While speaking in the middle of a crowd of 100 or so, the heavy-set man in his late fifties could not help but curse: "What kind of age is this? What sort of country do we live in? It's absolutely absurd and outrageous."
On his chest was a glass medal, which he had received from President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) on May 1 -- Labor Day -- this year. Tseng Mao-shing (曾茂興), depicted on his own medal, was honored for his contribution to the country's labor movement. Ironically, Tseng is to spend 10 months in jail, starting yesterday, for a "crime" most demonstrators around the world might have committed as well.
"It's the biggest irony you've ever heard ... yesterday ... I got the medal, but now I'm going to jail for the honorable things I've done," Tseng said.
Four years ago, Tseng, a pioneer of Taiwan's labor movement, joined a demonstration of over 300 workers from Lien-fu Textile (聯福紡織) in Taoyuan County, protesting against their employer who had issued no severance pay or retirement pensions following a closure.
When the demonstration apparently led nowhere, some of the workers suggested occupying railroads. It was this act that constituted a "crime," according to the police.
With them was Tseng, sitting on the railroad tracks not far from the factory. A southbound train had to come to a full stop at a distance of over 400m from where the demonstrators were situated.
Though no one was hurt, and no property damage was caused, the main north-south rail route was closed for almost one hour. Tseng and 80 others were then arrested on charges of endangering public safety.
In retrospect, the moustached 59-year-old still feels very proud of what the railway protest eventually achieved -- a loan of NT$300 million that was later issued by the Council of Labor Affairs (CLA) to the workers of Lien-fu Textile and other workers in similar circumstances.
"Let's think; a 10-month jail term paid for by NT$300 million. That means I'll be making a million a day while in prison," Tseng said, while smoking a cheap brand of cigarette.
The smile did not last long on his dark, wrinkled face.
When he started talking about the impunity of Lee Ming-hsiung (李明雄), owner of Lien-fu Textile, he could not help losing his temper.
"While I got 10 months in jail, that guilty man was able to get away with it and live a comfortable life. I just can't believe it," Tseng said.
Indeed, Tseng's anger is easy to understand. After closing the factory, Lee fled abroad -- allegedly to Thailand -- and left hundreds of his employees in a very difficult position.
"Most of us had worked for decades in the factory. All we had expected was to earn a living and have a small pension on retirement. But everything has gone with the boss and we really don't know who we can ask for the money," said a former employee of the textile factory, in a complaint typical of her co-workers.
Sympathizing with their situation, the courts have given a suspended sentence to the other protesting workers. Tseng, who once spent two months in jail in 1992 for joining another labor demonstration, received a reduced sentence of 10 months.
The sentence is bearable for Tseng, but thinking of the employer's easy escape from any penalty leads him to ask: "What's wrong with the country?"
Just days before Tseng was to go to prison, his old friend Chen Chu (
Chen honored Tseng's great contribution to the country's laborers and expressed regret over his jail sentence. She promised she would make efforts to prevent such things from happening again and try to make labor rights a common concern in the country.
Nevertheless, she admitted she was unable to answer why a man who devoted his life to helping workers would have to end up in jail for protesting against a ruthless employer.
Just before Tseng was to serve his term yesterday, hundreds of laborers joined a march in Taoyuan County, which began from the very railroad Tseng and the former Lien-fu workers had occupied four years ago.
It was difficult for them to bid farewell to each other. Tseng, however, was relaxed, ending the sad moment by saying: "I suppose it's just the way things are. But don't get so frustrated. In 10 months, I'll see you guys again on the streets of Taipei."
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