王清峰失言 「抱總長就假釋」

2009年01月22日蘋果日報

 

 

Eroding justice: Open letter No. 3

 

Wednesday, Jan 21, 2009, Page 8

DEAR PRESIDENT MA

We the undersigned, scholars and writers from the US, Canada, Europe and Australia, consider ourselves long-time supporters of a democratic Taiwan. We write to express our concern regarding the erosion of the judicial system in Taiwan during the past few months.

On two previous occasions we have publicly expressed our concerns to Justice Minister Wang Ching-feng (王清峰), but the minister’s responses are troubling in their persistent failure to acknowledge that there even is a problem, and in their attitude of denial that the judicial process is flawed and partial. We trust that our raising our concerns with you as president will be treated as advice from international supporters of Taiwan’s democracy who care deeply about the country and its future as a free and democratic nation. (在過去我們前後兩次對法務部長王清峰提出我們的憂慮, 但是王部長堅持拒絕問題所在,也拒絕承認台灣司法程序有瑕疵且不公正. 基於此,也基於對台灣民主的關心,我們發表這封公開信, 希望馬總統你以國際學者關心台灣未來的自由與民主的態度,來看待這封公開信)  [簡單講, 因為部長死不認錯且一錯在錯,才會因此將受信者提高到總統的層級啦!]

First we may mention the fact that your administration has not yet acted upon recommendations — made both by Freedom House and Amnesty International — to conduct an independent inquiry into the events surrounding the visit of Chinese envoy Chen Yunlin (陳雲林), and in particular the police behavior and infringements on basic freedoms. The establishment of a scrupulously neutral commission is essential if there is to be a fair and objective conclusion on the disturbances that occurred during the Chen Yunlin visit. (首先,台灣並未依照之前國際組織,包含自由之家與國際特赦組織的建議成立獨立小組來調查陳雲林期間對人權,特別是警察濫權與拑害言論自由的相關案件.)

Second, we are concerned about the legal proceedings in the case of former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁). The switch of the case from a three-panel court that released him on his own cognizance on Dec. 13 to a court that subsequently re-incarcerated him on Dec. 25 — both Christmas Day and Constitution Day — seems to have resulted from political pressure from KMT members of the Legislative Yuan. In his commentary in the South China Morning Post of Jan. 8, 2009, professor Jerome Cohen presented details of such political interference in the judicial system, while The Associated Press on Jan. 4 also gave incisive insights in the process that took place. (第二:我們關心陳水扁案件的法律程序. 從重新覉押與併案等看來都是遭受到國民黨立法委員施壓的結果. 孔傑榮曾經對此發表評論並刊載在今年一月八日南華早報裡)

Third, we are deeply concerned by the widespread pattern of leaks to the media regarding ongoing cases — leaks which because of their content and nature can only have come from the prosecutors’ offices. As was reported by The Associated Press on Jan. 4, 2009, prominent observers in Taiwan such as professor Wang Yeh-lih of National Taiwan University charge that these leaks come from prosecutors who “consistently violated the principle of guarding the details of investigations during the Chen case.” (第三,我們非常憂慮檢察官向媒體洩漏訴訟中案件的任何資訊的情況...........據美聯社1/4的報導指出,台大教授王業立也曾經提到類似的觀點,尤其是陳水扁的案子)

This pattern of behavior displays a distinct bias in the judicial system and a disregard for fair and impartial processes.

The lack of attention to professional judicial standards reached a new low with the skit by several prosecutors who satirized those whom they are prosecuting. We are disturbed by Minister Wang’s defending this as “just for fun.” (從司法節的鬧劇演員包含數位審判陳水扁案的檢察官看出, 司法人員缺乏專業標準的情況來到新低點, 而王部長卻以"那只是好玩"一語輕描淡寫帶過)

Press agencies quote the minister as saying: “It was just a play to help everybody relax. There’s no reason to take it too seriously.”

