Under a heavy police presence and with more than 100 demonstrators calling on him to resign, Premier Jiang Yi-huah (江宜樺) yesterday afternoon appeared in court to face charges of attempted murder filed against him and high-ranking police officers in a private prosecution over the violent crackdown on protesters who briefly took over the Executive Yuan in March.
“Mastermind behind the violence. Abuser of democracy. Face the trial. Jiang Yi-huah, step down,” more than 100 demonstrators affiliated with several civic groups, including Taiwan March and the Black Island Youth Front, shouted as Jiang, as well as National Police Agency Director-General Wang Cho-chiun (王卓鈞), Taipei City Police Department Commissioner Huang Sheng-yung (黃昇勇) and Zhongzheng First Police Precinct Chief Fang Yang-ning (方仰寧), arrived at the Taipei District Court as defendants.
More than 300 officers were deployed to maintain security, and the street in front of the courthouse was closed off since the morning, even though the court appearances did not start until 2:30pm.
Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times
A total of 23 demonstrators who took part in the occupation of the Executive Yuan compound from the evening of March 23 to the early hours of the morning on March 24 and were injured during a crackdown by the police filed charges against the officials.
The occupation of the executive compound took place while the legislative floor was also occupied.
Under orders from the premier to clear the executive compound and the streets around it before the morning rush hour, police used water cannons and truncheons against demonstrators, who were mostly engaged in peaceful sit-ins, resulting in bloodshed.
“I understand that the judge must be under tremendous pressure as he or she decided to summon government officials to appear in court,” said Chen Wei-ting (陳為廷), one of the Sunflower movement’s student leaders. “I would like to call on Jiang to be a man and shoulder his responsibilities. He should tell nothing but the truth in court, and shoulder any political and legal responsibilities that he may have.”
“I would also like to call on the judge to review the case from a constitutional point of view. This court meeting is only the first step; our ultimate goal is to have Jiang step down,” he added.
Unlike a public prosecution, in which prosecutors lay charges, in a private prosecution, the court hears cases directly filed by the accusers.
The hearing held yesterday was part of preliminary proceedings in which the judges are questioning the officials about their decisionmaking process and handling of the Sunflower movement protests. In line with the Code of Criminal Procedure (刑事訴訟法), preliminary hearings are held behind closed doors. Only if judges decide that the evidence is sufficient to warrant a trial would subsequent legal proceeding continue and the court be open.
Jiang was questioned for about two hours.
Facing questions from the media, Jiang refused to comment, both when he arrived and when he left the court.
Wang said in response to media queries that he would “respect the judiciary.”
Meanwhile, Fang again drew fire because he was serving as the commander of the police maintaining security at the scene even though he was appearing in court as a defendant.
“How can a defendant in a manslaughter lawsuit serve as commander of 300 police officers outside the courthouse while he is in court at the same time?” asked attorney Cheng Wen-lung (鄭文龍), who was among the protesters. “This is an abuse of power.”
However, Fang said that he had transferred authority to his deputy chief when he was in the court.
Additional reporting by staff writer
DEFENDING DEMOCRACY: Taiwan shares the same values as those that fought in WWII, and nations must unite to halt the expansion of a new authoritarian bloc, Lai said The government yesterday held a commemoration ceremony for Victory in Europe (V-E) Day, joining the rest of the world for the first time to mark the anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. Taiwan honoring V-E Day signifies “our growing connections with the international community,” President William Lai (賴清德) said at a reception in Taipei on the 80th anniversary of V-E Day. One of the major lessons of World War II is that “authoritarianism and aggression lead only to slaughter, tragedy and greater inequality,” Lai said. Even more importantly, the war also taught people that “those who cherish peace cannot
Taiwanese Olympic badminton men’s doubles gold medalist Wang Chi-lin (王齊麟) and his new partner, Chiu Hsiang-chieh (邱相榤), clinched the men’s doubles title at the Yonex Taipei Open yesterday, becoming the second Taiwanese team to win a title in the tournament. Ranked 19th in the world, the Taiwanese duo defeated Kang Min-hyuk and Ki Dong-ju of South Korea 21-18, 21-15 in a pulsating 43-minute final to clinch their first doubles title after teaming up last year. Wang, the men’s doubles gold medalist at the 2020 and 2024 Olympics, partnered with Chiu in August last year after the retirement of his teammate Lee Yang
The Philippines yesterday criticized a “high-risk” maneuver by a Chinese vessel near the disputed Scarborough Shoal (Huangyan Island, 黃岩島) in a rare incident involving warships from the two navies. The Scarborough Shoal — a triangular chain of reefs and rocks in the contested South China Sea — has been a flash point between the countries since China seized it from the Philippines in 2012. Taiwan also claims the shoal. Monday’s encounter took place approximately 11.8 nautical miles (22km) southeast” of the Scarborough Shoal, the Philippine military said, during ongoing US-Philippine military exercises that Beijing has criticized as destabilizing. “The Chinese frigate BN 554 was
The number of births in Taiwan fell to an all-time monthly low last month, while the population declined for the 16th consecutive month, Ministry of the Interior data released on Friday showed. The number of newborns totaled 8,684, which is 704 births fewer than in March and the lowest monthly figure on record, the ministry said. That is equivalent to roughly one baby born every five minutes and an annual crude birthrate of 4.52 per 1,000 people, the ministry added. Meanwhile, 17,205 deaths were recorded, resulting in a natural population decrease of 8,521, the data showed. More people are also leaving Taiwan, with net
RSS