Sat, Jun 27, 2015 page3

• US rights report shows weaknesses in Taiwan

  INSIGHT: Taiwan fared relatively well, while China had poor results, with some speculating that the report’s late release was to avoid upsetting China prior to talks

  • By William Lowther / Staff reporter in Washington
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  Taiwan’s principal human rights problems are labor exploitation of migrant workers by fishing companies, exploitation of domestic workers by brokerage agencies and official corruption, a new report from the US Department of State says.

  While Taiwan gets generally high marks in the report, it notes that authorities indicted 687 officials, including 69 high-ranking officials, on corruption charges last year.

  Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2014 was issued on Thursday — four months after a deadline set by the US Congress.

  There was widespread speculation that the delay was deliberate to avoid upsetting China before a series of strategic and diplomatic talks were completed this week and to appease Iran where nuclear talks are being finalized.

  In stark contrast to Taiwan’s mostly clean bill of health, the report said that China was guilty of repression, coercion, corruption and persecution.

  The report accused China of using forced disappearance and strict house arrest, including house arrest of family members, to prevent public expression of independent opinions.

  It portrayed China’s political system as ruthlessly repressive and one that regularly deployed extralegal measures to keep dissent in check.

  Turning to Taiwan, the report said that the judicial system suffered from some corruption, although efforts were being made to diminish political influence in the judiciary.

  The impartiality of judges and prosecutors involved in high-profile and politically sensitive cases had been publicly questioned, the report said.

  It also said that local media had reported incidents of police obstruction and violence directed at journalists who were covering protests against administration policies.

  “Local academics and media activists alleged that self-censorship continued, as some media chose to present news stories in favor of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) due to political considerations and the influence of local businesses with close ties to the PRC,” the report said.

  “Some legal scholars and politicians alleged that the Ministry of Justice was not sufficiently independent, claiming that ministry authorities conducted politically motivated investigations of politicians,” it said.

  According to the report, female employees in Taiwan continued to be promoted less frequently, occupied fewer management positions and worked for lower pay than their male counterparts.

  The report also said foreign-born spouses were targets of discrimination both inside and outside the home.

  “There was reported discrimination, including employment discrimination, against people with HIV/AIDS and 60 percent of HIV carriers left their jobs due to coercion from their supervisors or workplace bullying,” the report said.

  It said there was evidence of forced or compulsory labor amongst domestic service workers, farm workers, fishermen and in manufacturing and construction.

  “NGOs reported that some labor brokers and employers regularly collected high fees or loan payments from foreign workers, using debts incurred in the source country as a tool for involuntary servitude,” the report said.
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