In our view the actions by the prosecutors and the comment by Minister Wang display a lack of judicial professionalism and political neutrality. (以我們的觀點看來,審理扁案中的檢察官參與演出與王部長的回應都顯示台灣缺乏司法專業性與政治中立性--也就是台灣司法不專業而且受到政治影響啦)

We reiterate that any cases of alleged corruption must be investigated, and that if the defendants are found guilty in a scrupulously impartial process, they should receive just punishment after trial. We thus emphasize that the political neutrality of the judicial system is a fundamental element in a democracy. The examples mentioned above indicate that the investigative process has been conducted and sensationalized to the extent that both the right of the accused to a fair trial, and the presumption of innocence have been seriously jeopardized. Justice through the rule of law is essential to Taiwan’s efforts to consolidate democracy and protect fundamental human rights. (我們要強調司法體系中的政治中立是民主的一個基本元素. 上述的例子顯示調查過程不但偏頗沒有確保公正審判,而且也嚴重斲傷無罪推論的基本假設. 司法對於台灣強化民主與確保人權來講很重要)

In addition to the harm done to the personas of those accused, the international image of Taiwan has suffered. A president of a country bears political responsibility for the conduct of his subordinates’ actions, and we therefore urge immediate and decisive action to correct the severe flaws in the process that are staining the national honor, perhaps irreparably. (除了上述例子的相關人士受到傷害外, 也影響台灣的國際形象. .........請馬總統好好看管部署,立即糾正這嚴重的錯誤啦!) [所以說這才就做丟臉丟到國際上嘛!]

Taiwan’s judicial system must be not only above suspicion but even above the appearance of suspicion of partiality and political bias. We appeal to you, Mr President, to restore the credibility of the judicial system in Taiwan and ensure that your government and its judiciary and parliamentary institutions safeguard the full democracy, human rights and freedom of expression, for which the Taiwanese people have worked so hard during the past two decades. (結語就是要馬總統好好捍衛台灣二十年來的民主,人權,自由表達的權利啦,也請馬總統好好重建台灣司法的公正性啦)



Respectfully yours,



Nat Bellocchi,

former chairman of the American Institute in Taiwan

Coen Blaauw

Formosan Association for Public Affairs, Washington DC

Stéphane Corcuff

Associate Professor of Political Science, China and Taiwan Studies, University of Lyon, France

Gordon G. Chang

author, “The Coming

Collapse of China”

David Curtis Wright

Associate Professor of History, University of Calgary

June Teufel Dreyer

Professor of Political Science, University of Miami, Florida

Edward Friedman

Professor of Political Science and East Asian Studies, University of Wisconsin, Madison

Mark Harrison

Senior Lecturer, Head of the Chinese School of Asian Languages and Studies, University of Tasmania, Australia

Bruce Jacobs

Professor of Asian Languages and Studies, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia

Richard C. Kagan

Professor Emeritus of History, Hamline University, St Paul Minnesota. Author, “Taiwan’s Statesman, Lee Teng-hui and Democracy in Asia” and other works on Taiwan

Jerome F. Keating

Associate Professor, National Taipei University (Ret.). Author, “Island in the Stream, a quick case study of Taiwan’s complex history” and other works on Taiwan’s history

Hon. David Kilgour

former Member Parliament and Secretary of State for Asia-Pacific, Canada

Victor H. Mair

Professor of Chinese Language and Literature, University of Pennsylvania

Donald Rodgers

Associate Professor of Political Science, Austin College, Texas

Terence Russell

Professor of Chinese Language and Literature, University of Manitoba, Canada

Christian Schafferer

Associate Professor, Department of International Trade, Overseas Chinese Institute of Technology, Chair Austrian Association of East Asian Studies, Editor “Journal of Contemporary Eastern Asia”

