportunity to talk with other professors and students about my
professional work and interests related to the field of education. Even though the
purpose of my trip was entirely nonpolitical, during my visit I learned about the
Taiwan Wild Strawberries Movement, and I have read with interest the November 10
protest statement and many of the other postings on the TW Action website. After
returning to the U.S., I have been invited to share some of my thoughts and opinions
with you concerning the goals and activities of your movement.
Although the history and culture of our countries are quite different, when I was a
university student in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, there was a great amount of
unrest and turmoil in the U.S. between large numbers of university students and
faculty and others in the American society on the one hand, and staunch supporters of
government, military, and police authorities on the other hand. The protests and
demonstrations focused primarily on disagreement over U.S. policy relating to the
Vietnam war, but also grew to encompass opposing perspectives about other aspects
of American values and culture. Even though the Vietnam war ended long ago, there
are still lingering divisions and resentments harbored by many U.S. citizens as a result of the polarization and conflict from that era. I believe that some of that residual distrust and misunderstanding is now apparent in the socio-political distinction between “red” states and “blue” states in America, which in some respects is not unlike the designation of “blue” and “green” parties today in your country.
I cannot pretend to be well-versed in Taiwanese history and culture and its
complex relationship with the People’s Republic of China, so I will abstain from
offering judgments and specific recommendations regarding your current situation
other than to state that, as I understand it, your purpose appears to be not only just but noble insofar as it intends to protect and advance the cause of democracy and independence in your country. Of course, this position is to be expected from a
citizen of the country that declared its own independence in the words, “We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that, to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed ...” This statement maintains that the members of your movement, and indeed all citizens of Taiwan, already have the rights that you advocate by virtue of being human. You are not asking any government to confer such rights that you already possess, but rather your goal is to ensure that your government recognizes and protects those rights.
Since I am not in a position to provide suggestions regarding the particular
strategies and resources your movement should employ toward this goal, I will simply
offer some thoughts to consider based upon my observations of and participation in
protest movements in my own country. For example, one important lesson I learned
is that people are seldom persuaded to a point of view by physical confrontation or
loud and emotionally-charged argument. If anything, such tactics generally produce
a defensive posture in philosophical adversaries, and often are regarded as rude and
arrogant and potentially dangerous by neutral individuals who otherwise might be
open to the message if it had been offered in a less threatening manner. Many of the
violent clashes between student groups and police in the U.S. in the 1960’s were
counterproductive, even though the students’ cause was worthwhile, because so many
citizens were repulsed by what they perceived as the mindless destruction of property, disruption of civil order, injuries, and sometimes even the tragic and needless loss of life.
As you pursue your purpose, I would encourage each of you to remember the
words of Martin Luther King as he wrote from a jail in Birmingham, Alabama: "We
are caught in an inescapable web of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny.
Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly." If this statement is true, as I believe it to be, the implication is that we must resist the politics of division and hatred in which our only concern and empathy is with those who support and join our cause, and in which others are regarded as enemies to be overcome. This does not mean that you should defer to or attempt to appease the opponents of democracy in your country, but rather that you should remember that it is their positions and policies that you seek to defeat, and not the people themselves. The implication of this distinction is that the fundamental humanity of all people must be respected, which rules out the use of violence or any form of degrading or demeaning attack, even in words, directed toward those with whom you disagree at this time.
Undoubtedly, you have already found that some of your members are well-versed
in the more substantive conceptual aspects of freedom and democracy and human
rights, while other members may only be caught up in their sense of the excitement
and adventure of rebellion and supporting a cause. Many who participated in various
American protest movements were well-informed and committed to their causes, but
it is also true that many were simply bored or dissatisfied young people for whom the
demonstrations and confrontations provided an outlet for their personal frustrations or a source of entertainment and a sense of belonging that they otherwise lacked in their lives.
In order to convince adversaries to listen to one’s perspective, it is necessary to be willing also to listen to and learn about their perspective. Positions and policies are not defeated by how loud and angry our voices of protest can be, but rather by how logical and convincing our reason is in undermining those positions and policies. In other words, to refute an idea, it is first necessary to understand it, which means learning about its background and history and the motives of those who subscribe to it and the positive and negative implications of adhering to that idea. Only then does it become possible to argue against the idea in a systematic, rational, and powerful manner that will appeal to those who are willing to consider differing perspectives.
Accordingly, perhaps your movement will provide an opportunity for your student
leaders also to serve as teachers, providing an education beyond university walls for
many Taiwanese citizens and future political leaders. Many great thinkers before you
have grappled with the notions of freedom and democracy and independence; authors
as diverse as Aristotle, Thomas Jefferson, Voltaire, Walt Whitman, G. K. Chesterton,
John Kennedy, Ghandi, Paulo Freire, Allen Ginsberg, Noam Chomsky and countless
others have shared their thoughts about such ideals, and you can read and study their
eloquent words today for guidance and inspiration and to translate and share with
your fellow citizens.
Finally, I offer my best wishes to you as you seek to foster a Taiwanese society in
which all citizens can pursue their goals and dreams and live their daily lives in an
atmosphere free from fear and oppression. I hope you continue to be strong and
courageous in your pursuits, resisting any and all attempts to deny your basic human
rights such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of assembly, freedom
to petition, and freedom of the press. I also hope your movement will seek to achieve
its worthy goals, as much as possible without compromising the essential quest for
liberty and democracy, in a spirit of cooperation and inclusion and harmony with all
other citizens of Taiwan, including those with whom you may have disagreements at
this time, while remembering that it is not only the right but also the responsibility of citizens in a democracy to speak out against and non-violently resist any attempts by government to suppress or revoke such rights.

[Taiwan Journal] Web movements herald new dawn for political engagement

2008-12-06T17:58:00.001+08:00

Last month, two developments captured the local public's imagination regarding technology's potential for transforming political landscapes: the victory of Barack Obama in the 44th U.S. presidential election and Taiwan's 'first high-tech student movement.' (more)

[Taipei Times] Amnesty warns against excessive force

2008-12-06T02:01:00.004+08:00

WORLD IS WATCHING: Amnesty International’s statement will draw global attention to the government’s response to tomorrow’s ‘Wild Strawberry’ protest, one diplomat said
By William Lowther
STAFF REPORTER , WASHINGTON
Saturday, Dec 06, 2008, Page 1

Amnesty International has issued a thinly disguised warning to President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), urging him not to use excessive police force to control and break up the unauthorized protest march planned for tomorrow by the “Wild Strawberry” student movement. (more)

[Taipei Times] EDITORIAL: Now we’re really being watched

2008-12-06T01:57:00.002+08:00

... When it comes to international opinion from people with a personal or institutional connection to Taiwan, an easy majority supports Taiwan’s ability to determine its own affairs, and not China’s agenda of ingratiation, intimidation and violence.

The sequence of events is quite predictable. Organizations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and Reporters Without Borders determine that there is a consistent pattern of inappropriate governance or other misuse of power. Letters and reports are written, politicians are lobbied and media outlets report and dissect the resulting debate. These labors set the stage for intervention by governments of influence or their envoys, most of whom act quite conservatively until a battery of facts is available.

Taiwan has now reached the unfortunate point of being on the watch list for rights groups, and not just those interested in the fate of a former president. ... (more)

[Taiwan News] Why 'Strawberries' march for rights in Taiwan

2008-12-06T01:53:00.001+08:00

A major test of how the restored Chinese Nationalist Party (Kuomintang) government of President Ma Ying-jeou will handle intensifying public dissatisfaction will occur Sunday when the "Wild Strawberry" student movement challenges the restrictive "Assembly and Parade Law" with an unauthorized protest march in Taipei City beginning at noon from Liberty Square. (more)

Changes in the Parade and Assembly Law in the Press

2008-12-06T01:42:00.002+08:00

[Taipei Times] Cabinet proposes altering Assembly and Parade Law

The government yesterday answered a long-standing call by activists to scrap police powers to grant or deny protest permits, but offered the police instead new powers to bar or alter demonstration plans in certain cases.

The proposal to amend the Assembly and Parade Law (集會遊行法) approved at the weekly Cabinet meeting was described in a statement as “a big step forward in the nation’s development of democracy and the rule of law.” ...

