Human rights and the possibility of granting amnesty to individuals serving time in three highly controversial cases topped the agenda at yesterday's weekly meeting of the nine-member task force.
President Chen Shui-bian (
The president did not suggest that the highly controversial case of the Hsichih Trio be granted the same treatment.
"The president has urged the Executive Yuan to look into the possibility of granting amnesty in three separate cases which have already been given firm sentences from the Supreme Court and are currently being carried out," said Chiou I-jen (邱義仁), secretary general to the Presidential Office, at a press conference following the meeting held at the Presidential Office.
Human rights organizations have long accused the courts of sentencing Su without any solid evidence. He was sentenced to 15 years for his involvement in a robbery and murder case in 1987.
Su, who insists that he is innocent, later escaped and was not arrested again until 1998. He is currently hospitalized for treatment of an eye condition. Prosecutors have requested four extraordinary appeals on Su's behalf.
The case of more than a dozen Jehovah's Witnesses who have repeatedly been sentenced for refusing to serve in the military were also cited for a review.
"Now that the Military Service Law has been amended, allowing individuals to perform public service instead of military training, the president said he thinks that we should respect their religious beliefs," Chiou said.
Labor rights leader Tseng was sentenced this year to serve 10 months in prison for endangering public safety.
Four years ago Tseng lay down on a railway track during a labor protest with over 300 employees from Lien Fu Textile company (
The owner of Lien Fu had closed down his factory and left all of its employees -- many of whom had worked for the company for most of their lives -- without any severance payments.
In addition to the three specific cases, the possibility of granting amnesty to the Hsichih Trio was also raised.
However, Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (
Sources also told the Taipei Times that an across-the-board reduction in sentences for individuals currently serving time in prison was also discussed as a way to at least reduce the trio's sentence. But that idea was also rejected.
Chiou also said that Chen urged DPP Chairman Frank Hsieh (
Hsieh has been asked to see if opposition parties or the public feels it is necessary to amend the Constitution or hold a National Affairs Conference.
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