Michael Stainton

York Center for Asia Research, Toronto, Canada

Peter Tague

Professor of Law, Georgetown University, Washington DC

John J. Tkacik Jr

former Senior Research Fellow, The Heritage Foundation, Washington DC

Arthur Waldron

Lauder Professor of International Relations, University of Pennsylvania

Vincent Wei-cheng Wang

Professor of Political Science, University of Richmond, Virginia

Gerrit van der Wees

Editor Taiwan Communique, Washington DC

Stephen Yates

President of DC Asia Advisory and former deputy assistant to the vice president for National Security Affairs

Terri Giles

Executive Director, Formosa Foundation, Los Angeles

Daniel Lynch

Associate Professor, School of International Relations, University of Southern California

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延伸閱讀:

第一封公開信 與 王清峰的回函

第二封公開信與王清峰的回函(含部分摘要)

updated link to Trial and Error

 

 

 

 

 

 

TAIPEI, Taiwan: The Harvard Law School mentor of Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou said Saturday that his former student needs to urgently act to prevent an "increasingly disturbing circus atmosphere" from prejudicing his predecessor's right to a fair trial.

台北，台灣：台灣總統馬英九的哈佛法學院指導教授星期六表示，他的前學生應該要立刻採取行動，阻止「令人越來越不安的鬧劇氣氛」讓前任總統接受公平審判的權力受損。

Jerome Cohen's comments to The Associated Press follow last week's biting skit that mocked former President Chen Shui-bian, performed by prosecutors at a Taiwan "Law Day" dinner attended by Justice Minister Wang Ching-feng, judges, and other leading lights of the island's legal community.

孔傑榮（Jerome Cohen）是針對上週台灣「司法節」一場晚會中，由檢察官演出嘲弄前總統陳水扁的刻薄短劇向美聯社發表意見。參加晚會的包括司法部長王清峰、法官、及其他台灣司法界的重要人物。

The skit made fun of Chen at the time of his arrest on graft charges in November, with a woman depicting him waving his manacled hands in the air and complaining about police brutality and judicial persecution.

這個短劇嘲笑陳水扁在11月因被收賄起訴遭到逮捕的情形。一位女性表演他高舉並揮動著銬上手銬的雙手，並抱怨警察暴力及司法迫害。

At least one of the prosecutors appearing in the skit is involved in the continuing investigation of Chen.

參加短劇演出的檢察官中至少有一位仍在繼續調查陳水扁。(按:瓜田李下,這應該要避嫌,不要參加演出比較好吧?)

Chen goes on trial Monday on charges of money laundering, bribery and looting a special presidential fund. While admitting his family wired more than $20 million to overseas bank accounts under its control, he says the money was unused campaign contributions that under Taiwanese law are his to deal with freely.

陳水扁被控洗錢、賄賂及挪用總統特別經費的案件要在星期一開庭審理。雖然承認他的家人自行將超過兩千萬米金匯至海外帳戶，他說這些錢是未用的競選捐款，根據台灣法律是屬於他的，可以自由運用。

Cohen, now a law professor at New York University, is one of the world's foremost experts on legal systems in Taiwan and China. He mentored Ma three decades ago at Harvard and they remain close. They last met in the presidential office in Taipei on Dec. 16.

孔傑榮，目前是哈佛大學法學教授，是全球頂尖的台灣與中國法律體系專家。他三十年前曾經擔任馬英九在哈佛大學的指導教授，兩人一直保持親近的關係。他們最近一次會面是 12 月 16 日在台北總統府。

In a telephone interview with the AP, Cohen called performing the skit "unthinkable."

在美聯社的電話專訪裡，孔傑榮說演出這場短劇是「不可思議的」。

"It is as if there are people trying to repudiate all the progress that Taiwan has made over the past 15 years," he said, referring to the island's gradual transition from dictatorship to multiparty democracy.

「這種現象彷彿是有人企圖要拋棄台灣過去15年所有的進步，」他說，指的是台灣由獨裁走向多黨民主的逐漸演變。

Cohen said Ma should move swiftly to force Justice Minister Wang to clarify remarks she made in defense of the skit, including her characterization that it was, "just a little performance reflecting on current affairs."