[China Post] Assembly act to be amended

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- No police permission is necessary to stage a rally, according to an amendment to the assembly act the Cabinet adopted yesterday.

Under the current act, organizers have to file applications with police at least six days before the rally is to take place. Police permission is required. ...

[Taiwan News] Taiwan Cabinet approves to lift restrictions on protests

The cabinet approved changes in the Parade and Assembly Law yesterday in a concession to protesting students, while also rolling out the welcome mat for students from China.

Protesters will no longer have to apply for approval from the police for their event, a key demand of students who have been holding a continuous sit-in in Taipei since Nov. 6. Their action was sparked by alleged police brutality during protests against the visit of Chinese envoy Chen Yunlin. ...

[Coolloud] To all over the world:Taiwan Hansens' human rights

2008-12-06T01:20:00.000+08:00

This morning, December 3, it can be said that there were almost 500 polices began to force to evict the left residents who denied to move out there houses, and here are over 200 Solidarities there. People sited together on floor to against evictions. The two sides deadlocked for 1 hour to exhaust all efforts, but finally all the Solidarities were arrested by police and send into the security vehicle to faraway.

At the end, the left residents , about 40 persons, had been related another area at the top edge of the hill slope angle, MAT company made Residents and the left 25 monuments buildings was surrounded by layers of barbed wire, as well as the rapid transit bulldozers began to dismantle 6 monuments buildings in plan.

An old man with a weak voice, he said, "We see the fence surrounded by bulldozers and barbed wire, I thought we had just been arrested in 1949 into Lo-Sheng Sanatorium, at that time, here was also full isolation by barbed wire, bullets. After 60 years, today we face the similar situation.” (Full Text)

[Press release 1204] In response to GIO's response to Freedom House's ealier statement

2008-12-05T22:42:00.000+08:00

Dumb (GIO) Government Information Office, deaf Ma

GIO officer Shi responded lightly to the suggestion of investigating the riot incident during Chen's visit from Freedom House, an American human right organization, on December 2. He only agreed to strengthen the police training. The wild strawberries question this response. It is obvious that the response admitted the fault of the police, but why GIO only said about strengthening the training and avoided an apology? And what exactly is the training project? What to strengthen? The skill of evacuating people and the media by shooting water? The wild strawberry strongly reprimands the play of the word by the Ma government.

It is obvious to see that Ma's government still would not confront the issue of police abused rights honestly, avoiding their responsibilities in serving the public, and have shifted the blame squarely on to the violoent protests which broke out on the last evening of Chen's visit. They argued that the fact some DPP members would like to offer reward for those who would egg wash Chen together with previous envoy Chang's incident meant Police have the rights to abuse their power. We despises a government which only looks after interest of the police and corporates whilst refusing to look after it's people.

Wild Strawberries movement has never swayed from the initial three demands. President Ma and Premier Liu must apologise for the violent clashes erupted between protesters and the police, resignation from Director General of the National Police Agency and National Security Bureau, and lastly remove the need to apply for protest. We insist our government to uphold the responsibility of police abusing their rights, suppressing basic human rights during Chen's visit. Taiwanese citizens' freedoms are by right, stated in our constitution, should not be violated by government in anyway, including saving a "honored guests's reputation".
Officer Shi stated the citizens that were removed from the scene and those that have their flags taken had forced themselves into a restricted zone, it wasn't about whether they have carried a flag, they were not removed because police were refraining the Chinese envoy Chen from seeing the protesters. However from the witness accounts, those that did not carry a flag were able to freely move between all the zones. Moreover, the police at the scene were not able to state a single law to justify their behavior and often chose to keep quiet. This blatant expansion of police power would probably put those executing it in shame.

[Amnesty International] Human Rights in TAIWAN

2008-12-05T20:33:00.004+08:00

News and publications

Read it on, you will learn how Death Penalty and Miscarriage of Justice in TAIWAN are concerned internationally for so many years.

[Support] from Formosan Association for Human Rights

2008-12-05T17:41:00.001+08:00

The attached poster is from FAHR which has the theme -- When old yams (FAHR) heard the song of Wild Strawberry (students)

[Support] 41 Taiwanese American and Canadian Organizations support Wild Strawberries

2008-12-05T17:35:00.003+08:00

Taiwanese American Organizations
Support “Wild Strawberry” Movement in Taiwan

We, the undersigned Taiwanese American and overseas organizations, earnestly call all freedom and democracy loving fellow Taiwanese to come out and support the Wild Strawberry Student Peaceful Demonstration and Protest on December 7 at Liberty Square in Taipei. This action is to demand:

1. An apology from the nation’s President and Premier regarding the police brutality against demonstrators and the gross violations of human rights during the visit of China's envoy Chen Yunlin.
2. Resignation of National Police Agency Director and National Security Bureau Director for police brutality against protesters.
3. To call for the reform of the Assembly and the Parade Law in order to assure Taiwanese people a true democracy and the respect of fundamental human rights for free assembly and associations.

We want these students to know that they are not alone and have our wholehearted supports.

2008-12-4

Ron Shieh, President
American Association of America (TAA-USA)

Ben Liu, President
North American Taiwanese Professors Association (NATPA)

Co-signed by (in the order of received):

Susan Chang, President
World Federation of Taiwanese Associations (WFTA)

Bob Yang, President

Formosa Association for Public Affairs (FAPA)

Chung-Kuo Kuo, President

Word Taiwanese Congress (WTC)

Sue Lee, President

North America Taiwanese Women Association (NATWA)

Jack Chen, President

Austin Institute of Taiwan Studies (AITS)

Josephine Pan, President

Taiwan Elite Alliance

Jack Lin, Ph.D., President

Taiwanese Association of America – South Florida

Grace Hsu, President

Taiwanese Association of America – Northern New Jersey

Mark Kao, President

FAPA-New Jersey

Tony, President

Taiwanese Association of America - San Francisco, California

Cheng S. Chang, President

Taiwanese Association of America – Manhattan, Kansas

Terri Giles

Formosa Foundation

Kuochih Hong, President

Taiwanese Association of America – Detroit, Michigan

Shiou-Yi Chen, President

Taiwanese Association of America – Cincinnati, Ohio

Fong Y. Yang, President

Taiwanese Association of America – Portland, Oregon

Dexter Lai, President

Taiwanese Association of America – Seattle, Washington

Jin-Shou Hseu, Preisdent

Taiwanese Association of America – Kansas City, Kansas

Kwei-Yang Ben Chang, President

Taiwanese Association of America – Greater Washington D.C.

Steven Shen, President

Taiwanese Association of America – Baltimore, Maryland

J. T. Lo, President

Taiwanese Association of America – New Orleans, Louisiana

Linda Wu, President

Taiwanese Association of America – Houston, Texas

Pam Tsai, President

Taiwanese American Federation – Northern California

Hsin-Chu Chen, President

Taiwanese Association of America – Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Kiosy Lin, President

Taiwanese Association of America – Atlanta, Georgia

Charles Chang, President

Taiwanese Association of America – Nashville, Tennessee

Shu-Chuan Chou, President

Taiwanese Association of America – North Carolina

Patsy Fang Chen, President

Taiwanese Association of America – New York

Shuling Su, President

Taiwanese Association of America - Boston

David Lai, President
Taiwan Hakka Association for Public Affairs in North America

Ken Huang, President
FAPA-San Diego Chapter

Anthony Lee, President

Taiwanese Association of America – Columbus, Ohio

Alice Yu Tzy Yang, President

Yang Foundation – Delaware

George Chen, President

Taiwanese Association of America – Hawaii

David Wu. President

Taiwanese American Association – Charlotte, North Carolina

Charles Chen, President

Taiwanese Association of America – Delaware

Alice Yang, President

FAPA – Delaware

Po Lee, President

Taiwanese Canadian Association (TCA)

Tzu-Hui Chen

Taiwanese Collegian (TC)

C.K. Hsu, President

Taiwanese Association of America – Clear Lake, Texas

[Sign the petition] Campus is not the battle field

2008-12-05T05:20:00.000+08:00

Please sign up the petition to refuse military personnels in the campus.
This is initiated by The Humanistic Education Foundation.
Excuses that the petition letter and rationales are both in Mandarin.

