By Hyo-Jin Paik
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

TAIPEI, Taiwan– Earlier this month, the Taiwan High Court sentenced the country’s ex-leader Chen Shui-bian to life in prison for money laundering, embezzling state funds, accepting bribes and committing forgery.  This week, the same court rejected Chen’s petition for release on bail as Chen supporters demanded that the appellate court uphold Chen’s human rights.

One local newspaper said, “Let this be a warning to all political parties, politicians, government officials and businessmen.  The Chen family deserves no sympathy for the heavy sentence.  We should respect the court’s decision.” 

Taiwan’s Ex-President Chen Shui-bian.  Courtesy of Reuters. 

Chen, however, has petitioned the U.S. to intervene and restore his civil and human rights.  The Taiwan Civil Rights Litigation Organization is sponsoring a legal action for Chen and is demanding his immediate release.

Chen claims that under the 1952 San Francisco Peace Treaty, Taiwan was not awarded to Republic of China; therefore, still remains under U.S. Military Government.  Accordingly, Chen plans on using international law and U.S. constitutional law to resolve his legal problems.

 Chen’s supporters.  Courtesy of Start Telegram.

 Calling Chen’s trial unfair and invalid, Taipei Director of Democratic Progressive Party Huang Ching-lin said he supports Chen’s theory. 

Furthermore, some Taiwanese media also expressed concern for Chen’s case, especially for his lengthy detention during trial.  One daily paper said, “There was a widespread belief that this was hardly a fair trial.  The flawed process has affected the healthy developments in our country’s democracy and our international image.”

However, Chinese Nationalist Party Legislator Lee Hung-chun commented that Chen must be “mentally ill after spending so much time in detention.”

Chen has been in custody since December and continues to argue that he is innocent, claiming that he is a victim of Beijing’s political conspiracy.  Chen said his corruption trial was a “political revenge for his lifelong push to declare formal independence from China.”

Chen’s wife also received a life sentence, while his son and daughter received shorter sentences.
 

For more information, please see:

AFP – Taiwan media divided over ex-leader’s life sentence – 11 September 2009

Asia News – Ex President Chen SHui-bian to stay in prison – 25 September 2009

China Post – High court decides to detain Chen Shui-bian – 25 September 2009

Taipei Times – Chen asks US court to intervene to free him – 24 September 2009

By Megan E. Dodge
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

DHAKA, India– Jiten Yumnam a journalist, also an anti-Tipaimukh dam and rights activist, remains captured and at risk after being tortured while in Custody in India.

Jiten and seven others (Chungset Koireng, Likmabam Tompok Singh, Shamjet Sabano Nanbo Singh, Irom Brojen Singh, Amom Soken Singh, Toarem Ramanda Singh and Thiyam Dinesh Singh) were arrested in areas surrounding Manipur on September 14. This is based on assertions by the, Asian Human Rights Commission, a Hong Kong-based regional rights organization, which issued a statement on Thursday, September 24. The statement indicated that, “We have obtained court documents which show Jiten and seven others accused and were arrested on mere suspicion and unsubstantiated allegations.” 

Jiten was active in an international campaign against police officers who murdered a young man and a pregnant woman in the Manipur capital this July. In the present matter, the police claimed to have received information that the detained congregated on September 14 to plan further protests against the extrajudicial executions of civilians to intensify the pressure on security forces. Investigation officer, Ibomche Singh, sought a 20-day custody of the eight. Although the police claimed the detained had confessed to the charges during interrogation, when questioned before a court, the protesters denied confessing, and said they had been badly tortured. The court recorded this and agreed to extended police custody until 29 September.

Jiten and the seven other activists arrested, were reported taken into custody without explanation, and it is believed by some sources that cases against them were fabricated using the National Security Act, 1980. The Act is widely misused by the government to lengthily detain human rights defenders and political activists, and there is concern that this will be applied to Jiten and the other activists presently captured.

Evidence shows that Jiten was in need and requested medical attention, however, the detained were examined only once by a doctor despite having been previously tortured.  According to one source, neither the victim nor his family have been told of the charges against him. Unverified reports have suggested that he and seven other persons arrested on the same day will be charged with offenses punishable under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, the Official Secrets Act, 1923 and the Indian Penal Code, 1860.

For more information, please see:

News from Bangladesh – India anti-dam activists at risk in custody – September 28, 2009 

South Asia Media – India anti-dam activists at risk – September 27, 2009 

Asia Human Rights Commission – INDIA: A detained human rights defender is at risk of false charges and torture  – September 18, 2009