A number of pro-independence organizations yesterday called on the government to release former President Chen Shui-bian (蠊漵禶) from Taipei Detention Center, where he has been held in 〝detention for 499 days.
At a press conference in Taipei yesterday, political commentator Chin Heng-wei (旄恆煒) criticized the government for Chen＊s protracted detention, saying that it was based on political considerations because Chen no longer posed a flight risk.
Chen＊s family on Tuesday agreed to wire NT$700 million (US$22.1 million) from their Swiss bank accounts to prosecutors in Taiwan, citing comments made by a judge that the move could enhance Chen＊s chances of release when he comes up for review on April 23.
※Political interference from Chinese Nationalist Party [KMT] politicians as well as external pressure from China are the only reasons that Chen＊s detention has continued indefinitely,§ Chin said.
In a statement released on Wednesday by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), the party called for the courts to end Chen＊s detention in the interest of ※preserving Taiwan＊s democratic freedoms and ensuring the fairness of the judiciary."
Quoting DPP chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (齍褙湞), the statement said: ※The indefinite detention of the former president has had a serious impact on the international image of and public confidence in Taiwan＊s legal system."
Both pro-independence organizations and the opposition party are asking the government to support a revision of the Code of Criminal Procedure (?瓿慴摜跏) that would impose limits on the length of time individuals can be held.
A joint statement released by the organizations yesterday said that any law that provides for ※indefinite periods of detention is a relic of the martial law period.§
Taipei has once again made it to the top 100 in Oxford Economics’ Global Cities Index 2025 report, moving up five places from last year to 60. The annual index, which was published last month, evaluated 1,000 of the most populated metropolises based on five indices — economics, human capital, quality of life, environment and governance. New York maintained its top spot this year, placing first in the economics index thanks to the strength of its vibrant financial industry and economic stability. Taipei ranked 263rd in economics, 44th in human capital, 15th in quality of life, 284th for environment and 75th in governance,
The Sports Administration yesterday demanded an apology from the national table tennis association for barring 17-year-old Yeh Yi-tian (葉伊恬) from competing in the upcoming World Table Tennis (WTT) United States Smash tournament in Las Vegas this July. The sports agency said in a statement that the Chinese Taipei Table Tennis Association (CTTTA) must explain to the public why it withdrew Yeh from the WTT tournament in Las Vegas. The sports agency said it contacted the association to express its disapproval of the decision-making process after receiving a complaint from Yeh’s coach, Chuang
Control Yuan Secretary-General Lee Chun-yi (李俊俋) tendered his resignation last night, admitting that he had misused a government vehicle, as reported by media. His resignation was immediately accepted by the Control Yuan. In a statement explaining why he had resigned, Lee apologized for using a Control Yuan vehicle to transport his dog to a pet grooming salon on May 20. The issue first came to light late last month, when TVBS News reported that Lee had instructed his driver to take the dog to the salon. The news channel broadcast photos that it said were taken by an unnamed whistle-blower, which purportedly showed the
A former officer in China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) who witnessed the aftermath of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre has warned that Taiwan could face a similar fate if China attempts to unify the country by force. Li Xiaoming (李曉明), who was deployed to Beijing as a junior officer during the crackdown, said Taiwanese people should study the massacre carefully, because it offers a glimpse of what Beijing is willing to do to suppress dissent. “What happened in Tiananmen Square could happen in Taiwan too,” Li told CNA in a May 22 interview, ahead of the massacre’s 36th anniversary. “If Taiwanese students or
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