Contact: The secretary division, the Humanistic Education Foundation.
Ms. Lin: 02-23670151* 117

Fax：02-23625015　E-mail: slin@hef.org.tw 　

NB This does NOT stand for WS. WS' requests never change. Please view this article as a support and advertisement for the value that Taiwan needs to be free and democracy. Thanks for your patience and understanding.

Register for the march on December 7th

2008-12-05T05:19:00.000+08:00

Please entitle: [Parade] Your Title
Send to marchdec07@gmail.com

Citizens are welcome!!

For individual: Name, phone no., E-mail
For NGOs: Title of your organization, Name, phone no., E-mail, and amount of participates
For students: Name, phone no., E-mail, University and department

NB: 1. No slogan or any sign relevant to any party
2. Please dress in black and follow the conductor

[Invitation] Press Conference on December 5th

2008-12-04T22:44:00.000+08:00

Dear Sir/Madam,

On behalf of Wild Strawberries Student Movement, we would like to invite you to our press conference at Liberty Square, Taipei at 3:00 pm in the afternoon tomorrow. We will explain our parade at Dec 7th, 2008, this Sunday and also give our comments on the latest proposal from the Executive Yuan today. The English conference will be hold after the Chinese one at 3pm. We will be very appreciated if you can send anyone to come to our press conference tomorrow. Should you need any further questions, please contact us by email; 1106action@gmail.com or phone: 0938-302-649.

Time: Dec 5th, 2008 (Friday), 3 pm
Place: Liberty Square (自由廣場), Taipei
Contact: 0938-302-649 Ms. Shih

Thank you.

Best regards,
Media Team, Wild Strawberries Movement

[Public Statement] from Amnesty International regarding Taiwan Wild Strawberries Student Movement

2008-12-04T21:33:00.005+08:00

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC STATEMENT
AI Index No: ASA 38/001/2008

3 December 2008

Taiwan: Police should avoid using excessive force at upcoming protests

Amnesty International has urged Taiwan's police force to comply with international guidelines on the use of force and crowd control at the planned student protests on Sunday 7 December.

The organization also joins calls for the Control Yuan, the body mandated by the Taiwan Constitution with supervisory power over the Executive branch, to conduct an independent inquiry into alleged excessive police force during November's protests.

The Wild Strawberry Student Movement has staged sit-ins since 6 November to protest against what they consider the use of excessive force during the Taiwan visit of Chen Yunlin, chairman of the China-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait. Civil society groups in Taiwan are investigating multiple claims that individuals suffered head injuries and broken fingers at the hands of police during the protests.

According to police reports on 8 November, approximately 10,000 police officers had been deployed during Chen's visit; 149 police officers and 200-300 individuals were injured; 18 were arrested.

Taiwanese civil society groups claim that police have applied the Assembly and Parade Law arbitrarily to silence dissent. According to the students' spokesperson, they will not seek police approval, as required by the law, but will only "report" their plans to law enforcement authorities, in line with amendments advocated by the Movement.

The Movement is organizing the protest on Sunday 7 December to criticize the government's failure to amend the Assembly and Parade Law.

Amnesty International said Taiwan's Control Yuan should address the serious concerns raised by civil society in Taiwan and the government should cease the practice of using the Assembly and Parade Law to deny freedom of assembly and allow individuals to protest peacefully. Amnesty International also called on Taiwanese police and judicial authorities to ensure that they investigate any protesters accused of engaging in violence in a fair, transparent, and timely manner in compliance with international standards.

Background

On 3-7 November 2008, Chen Yunlin, chairman of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits, led a 60-member delegation from the People's Republic of China to visit Taiwan and meet with President Ma Ying-jeou.

The police barred protesters displaying Taiwanese and Tibetan flags and anti-China slogans along the routes taken by the envoy and confiscated or damaged some of these items. The police also closed a shop near the hotel where Chen Yunlin had dinner with Kuomintang honorary chairman Lien Chan when the shop loudly broadcast music from an album titled 'Songs of Taiwan'.

There were additional reports of arbitrary detention and police brutality, some of which, according to the police, were in response to the violence of protesters.

Following the visit, hundreds of students have staged sit-ins across Taiwan protesting the police's handling of the protests and demanding amendments to the Assembly and Parade Law, which has been misused to prevent protests.

On 6 November the students started their sit-ins outside the offices of the Executive Yuan or (Executive branch), where they were eventually removed by police on the grounds of illegal assembly. They continued the sit-ins at the National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall and organized a daily demonstration calling for immediate amendments to the Assembly and Parade Law, apologies from the president and head of government and the resignations of the heads of the police and national security.

On 18 November Taipei police announced a list of 66 "troublemakers", who had allegedly thrown gas bombs and stones at the police and spat at the Taichung mayor. There were also reports that the police had pressured journalists and their supervisors to hand over video tapes to identify suspects who allegedly took part in the violence.

Amnesty International Home Page "Action for Human Rights. Hope for Humanity."

Manual on a non-violence action

2008-12-03T22:07:00.003+08:00

"On Sunday, no violence expected" is what
Wild Strawberries Movement expects,
but we should be prepared for someone outside coming

in and starting a fight. In that case, people should be

prepared. If someone starts violence, we should think
in advance as to what our response should be. The best

response is for everyone to immediately sit down. DO
NOT FIGHT BACK.

The problem is, if the march is open to outsiders,

we have no way of knowing if the "enemy" is introducing
someone into the march whose purpose is to stir up
trouble for the TV cameras."

Nonviolence.

A nonviolent direct action practice could take three possible directions (or both). One is where some of participates are planning to do an action where we will probably get arrested. The other is where we think that maybe the "enemy" side just possibly would introduce an agent into our midst, and, pretending to be one of us, start a fight, start attacking the police, or whatever. A third is where the "enemy" sends their people at us with fists flying. In all three situations, the object is to deal with the situation without resort to use of violence. Not only do we not want any violence from our side, but we want our nonviolence to be very obvious to any of the media that might be around. Remember, most of the media is hostile to you, and they would like nothing better than to portray you as the "violent elements 暴力份子" -- as happened in the Meilidao incident of 1979.

One of the elements is cultivating an atmosphere of calmness and determination, with no place for expression of anger. The problem with not having any shows of anger, however, is that the media likes colorful scenes of conflict. If it bleeds it leads. No blood? Well then, says the media, at least let us see some fists flying. That is what they are thinking. And if we don't give the media a display of anger, we just may not get on TV.

What we should be most afraid of is an uncontrolled situation. An agent provocateur comes in, with the purpose of stirring people up and getting into a fight. The agent could either start a fight with the marchers, or start throwing things at the police. In either case, we have to be able to react quickly.

With or without a training, here is what I think we should do. First, we must have everyone in the march register beforehand. We must then join a squad. (In actions that We should be in, these are often called "affinity groups," where each group determines its own course of action.) Let's say a squad has 12 people. Each squad must walk together, and there are no allowing people from outside to join that squad. One person in the squad is the Peacekeeper. He or she has an armband and a whistle. At the first sign of trouble, she or he blows the whistle, and everyone immediately sits down. The violent one is thereupon immediately identified. At the sound of the whistle, the peacekeepers from nearby squads come over and, as calmly as possible, persuade the violent party to calm down, and, if necessary, to leave. If it looks like force is necessary, then call in the police.

The march will be open to outsiders. If along the way someone wants to join, they must still register, then be assigned to a squad.

With or without the training, before the march begins the organizers must tell everyone in the march what the rules are, and how nonviolence must absolutely prevail. Tell people what they must do. Sit down, don't react to provocations.

nonviolence training
nonviolent direct action (this usually means illegal actions which are nonviolent)
Gandhian techniques

For both theory and practice, this page is excellent.

Wild Strawberries Major Events (11/3 - 12/1)

2008-12-03T21:05:00.003+08:00

Nov. 3-5, 2008

ARATS Chairman Chen Yun-lin visits Taiwan for high level talks with the government concerning Taiwan's future, and is given massive police protection. However, numerous instances of police officers illegally violating the rights to freedom of speech, and freedom of movement occur, with citizens expressing certain opinions specifically targeted. Tension between the police and citizens continues to grow, culminating in violence.

