Sisy Chen pushes for defector's pardon

Independent lawmaker Sisy Chen (陳文茜) yesterday mounted a signature drive with an aim to pressure President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) to pardon Justin Lin (林毅夫), whose defection she said is not unforgivable.

The 23-year-old defection has raised an uproar in political circles following Lin's application to return to Taiwan to attend his father's funeral. "It is not right for the people to chastise Lin for his political beliefs but condone those accountable for political persecutions during the era of martial law," Sisy Chen told reporters.

Though the government gave its go-ahead Friday on humanitarian grounds, Lin, now a top economist in China, decided not to make the trip on Sunday on the advice of his relatives here.

They fear that Lin may be arrested after the funeral, as officials differ on whether his offense, committed in 1979, is still actionable.

Sisy Chen argued that the authorities should take a lenient approach when weighing Lin's case, which she characterized as "extraordinary" in light of political realities at that time.

Lin has said that -- inspired by then-president Chiang Ching-kuo (蔣經國) -- he swam from the frontline island of Kinmen to China in the hope of helping improve the life of compatriots there.

Calling Lin's flight a blatant act of treachery, lawmakers from the opposition KMT and PFP have refused to sign Sisy Chen's petition.

Under the 40th Article of the Constitution, the president may, in accordance with law, exercise the power of granting amnesties and pardons. President Chen has not invoked the prerogative since taking office in May 2000.

Sisy Chen suggested treating Lin's defection as "bygone" along with the martial-law era.

She noted that the country has been forgiving toward Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石) and his followers at whose insistence Taiwan and China remain foes and hundreds of thousands of people have lost their lives because of the rivalry.

"It is time we redefine who our enemies are, as former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) had admitted to sending emissaries to China during his term," the independent legislator urged. "So let's quit this bashing against Lin."

But thus far, only a few DPP legislators, such as Chen Chung-hsin (陳忠信), Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴), Parris Chang (張旭成) and Chen Chin-de (陳金德) have signed the petition.

Chen Chin-de, who represents Ilan County, Lin's birthplace, emphasized that though he has spoken in favor of Lin, his pro-independence stance remains unchanged.