KMT doesn’t respect judiciary
An independent judiciary is a key foundation of democracy. So is the principle of being innocent until proven guilty.
However, the response to the not guilty verdict in the case of former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) handed down by Taipei District Court on Nov. 5 shows there is still a lack of respect for these important principles in Taiwan.
The suggestion by Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) politicians that voters show their discontent with the court’s verdict by voting for the KMT in upcoming elections shows contempt for judicial independence (“KMT urges voters to show discontent with Chen ruling,” Nov. 7, page 1).
Do these politicians believe that an electoral mandate for the KMT will result in Chen being found guilty in a subsequent trial?
Prosecutors also show a similar attitude. Special Investigation Panel spokesman Chen Hung-ta (陳宏達) is quoted as saying the “verdict is against the public’s concept of the law” (“Chen found not guilty in bribery trial,” Nov. 6, page 1).
There is no place for a court to function on the basis of public opinion. Decisions made by judges must be in accordance with the law and based on evidence. Furthermore, they must respect the principle of innocent until proven guilty.
The court’s verdict in Chen’s case shows that it made its decision according to these important principles.
The cases involving Chen have already exposed many problems with judicial rights. Judicial reform is very important for Taiwan to further strengthen its democracy and improve human rights.
It is difficult for judicial reform to succeed if politicians and prosecutors expect courts to act on the basis of public opinion rather than the principle of judicial independence.
David Reid
Taichung
KMT risks midterm blues
After the shellacking suffered by the US Democratic Party in midterm elections, the KMT has cause to feel blue before the upcoming special municipality elections. President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) popularity faces a critical test.
Several recent incidents have not helped KMT candidates. The Ma administration has tried to impose Internet censorship on college students, while Chinese students are treated better than Taiwanese in terms of scholarships, as highlighted by a TV talkshow host.
Furthermore, the territorial dispute over the Diaoyutai Islands (釣魚台) between Taiwan and Japan is now between China and Japan — leaving Taiwan out. Ma has shown himself to be lacking in diplomatic etiquette — making a mistake with the title of former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, refusing to let him visit Democratic Progressive Party Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and letting him call a taxi without an escort.
Ma also stated that former president Chen’s acquittal “deviates from the expectation of people,” and the Supreme Court then sentenced Chen to 11 years in a separate case, without the chance for any more appeals.
The US Democrats have been feeling blue since the Nov. 2 midterm elections. Time will tell whether or not the KMT will also feel blue after the Nov. 27 midterm elections, depending on the choice of Taiwanese voters.
Charles Hong
Columbus, Ohio
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