Nov. 5

University students and faculty concerned about human rights and the regression of democracy in Taiwan, and angry with the abuse of power by government and law enforcement agencies, link up over the Internet, deciding to stage a peaceful sit-in in front of the Executive Yuan in protest.

Nov. 6

Starting at 11AM, some 500 university students and faculty wearing black clothing and face masks stage a sit-in at the gates of the Executive Yuan, demanding apologies from President Ma and Premier Liu, the resignation of the directors of the National Police Agency and National Security Bureau, and the revision of the Parade and Assembly Law; police issued four warnings declaring the protest illegal. The Executive Yuan sent out two sets of low ranking officials to placate the students and faculty, who rejected their overtures after voting on the issue. Protesters erected a cordon around the sit-in for protection, but welcomed all citizens not carrying any partisan slogans or signs to join in the sit-in.

On the same day, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) launched a massive demonstration to protest the Ma-Chen meetings. After police issued the fourth warning to the students, DPP personnel expressed their concern and suggested that the students move to a location near the Legislative Yuan where the DPP had a permit for lawful assembly, but was rejected unanimously by all of the students and faculty. The same evening, a violent confrontation between participants in the DPP-led march and police occurred at the Grand Hotel, and was forcibly suppressed by police before midnight. Students and faculty at the Executive Yuan sit-in prepare themselves psychologically to be dispersed as well.

Nov. 7

At 10:50AM, Cabinet Secretary-General Hsueh Hsiang-chuan emerged to meet with the protesting students and faculty, engaging in a fruitless one hour exchange before leaving. A question asked to Hsueh by a student concerning human rights is quoted out of context by the media, who distort the student's words and claim that he insulted Hsueh by saying he "is not human".

Starting from 4PM, police officers finish assembling and begin dispersing the sitting students, carrying them onto a police bus, and driving most of them to National Taiwan University (others were dropped off at Neihu). Faculty members continued the sit-in until 7PM before being dispersed by police. Starting around 6PM, the students began to reassemble at Liberty Square, with some 800+ students participating. The faculty members held a press conference before the gates of Liberty Square around 8PM to explain the motivations behind the protest. At this time, the leadership of the movement had been completely passed to the students present, who resolved to continue the sit-in without applying for an assembly permit, characterizing it as a student-led movement of civil disobedience.

Nov. 8

Students at National Cheng Kung University in Tainan begin a sit-in in solidarity at the campus gates.

Heavy rain, tents are erected at Liberty Square and sleeping bags are provided.

President Ma visits police officers injured in operations during Chen Yun-lin's visit.

Nov. 9

Students in Central Taiwan begin a sit-in at Civic Plaza in Taichung to show solidarity with the students protesting in Taipei and Tainan.

After a joint meeting between students in Northern, Central, and Southern Taiwan, the protests are officially named the "Wild Strawberry Student Movement".

Nov. 10

Emphasis is placed on demanding the revision of the Parade and Assembly Law, with the slogan "Parade and Assembly Law is unconstitutional, human rights are disappearing".

484 university professors and Academia Sinica researchers sign a joint statement supporting the Wild Strawberries.

During an interview with ETTV, Premier Liu claims that demands for apologies "were not consistent with mainstream opinion", but would hold a public hearing on potentially revising the Parade and Assembly Law. However, concerning the protests, he also casually remarked that "this sort of thing will blow over in two days".

Students in Hsinchu begin a sit-in in front of the food court at National Tsing Hua University in solidarity with the Wild Strawberries.

Students in Kaohsiung bgin a sit-in at the Urban Spotlight in solidarity with the Wild Strawberries.

Education Minister Cheng Jei-cheng visits the students at dusk. Some media outlets laugh at the students for not recognizing the minister.

Documentary films begin to be shown every evening at Liberty Square, and seminars are held, in order to convey the concepts of democracy, human rights, and caring for the underprivileged.

Nov. 11

At noon, 80 year old Liu Po-yan sets himself on fire at Liberty Square to protest government actions during Chen Yun-lin's visit. He is rushed to the hospital and remains there recovering after emergency treatment. The Wild Strawberries express their sympathy and begin a donation drive for Mr. Liu. The KMT refuses to visit Mr. Liu in the hospital, claiming at he let his KMT party membership lapse, and normally watched political talk shows associated with the pan-green (opposition) bloc.

Starting at 6PM, 16 social activist groups begin a nightly one hour silent procession at the sit-in site to show solidarity with the Wild Strawberries.

President Ma claims that "The problem isn't voluntary reporting [of planned assemblies], the problem is violence".

Nov. 12

The Wild Strawberries present video evidence of police overreaction during Chen Yun-lin's visit, as well as statements from victims.

Students in Chiayi begin a sit-in at 228 Park in solidarity with the Wild Srawberries.

Nov. 13

The Legislative Yuan KMT caucus holds a public hearing concerning revision of the Parade and Assembly Law. However, the Wild Strawberries were neither notified, nor invited.

Some 200 artists present the "Reject Silence, Defend Freedom of Expression" petition, and appear at Liberty Square to show solidarity with the Wild Strawberries.

In the evening, a meeting is held at Liberty Square to decide upon a future course of action, eventually resolving to continue the protest past Saturday. It is also decided to hold a large rally on Saturday, to be organized by the students participating.

Nov. 14

Representatives from the Sunrise Record Store, and Professor Chang Hsueh-Kung of the NTU Civil Engineering Department meet with the students at Liberty Square. They describe what actually happened the day the store was forcibly shuttered by police after playing Taiwanese songs within earshot of Chen Yun-lin, and call again on the government to admit its mistake.

Some 20 students in Hong Kong at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University stage a sit-in and video link up with the students at Liberty Square, expressing their solidarity with the Wild Strawberries.

Tibetan representatives in Taiwan visit the students at Liberty Square to show their support, and present the students with khatas.

At noon, the graduate student union at National Political University holds an on-campus seminar explaining the goals of the Wild Strawberry Movement.

Nov. 15

Wild Strawberries, academics, and NGOs hold a rally at Liberty Square, with a mass sit-in, seminars, and skits. Three students volunteer to be locked in cages for 24 hours as a symbol of protest. A public forum is also held. Over 500 students participate.

In the evening, two masked females hold up posters accusing students participating in the sit-in of using raised funds for personal gain, and refuse to speak, leading to tension with bystanders. They are finally escorted away under the protection of Wild Strawberry members.

Another group calling themselves the "Small Blueberries" arrive around 8PM, with the intention of heckling students at the sit-in, but are too afraid to approach the site. They quickly withdraw to the Jing-fu Gate to pose for the media before dispersing.

During a TV interview in Taichung, President Ma states that "Taiwanese students are very competitive before high school, but are weaker in college".

Nov. 16

The three students in the cages emerge and call on President Ma to engage in dialog with the students, in order to debate the merits of their respective positions.

It is decided to establish a "Wild Strawberry Land" free from state sponsored violence, construction plans begin.

Three Wild Strawberry students in Kaohsiung attempt to present their grievances before President Ma during his visit to that city, but are stopped, chased, and threatened by police.

Students at Liberty Square proceed to Taipei Main Station to hand out leaflets, while passing by the edges of the Bo-ai Special District, they are warned and disrupted by police.

Nov. 17

Internal KMT caucus meeting at the Legislative Yuan agrees to revise the Parade and Assembly Law to a registration system.

During a hastily conviened meeting at Liberty Square that evening, a heated debate occurs over future plans and organization.

Nov. 18

The National Police Administration completes its self-assessment of performance during Chen Yun-lin's visit, concluding that they had "successfully completed the objectives of protecting the delegates' safety and ensuring the smooth completion of the meeting", and that while a few officers should be trained in precise enforcement techniques, there was no abuse during enforcement.

Police demand the media provide them with photographs and videos showing suspected agitators during the violent confrontations. The Association of Taiwan Journalists state that they refuse to be instruments of the police, and proceed to the National Police Administration to present their grievances, but do not receive a response.

