Political persecution?
The arrest of former President Chen and the whole money laundering/corruption scandal has drawn the attention of the international media, calling into question if the arrests are a form of political persecution. Furthermore, all the recent arrests have been DPP members. What about corrupt KMT-PFP members? Everyone knows that they haven’t been sparkling clean all these years. They’ve been slapped on the wrist and sought asylum in China. It would be ironic if our judiciary allows Taiwan’s pro-independence lawmakers to seek asylum in China. The result wouldn’t quite be justice, but it would be poetic nonetheless.
According to the laws of Taiwan, a person can be held in detention, incommunicado, without due process for up to two months, and renewable for a total of four months! Imprisonment for convicted criminals is justified, but just under suspicion? This does not show Taiwan’s legal system in the best light.
Will the prosecution of the former president lead to greater transparency and democracy as it has in South Korea? While I would like it to be so, incommunicado detentions really don’t help Taiwan’s image. Chen Shui-bian needs fair and open proceedings. The fact that justices have openly said that they are determined find Chen guilty is troubling. Can the public find such an investigation legitimate?
