Further conflict could be unavoidable if Minister of Justice Chen Ding-nan (陳定南) fails to meet demands for reform of the prosecutorial system, the Prosecutors' Reform Association (檢察官改革協會) said
The tension between the minister and the prosecutors' group began after Chen announced a surprise reshuffle of 21 prosecutors- general on April 19. The association has been demanding that personnel changes be institutionalized.
Twenty representatives of the association from 15 prosecutors' offices nationwide met yesterday in Taipei to discuss the reshuffle and related issues.
"The association insists that when prosecuting crimes and fighting `black gold,' prosecutors shall act irrespective of political parties and be free of the interference of any political force," the association in a statement released after the meeting said.
Although the association did not accuse Chen of political interference for replacing the prosecutors general, the group did say that this type of arbitrary practice could open the door to political interference in the future.
The association's spokesman, Shihlin District Prosecutor Chen Jui-jen (陳瑞仁), had last week said the association would declare war against the minister to defend the independence of prosecutors if the ministry showed no sincere intention of carrying out reform. However, the tone of the statement released yesterday was relatively mild.
The statement says the association has discussed possible means for a future campaign, but did not say what that would be.
In the statement the association demanded that the promotion or demotion of prosecutors and prosecutors general should be based on an institutionalized performance assessment system.
The association also argued the special investigation forces system, which has been in operation since last July 1, be reviewed and reformed.
The association was an active advocate of the special investigation forces system before it was established. However, the association, many of whose members are also part of the special investigation forces, now argues that the ministry has over-expanded the system and made it ineffective.
According to the association's original proposal, it recommended 15 to 20 prosecutors be assigned to the special investigation forces, but there are now around 80.
In the controversy over the recent reshuffle some prosecutors had, in protest, threatened to withdraw from the special investigation forces or called for the system to be abolished. The stance of the association, however, is that the system must be reformed rather than abolished.
In addition, the association said the justice ministry should provide prosecutors with better access to training and education so they can improve their ability and knowledge.
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