Nov. 19

The Legislative Yuan Internal Administration Committee reviews the proposed amended Parade and Assembly Law. The version presented by executive agencies still requires three days notification, and retains provisions for restricted areas, government power to declare assemblies illegal, and power to disperse. The Wild Strawberries and the NGOs express their strong opposition, and propose adopting a system of "voluntary notification".

Professor Yen Liur-fen of the music department at the Taipei National University of the Arts leads several musicians to Liberty Square, where they hold a small concert in support of the students.

The "Funeral for Human Rights" is completed. Starting on Thursday, the ceremony is open to the public to mourn the death of human rights.

A seminar is held in the evening at the NTU social sciences department to explain the objectives of the movement.

Nov. 20

The Judicial Reform Foundation holds a press conference at Liberty Square, establishing a group of lawyers to fight police brutality, and initiating a second wave of lawsuits against police abuses. They call on President Ma to stop feigning ignorance of the situation.

The Wild Strawberry "Taiwan Human Rights Mourning Committee" sends obituaries to the Presidential Office, the Executive Yuan, the National Security Bureau, the National Police Agency, and the KMT and DPP, inviting them to a "funeral service for our human rights".

Beitou Precinct Chief Lee Han-ching, responsible for shuttering the Sunrise Record Store, is questioned by the Taipei City Council, and denies all allegations of overzealous enforcement.

Nov. 21

Legislative Yuan Internal Administration Committee convener Wu Yu-sheng visits Liberty Square, handing students an invitation to the public hearing scheduled for 11/27. At the evening meeting, the students decide to send representatives.

The Ministry of Justice presents new regulations requiring schools and other similar public organizations select "ethics officers", raising allegations that the Martial Law era informant system (人二室) was being resurrected.

Nov. 22

Famed scholar Ronald Dworkin visits Liberty Square to better understand the situation.

In the evening, students hold a candlelight vigil to mourn human rights in Taiwan.

A demonstration is held in Kaohsiung with skits mocking President Ma, demanding that he turn his thinking around.

Nov. 23

The human rights funeral service is held in the morning, with several NGOs also participating. The scene is solemn and sad. The planned funeral procession is replaced with a stationary casket, due to lack of funeral home help.

DPP Chairwoman Tsai Ying-wen arrives at Liberty Square to participate in the activities, and publicly aplogizes for the failure of the DPP to amend the Parade and Assembly Law during its time as the ruling party.

As part of the long term protest, the Wild Strawberries formally establish the Wild Strawberry band, erect a tower and four prefabricated buildings (the newsroom, kitchen, exhibit room, and video room), and and perform several protest skits. Professor Yen Liur-fen of the Taipei National University of the Arts holds a "Musicians supporting the Wild Strawberries" concert, with several musicians and composers participating.

Nov. 24

American human rights activist Lynn Miles visits to express her concern, and agrees to help mobilize international support.

Representatives from academia and various NGOs march to the Control Yuan to file complaints against the directors of the National Police Agency and National Security Bureau. Their petitions are received by Control Yuan member Huang Huang-hsiung. The participating professors and NGO members return to Liberty Square to update the students on progress with social mobilization.

The website of the Wild Strawberries in Tainan is suddenly shut down without warning, but returns two days later, after complaints are filed.

Administrators at National Taiwan University issue orders for a "neutral, apolitical campus where the Wild Strawberries may not enter", and refuse to allow students to borrow equipment to film a documentary.

Nov. 25

The seminar originally planned to be held at the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology is canceled, after campus administrators refuse to loan campus space, following concerns from various faculty members.

All police precinct chiefs involved in the operations during Chen Yun-lin's visit are promoted by the National Police Administration.

Nov. 26

Wild Strawberries from Kaohsiung visit Taipei to update the students at Liberty Square on recent developments, and convey the support and good wishes of Wild Strawberries outside Taipei. The atmosphere is enthusiastic as the students learn to sing the "Wild Strawberry Fight Song".

Students at the sit-in form groups of 5 to 7, to increase unity and the general level of organization.

The Wild Strawberries return to the Executive Yuan, with groups of two alternately sitting in protest for one hour each.

Nov. 27

Wild Strawberries send representatives to attend the public hearing by the Legislative Yuan Internal Administration Committee concerning revisions to the Parade and Assembly Law. While the Legeslative Yuan states that the law may be amended during this legislative session, the positions of the students and the legislators still cannot be reconciled, with the students insisting on a voluntary notification system.

In the afternoon, Losheng Sanitarium support groups proceed to the Executive Yuan to protest demolition of the sanitarium by the government, which reneged on its earlier promises. Students from the Wild Strawberry Movement also attend to show support.

Wild Strawberry seminar at Chang Gung University.

Nov. 28

At noon, Wild Strawberry students hold a march on the National Taiwan University Campus, calling on all students to stand up and defend human rights.

Wild Strawberries in Central Taiwan decide to end the sit-in the next day, and move instead to mobilizing support on campus, and deepening the roots of democracy and human rights.

Nov. 29

Veteran social activist Chien Hsi-chieh holds a lecture on nonviolent resistance at Liberty Square, in preparation for the large rally on 12/7.

Documentary film on Lo-sheng(樂生) Sanitarium preservation efforts is shown, to gain support for groups protesting its imminent demolition.

Nov. 30

The "Wild Strawberry Musical Memorial" is held beginning at 10AM, with several independent bands and musicians participating to show their support for the students, and their concern for society.

Wild Strawberries in Kaohsiung hold a protest march criticizing the return of authoritarianism, and the suppression of human rights.

Dec. 1

At 8AM, two Wild Strawberry students lie on the driveway in front of the Executive Yuan with protest signs, protesting the government ignoring the students' demands. The two are detained by police under the Social Order Preservation Law, and interrogated at the police station.

Taiwan police disperse student protesters against Lo-Sheng Sanatorium relocation

2008-12-03T16:22:00.000+08:00

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The controversial Lo-Sheng Sanatorium relocation began Wednesday as police started dispersing hundreds of students staging a protest on site.

Students had staged a sit-in in front of the Ministry of Health on Monday, asking Minister Yeh Chin-chuan (葉金川) to protect the cultural heritage of Lo-Sheng by applying to related organizations to designate the Sanatorium a historic monument.(more)

[Taipei Times] New media is a potent instrument for change

2008-12-03T02:36:00.002+08:00

In the past, if mainstream media did not cover certain incidents, nobody would have known about it. Today, the Wild Strawberry Student Movement has made use of the Internet to link up protesters across the country and created a new force. Nevertheless, the students would be well advised to consider how they could improve their movement.

Traditional media outlets have argued that the Wild Strawberry Student Movement would be difficult to maintain because President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) and Premier Liu Chao-shiuan (劉兆玄) have adopted a strategy of waiting until the demonstrators give up. This is why the student movement has encountered so many setbacks. Distorted and slanderous media coverage of the movement has given rise to biased public opinion toward the group.(more)

[Taipei Times] EDITORIAL: Will Ma crush the Strawberries?

2008-12-03T02:34:00.001+08:00

Wednesday, Dec 03, 2008, Page 8

The Wild Strawberry Student Movement, it seems, has had enough of the government beating around the bush. On Sunday, it will attempt to bring the debate over the Assembly and Parade Law (集會遊行法) to a head by rallying about 1,000 people to demonstrate without a police permit.

As the marchers head down Ketagalan Boulevard to the Presidential Office, the government and police will be forced to come down against a sensible exercise in civil disobedience or send the message that demonstrating without a permit will be tolerated. The organizers have advertised well in advance that they intend to break the law, which is nothing more than a relic of the Martial Law era and a blemish on Taiwan’s democracy that should have been amended long ago.(more)

[Taipei Times] [LETTER] KMT's old habits die hard

2008-12-03T02:30:00.000+08:00

Wednesday, Dec 03, 2008, Page 8
......
Likewise, to distract people from the deals inked between the two sides during Chen’s visit, Ma fabricated political quarrels over revisions to the Assembly and Parade Law (集會遊行法).

Ma would like Beijing to see the merits of allowing the KMT to rule Taiwan in perpetuity while resisting the urge to forcefully annex Taiwan, an act that would assuredly provoke a regional conflict.

The morphing of Taiwan into a police state is also a way for Ma to identify with Beijing in terms of values — a forerunner to China and Taiwan teaming up against the West. (Full Text)

[i-Report] Taiwan Wild Strawberries Movement

2008-12-02T20:15:00.003+08:00

We are a group of students comprising students from universities all over Taiwan; we do not belong to any parties or political organizations before we joined wild strawberry.

Our generation in Taiwan is called the "strawberry" generation, meaning we are spoiled to be able to afford stress. However, today we stand out for a better future!

Today is our 25th day peaceful sit-in protest at the Liberty Square in Taipei (Former Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall).

Your supports are very crucial for us, we hope this document will help you understand our "democracy in danger" in Taiwan, an country next to Hong Kong, Japan, China and Philippine in East Asia. Please come to join our parade on 7th December 2008.

(i-Report Page)

San Diego's Taiwanese support WSM!

2008-12-02T20:07:00.000+08:00

Many among Taiwanese in the U.S. are well educated but we are not arrogant. More often than not, we not only learn from each other but also from others outside of our group. For example, many of us have been learning from the WSM student protesters. Although young and inexperienced, they have proven to be quick learners, very determined and innovative. It is clear that they have won wide-spread support, in and out of Taiwan, of their movement.

In response to their call for support of their planned parade on Sunday, December 7, members of San Diego Taiwanese American community are planning to sponsor an event at San Diego Taiwan Center on December 7. We think these young people deserve our support and encouragement. Some other communities are doing the same.

Increasing number of us think that the baton has to be shared with and even passed on to the younger generation. The future of Taiwan are mostly in the hands of the freedom-loving young people of Taiwan.

To what you are doing in fighting for freedom and democracy, "BRAVO!" we shout.

--Ching-chih Chen, a retired college professor

"Shame on Government - Walk out Back Door"--Two protest stuents were captured by more than 20 police officiers

2008-12-02T12:23:00.003+08:00

On December, 1st, 2008, Zhen Zhe-Xiou(鄭哲修) and Su Hung-Rung(蘇紘融), two of students in Wild Strawberries Movement (WSM), took peaceful and grave actions to accuse of the Taiwan government which had not ever responded directly to the three WSM appeals. Zhen(鄭哲修) studied in the Department of Mathematics at the National Taiwan University and Su (蘇紘融) studied in the Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling at the National Taiwan Normal University. These two students considered that the people, who refused to take political responsibility for limiting the freedom of speech and harming human rights during the Chen Yun-Lin's (陳雲林) visit, were unworthy of crossing through the main entrance. Therefore, at 8:30 A.M on December, 1st, these two students silently laid at the main entrance of the Executive Yuan for protesting. Because they considered that the Executive Yuan rejected to hear Taiwanese people's voice and could not provide sound and suitable explanation to what Executive Yuan violated and overruled during the Chen's visit, they only could "silently laid" to express their anger.

WSM always held peace, rationality, and non-violence from the beginning. Zhen(鄭哲修) and Su(蘇紘融) only could actively take actions to let the Taiwan government perceive when the government was blind to the occurrence of human rights violations in Taiwan. Indeed, these two students' action was the best practice of the non-violent resistance.

However, in the beginning five minutes of Zhen(鄭哲修) and Su(蘇紘融)'s action, policemen/policewomen immediately warned their silent-lay. After two warns, these two students advocated, "Shame on government! Walk out back door!" and "No government apology for its illegal actions. Human rights lay and die in Executive Yuan." Under the circumstance of twenty policemen/policewomen surrounding, they were lifted into the police car and were taken for further investigation in the police department of the Zhongzheng First Police District, Taipei City . At last, this silent-lay protest only continued for ten minutes.

When knowing Zhen(鄭哲修) and Su(蘇紘融) were taken for further investigation in the police station, the WSM students instantly informed of and sought assistance for the Lawyer Lin (林峰正) of Judicial Reform Foundation. During the investigation, the police indicated that Zhen(鄭哲修) and Su(蘇紘融) violated The Social Order Maintenance Law Aritcle 68. item 2(第68條第2款). These two students kept silent, were unwilling to cooperate with the police's inquest, and refused to sign up the deposition record by policemen/policewomen. Ultimately, Zhen(鄭哲修) and Su(蘇紘融) left the police station accompanied with the Lawyer Lin (林峰正).

WSM completely supports Zhen(鄭哲修) and Su(蘇紘融)'s silent-lay action. WSM believes that they held the resolution for nonviolent resistance to confront potential national violence and their action was full of courage. In addition, WSM respects that the police administered the law. However, these two students have already taken legal responsibility which they probably have to face. The police administered its power based on The Social Order Maintenance Law Article 68. item 2(第68條第2款): the person who creates troubles for inhabitants, factories, companies, public places, and locations for public pass. WSM wants to ask. The entrance of the Executive Yuan is not only one. Zhen(鄭哲修) and Su(蘇紘融) did not obstacle entire traffic lanes and block any cars' passing. As a result, what kinds of troubles which these two student created break the harmony at the main entrance of the Executive Yuan?
In the past, there are some stories regarding the common people stating and pleading by stopping the officers sitting in sedan chair. Why do the common people, even two students, have no opportunity to express and protest at the main entrance of the Executive Yuan, particularly in this democratic Taiwan society? For tackling these two students of WSM, it is incredible that the Executive Yuan arranged twenty to thirty policemen/policewomen to surround two students and forcefully lift them away. Does this action represent the scholar leadership of Liou (Former president of NCTU)？ If the government views the common people as the condemnable folks, one day, finally the people will spurn this government.

Going “Wild” on December 7th – Country without Violence, Strawberries March Foward

2008-12-02T10:59:00.000+08:00

The Wild Strawberries Movement at Liberty Square held a meeting with representatives from all over Taiwan in preparation for the “Going ‘Wild’ on December 7th” rally. Wild Strawberries across the country will once again meet at Liberty Square for its strongest showing yet to counter the government’s arrogance and apathy thus far.

“Going ‘Wild’ on December 7th” is the theme of this rally. The month-long Wild Strawberries Movement would like to demonstrate its “wildness” to its supporters and the arrogant Administration; the Wild Strawberries have not given up and the movement has continued to grow. Since its inception, the Wild Strawberries have upheld the same pleas and ideals - “Apology [for rights violations], Resignation [of responsible officials], and Amendment [of Parade & Assembly Law]”. This rally will serve as an opportunity for Taiwanese citizens to experience the Wild Strawberries’ explosive strength and for the government to hear the consolidated angry voices of the Wild Strawberries. More importantly, the Wild Strawberries maintains its appeal that the government directly responds to the public and the Wild Strawberries, and stop state sanctioned power abuse.

The Wild Strawberries will only “voluntarily report” plans to hold the December 7th rally to law enforcement authorities instead of waiting for the ineffective Legislative Yuan to amend the Parade and Assembly Law’s approval requirement. The rally route will be provided to the Zhongzheng First District of the Taipei City Police Department in order for the police to direct traffic accordingly. We sincerely hope that law enforcement authorities will safeguard rather than trample on our freedom to assemble with violent tactics. The Wild Strawberries will also send out a team of individuals to maintain order.

The December 7th rally participants will consist of students for the most part, but also cordially invite all private citizens who support our endeavors. In addition to the students, academics and NGOs have signed up for the rally, with over a thousand expected rally participants. Students from the Wild Strawberries Movement will be responsible for maintaining order of the movement. We will hold a pre-rally press conference to explain the itinerary and to promote the principle of non-violent civil disobedience; our goal is to hold the rally under the principles of peace, rationality, and non-violence.

The route for the December 7th rally will begin with Liberty Square, and continue on to the National Police Agency, the Executive Yuan, the Legislative Yuan, and the Presidential Office. The Wild Strawberries will have different activities at each location. The “Country without Violence, Wild Strawberries March Forward” march will commence at 1 p.m. from Liberty Square and we look forward to your participation.

Scholars Find Taiwan's Minster of Justice's Response Inadequate

2008-12-01T14:13:00.000+08:00

Saturday November 29, by Jerome F. Keating Ph.D.

The previous posting of Taiwan's Minister of Justice's response to the JOINT STATEMENT of the scholars and writers (posted November 15) did not address the real issues of the erosion of justice in Taiwan. Ignoring numerous other protests also listed below, the Minister's response appears to hide behind the technicalities of the Constitution. Taiwan's current Constitution has many inadequacies; among them is that it was created for continental China but ill fits the island nation of Taiwan. By the Minister's implication it is so broad that it allows numerous abuses that may be technically within the letter of the law but far from the spirit and purpose of the law. For this reason it can allow the selective application to one's political opposition and still fall under the umbrella of the Constitution. For that reason, the scholars/writers of the first statement on the erosion of justice in Taiwan felt obligated to respond in specifics to the Minister's letter. That response can be found below.

November 28th 2008

The Honorable Wang Ching-feng

Minister of Justice

Taipei, Taiwan

Dear Minister Wang,

In an open letter to the Taipei Times, published on November 25th 2008, you responded to our joint statement regarding the erosion of justice in Taiwan. We appreciate your acknowledgment of the sincerity of our concerns, and are grateful to receive a prompt and serious reply. Based on the information available to us, however, we remain concerned about choices made by prosecutors in applying existing legal authority and strongly believe in the need for reform. Please allow us to highlight a number of specific points:

1. The procedure of "preventive detention." This procedure is obviously intended for serious criminal cases in which the suspect is likely to flee the country. In his November 13th article in the South China Morning Post, Professor Jerome Cohen states that "it ought to be invoked rarely."

Yet, during the past weeks, it has been used across the board, and it has been used only against present and former members of the DPP government. This casts severe doubts on the impartiality of the judicial system. We also wish to point out that the people involved were detained under deplorable circumstances, and that they were not even allowed to see relatives.
2. The open letter contains the argument that when they were detained, the present and former DPP government officials "were all informed of the charges that had been brought against them." This is simply not correct: when they were detained, they were subject to lengthy interrogations in some cases for up to 20 hours which bore the character of a "fishing expedition," and is not a formal indictment in any legal sense. In most cases the prosecutors had had months of time to collect information: if they did have sufficient evidence of wrong-doing, they should formally have charged the persons and let them have their day in a scrupulously impartial court of law. That would be the desirable procedure under the rule of law in a democratic society.
3. The open letter also states that the persons involved had "the right and ability to communicate with their attorneys to seek legal assistance." It neglects to mention that in all cases where people were detained, the discussions with the lawyers were recorded and videotaped, while a guard took notes. This information was then immediately transmitted to the respective prosecutors. We don't need to point out that this is a grave infringement on international norms regarding the lawyer-client privilege, and makes mounting an adequate defense problematic at best.
4. On the issue of leaks to the press, the letter states that under the Code of Criminal Procedure information on ongoing investigations can only be disclosed by spokespersons of the prosecutor's offices and that unauthorized disclosure is subject to criminal prosecution. The fact of the matter is that during the past weeks, the media has been filled with information on the ongoing investigations which could only have come from the prosecutors. We may point out one example, but there are ample others:

Only a few hours after former Foreign Minister Mark Chen was questioned on November 3rd, the Apple Daily (a local tabloid) ran an article that "the prosecutors are thinking of charging Dr. Chen in relation to the case."

The issue of violation of the principle of secret investigation was also raised by Shih Lin District Court Judge Hung Ing-hua, who strongly criticized the present situation and procedures followed by your Ministry in an article in the "Liberty Times" on November 17th 2008.

We may also mention that we find it highly peculiar that no steps whatsoever have been taken against the various prosecutors who leaked information, while we just learned that your ministry is now taking steps against Mr. Cheng Wen-long, the lawyer for former President Chen Shui-bian, who presumably "leaked" information to the press. Your Ministry sent a formal request to the Taipei District Prosecutor's Office asking the office to investigate and prosecute, and also sent a formal request to Taiwan Lawyer's Association and asked the association to review the case and see whether Cheng should have his license revoked.

It is our understanding that the statements Mr. Cheng made were in relation to former President Chen's views on Taiwan's situation and its future, and an expression of love for his wife, but did not have any bearing on the case against him. We hope your Excellency realizes that if you proceed along these lines, this will be perceived as a direct confirmation of the strong political bias of the judicial system.

5. The letter states that it is untrue that Taiwan's judicial system is susceptible to political manipulation. If this is the case, how can it be explained that in the past weeks, only DPP officials have been detained and given inhumane treatment such as handcuffing and lengthy questioning, while obvious cases of corruption by members of the KMT - including in the Legislative Yuan - are left untouched by the prosecutors or at best stalled in the judicial process?

We may also refer to expressions of concern by Prof. Jerome Cohen and by lawyer Nigel Li, who expressed his deep concerns about the preventive detentions in an editorial in the "China Times" on November 9, 2008. In his editorial, Mr. Li praised the remarks made by prosecutor Chen Rui-ren, who was part of the legal team prosecuting the special fund cases, that the prosecutors' offices should "avoid the appearance of targeting only one particular political group."

The fact that the Special Investigation Task Force was set up under the DPP Administration or that the prosecutor general was nominated by President Chen is not at issue here. The problem is that the present system is being used in a very partial fashion.

We may add that the fact that you yourself have publicly discussed the content of the cases does create a serious imbalance in the playing field, and undermines the basic dictum that a person should be considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Under the present circumstances it is hard to see how the persons involved including former President Chen Shui-bian can have a fair trial in Taiwan.

6. Lastly, you take the statement by the US State Department as an "endorsement" of Taiwan's legal system and the procedures followed. You might want to note that in international diplomatic language, the term we have every expectation means we are concerned and we will watch the situation closely.

For the past two decades, Taiwan has faced a difficult situation internationally. What has given Taiwan important credibility in Western democratic countries around the world has been its democratization. We fear that the current judicial procedures being used in Taiwan endanger this democratization, and endanger the goodwill that Taiwan has developed internationally.

In conclusion: we do remain deeply disturbed by the erosion of justice in Taiwan, and express the sincere hope and expectation that your government will maintain fair and impartial judicial practices and quickly correct the present injustices. As an editorial in the November 20th issue of the London-based Economist indicated, Taiwan is hungry for justice, and we also hope that your government will be willing to initiate judicial reform which would move Taiwan towards a fully fair and impartial judicial system which earns the respect and admiration from other democratic countries around the world.

Respectfully yours,

Signatories of the November 4th Joint Statement

1. Nat Bellocchi, former Chairman of the American Institute in Taiwan
2. Julian Baum, former Taiwan Bureau Chief, Far Eastern Economic Review
3. Coen Blaauw, Formosan Association for Public Affairs, Washington DC
4. Stéphane Corcuff, Associate Professor of Political Science, China and Taiwan Studies, University of Lyon, France *
5. Gordon G. Chang, author, "The Coming Collapse of China."
6. David Curtis Wright, Associate Professor of History, University of Calgary
7. June Teufel Dreyer, Professor of Political Science, University of Miami, Florida
8. Edward Friedman, Professor of Political Science and East Asian Studies, University of Wisconsin, Madison
9. Mark Harrison, Senior Lecturer, Head of Chinese School of Asian Languages and Studies, University of Tasmania, Australia*
10. Bruce Jacobs, Professor of Asian Languages and Studies, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
11. Richard C. Kagan, Professor Emeritus of History, Hamline University, St. Paul Minnesota
12. 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
13. Daniel Lynch, Associate Professor, School of International Relations, University of Southern California
14. Victor H. Mair, Professor of Chinese Language and Literature, University of Pennsylvania
15. Donald Rodgers, Associate Professor of Political Science, Austin College, Texas
16. Terence Russell, Professor of Chinese Language and Literature, University of Manitoba
17. Scott Simon, Professor of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Ottawa
18. Peter Tague, Professor of Law, Georgetown University
19. John J. Tkacik Jr., Senior Research Fellow, The Heritage Foundation, Washington DC
20. Vincent Wei-cheng Wang, Professor of Political Science, University of Richmond, Virginia
21. Arthur Waldron, Lauder Professor of International Relations, University of Pennsylvania
22. Gerrit van der Wees, Editor Taiwan Communiqué, Washington DC
23. Stephen Yates, President of DC Asia Advisory and former Deputy Assistant to the Vice President for National Security Affairs
(Original Page)

[Taipei Times] Wild Strawberries plan rally without police permit

2008-11-30T23:56:00.001+08:00

“Three weeks have passed [since we began demonstrating]. Our government has not shown any remorse but endorsed the use of excessive force by police,” Wild Strawberries spokesman Lo Shih-hsiang (羅士翔) said. “We are going to take this to the streets, to the Executive Yuan, the Legislative Yuan and the Presidential Office. We will step up together and show the government we will never stop defending human rights.”

Highlights of the rally on Ketagalan Boulevard will include a mock funeral procession to mourn the demise of human rights, Hsu said.

Students from Kaohsiung will carry a 2m bamboo puppet of Ma dressed in a military uniform to symbolize his “returning Taiwan to authoritarian rule,” said Yao Liang-yi (姚量議), a student from Kaohsiung.

Hsu said the public was welcome to join the rally, but that the movement would not tolerate violence or interference by any political parties.

“The tone of the movement has been non-violent and peaceful,” Hsu said, adding that students will ask that people remove any political symbols before joining the rally. (Full Text)

[Seeking supports] Human Rights Movement for Taiwan at Dec 7th 2008

2008-11-30T23:31:00.002+08:00

Dear Sir/Madam,

We are Wild Strawberries Student Movement from Taiwan. We are a non-partisan group of students from universities all over Taiwan to fight for human rights. Recently Taiwanese government used excessive police force to threaten our people's freedom of speech and assembly, beat protestors and insists that they do not damage any human rights (please check attachments for detail news report). We students organized to protest and also got dismissed by police force violently against our will. Therefore we gather together at Liberty Square in central Taipei at Nov 6th, 2008 to continue an peaceful sit-in. Today is our 24th day, and our government still maintains their attitude and even gave promotion to these violent police administers.

We are writing to you to invite you to support our act for human rights at Dec 7th, 2008. At Dec 10th, 2008, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights from United Nation will celebrate its 60th anniversaries. Therefore, at Dec 7th, we will mobilize people in Taiwan to use non-violent demonstration in central Taipei. This morning we've hold press conference and got very positive reactions. So far, we've got spontaneous responses from many local NGOs in Taiwan, Paris and North America. However, we would like to connect via your organization to the world. We will be very appreciated if you, on behalf of your organization, could hold any kind of peaceful action (ex. a parade, a sit-in, arts, music activities..) in your region at Dec. 7th , in order to support Wild-Strawberries Student Movement fight against the state violence and defend human rights in Taiwan . Your contribution to defend the democracy in Taiwan is very precious for us.

Taiwan has been ranked as "100% free country" by Freedom House all the time until 2008. But now we, as students and the younger generation, are highly disturbed by the increasing control of our new government led by President Ma, especially regarding the freedom of speech. Many students in our movement got threatened by secret police officers, national security staff, and even school officials. The popular term in Taiwan for our generation (the cohort born after 1980s) is the "strawberry" generation, which means that we are spoiled to be able to afford stress. However, today we stand out for a better future. Today is our 24rd day peaceful sit-in protest at the Liberty Square in Taipei (also know as the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial).

Recently, the Freedom House, FIDH and Harvard's Professor Jerome Cohen (who was a thesis advisor to President Ma) have joined us in condemning unlawful police violence in Taiwan. We─members of Taiwan's Wild Strawberries Student Movement (http://action1106.blogspot.com)─have continued our peaceful sit-in at Taipei's Liberty Square to petition President Ma and our government and Taiwan's legislature to amend the Assembly and Parade Laws , which unconstitutionally inhibit citizens' freedom of assembly and freedom of speech, and gives the police unchecked powers to restrict such freedom─an inalienable human right─from the citizen.

Enclosed please find two statements, one is our petition and selected news reports in English, the other is updated information after two weeks. Should you have any willingness to support our activities defending human rights in your region, please contact us :

Sincerely yours,
International Action Team
Wild Strawberries' Movement
website (Chinese): http://action1106.blogspot.com/
(English): http://taiwanstudentmovement2008.blogspot.com/
Official Email Address: 1106action@gmail.com

Formosa Betrayed

2008-11-30T22:45:00.003+08:00

Formosa Betrayed is a feature film detailing the murder investigation of a Taiwanese-American professor at a Midwestern college in the early 1980s. The detective assigned to the case is a young FBI agent looking forward to an exciting career serving the United States government. However, he must solve the case before he can move on.

In his search for the murderers and their accomplices, the agent learns that there is a student spy network which focuses on the political and social activities of Chinese and Taiwanese-American students on the campus. He discovers that these “student spies” are ubiquitous on college campuses in the United States where there are Chinese and Taiwanese students.(more)

Transitional Justice in Taiwan: An Austrian Perspective

2008-11-30T19:36:00.001+08:00

Christian Schafferer

eastasia.at
Vol. 6, No. 1, June 2007
ISSN 1684-629X

Sixty years ago, the Nationalist Chinese Army brutally killed several thousand civilians in Taiwan. After the massacre, the Chinese Nationalists under Chiang Kai-shek and his son Chiang Ching-kuo continued to rule Taiwan until 1988. During the Chiang era, tens of thousands of civilians were persecuted, tortured and killed.(more)

Live broadcast is going to switch to another platform

2008-11-30T11:23:00.003+08:00

Dear all,

Due to the cease of Yahoo Live on Dec. 3, the live broadcast of Taipei spot is going to switch to http://zh-tw.justin.tv/action1106

Today (Nov. 30), both the old and the new platforms are available. It is expected to move to the new one on Monday (Dec. 1.)

[Rationale] The Transformation of the Taichung Wild Strawberries

2008-11-30T11:15:00.003+08:00

The Wild Strawberries Movement was inaugurated in Taipei on November 6, 2008. This movement’s main appeal is to protest against the abuse of law enforcement and the violations of democracy and human rights. Our appeal has gained recognition and support from the students’ groups, which gradually expanded to other cities all over Taiwan within a week. On November 9, the Wild Strawberries movement officially launched in Taichung.

The Taichung Wild Strawberries has established its unique culture with local characteristics. Compared with the solemn atmosphere in the other locations, we created a space based on the norm of affection, peace and mutual active listening between the groups of the citizens and the sit-in students to induce rational and open-ended public discussions as the module for our poignant movement. Through the medium of literature, music, public forum and etc., we explored the issue of human rights as the start and expanded our analysis and examination to the issues such as environmental protection and farmers’ rights. The practice of Taichung Wild Strawberries proved the possibility that an open, rational and peaceful discussion can still exist in Taiwan.

It has been almost 500 hours on November 9 since the Taichung Wild Strawberries started the sit-in; nevertheless, the government authority had not shown any gesture to face the issue actively nor given any positive responses. Furthermore, the treacherous milieu of politicking also raised questions on the long term strategy of the future development of our movement. We have come to face a new historic crossroad of whether we continue the sit-in to exhaust our energy or we stand up to create new territory.

We with the Taichung Wild Strawberries think that the sit-in action needs to transform so we are able to march to a new stage. We believe that it is more effective to go into the campus and reach out to more people rather than staying in the Citizens Square and talking to the same people to mutually strengthening our belief. We will create a broader dialogue space through networking, assembly and discussions to generate resonant echoes.

With the precious memory of the warmth and peace at the Citizens Square, we have also come to realize the questions and challenges ahead when we resolved to this action of outreach to the campuses and communities. Still, we are not afraid or even withdrawn because we are ready. Only by taking this action can we review, improve, break through and revitalize the movement. We want to emphasize that the switch from the sit-in at the Citizens Square to the outreach action does not mean the end of the Taichung Wild Strawberries movement. We seek for the transformation of campaign to carry on our mission. In the future, we will continue our campaign and activities on various campuses and staging soap-box interactive campaign to continue our dialogue and exchanges with the citizens in Taichung at the Citizens Square from time to time.

──「Wild Strawberries Movement 2008」All sit-in students in Taichung, November 28th 2008

Wild Strawberry ROCK on December 7th

2008-11-29T22:29:00.002+08:00

10:30~22:00 Student bands and many local bands

Come to join in us and rock the whole day.
Rock for the democracy and freedom!

At Liberty Square/ Freedom Plaza. See you then!