孔傑榮表示，馬英九應該立即採取行動，強迫司法部長王清峰解釋她為這場短劇辯解的話，包括她描述那「只是反映時事的小小演出。」

"If he doesn't get this, who in Taiwan can get it?" he said.

「如果他不做的話，台灣還有誰可以做得到？」他說。

Presidential spokesman Wang Yu-chi said Ma would not intervene with the justice minister on Chen's trial.

總統府發言人王郁琦表示，馬英九不會針對陳水扁案件干預司法部長。

"President Ma Ying-jeou's stand is that he respects the judiciary and he does not interfere with individual cases," he said. "At the same time he hopes that the judiciary will behave in a way that does not induce improper political reactions on the part of the public."

「馬英九總統的立場是，他尊重司法，不會干預個案，」他說。「同時他也希望法官的表現不會引起民眾有不當的政治反應。」

There is "an increasingly disturbing circus atmosphere" surrounding the Chen trial, Cohen said, that includes not only the mounting of the skit, but also a decision by a Taipei court to reverse itself and order Chen jailed pending his trial.

有種「令人越來越感到不安的鬧劇氣氛」圍繞著陳水扁案的案件，孔傑榮表示。他指的除了短劇演出外，還包括台北地院推翻之前的裁定，下令監禁候審中的陳水扁。

Chen was originally locked up for 32 days to allow prosecutors to build their case against him, then ordered freed on his own recognizance by the court. However, he was returned to jail on Dec. 29 after a new panel of judges heard the prosecutors' second appeal against him.

陳水扁最早被關了 32 天，讓檢察官得以完成對他起訴，然後法院下令具結釋放。然而，12 月 29 日新的法官團在審理檢察官第二次上訴後他又再次入獄，

Cohen said Ma's handling of the Chen case revealed an apparent choice to placate the extremist wing of his ruling Nationalist Party rather than reaching out to Taiwan's broad political middle.

孔傑榮說，馬英九處理陳水扁案件的態度顯示他已經做出明確的決定：是為了安撫國民黨極端派系，而非貼近台灣具有中間政治色彩的多數群眾。

"He's acting like (President George W.) Bush in catering to the most right wing conservative elements," he said.

「他像布希（總統）一樣迎合保守極右派份子，」他說。

Presidential spokesman Wang rejected that characterization.

總統府發言人王郁琦拒絕接受這種說法。

"(Ma's) hands-off policy has irritated some party members who hoped he could deal with the Chen case more aggressively," he said. "So it is incorrect to say that President Ma is trying to placate some party members with the way he is treating the Chen case."

「（馬英九的）不干預政策已經讓部分黨員感到不快，他們相信他會更積極處理陳水扁案件，」他說。「因此說馬總統目前處理陳水扁案件的方式是為了安撫部分黨員並不正確。」

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延伸閱讀:
台灣國內媒體很傷腦筋啊

 

 

好笑的新聞--

 

自由日　馬總統：與大陸展開民主自由競賽　台灣有實力贏(2009/01/18 12:38)

"馬總統說，中共已簽署這兩項公約，我們更應該表現比他們對自由、民主更大的承諾，所以「我們跟中國大陸最不需要競爭的就是軍事競賽，我們真的需要競爭的就是民主跟自由的競賽」。 "

先前自由之家年度報告出爐, 台灣是個自由國家,中國是個不自由的國家. 一個拿A的人要和一個拿C的人比, 然後還誇口, 這真是自high的最高境界啊

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A WIND CHILL WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 12 PM CST FRIDAY.

BITTERLY COLD ARCTIC AIR COUPLED WITH NORTHWEST WINDS OF 5 TO 15 MPH WILL CONTINUE WIND CHILL READINGS FROM 35 TO 45 BELOW ZERO ACROSS EAST CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA AND WESTERN WISCONSIN THROUGH THIS MORNING. SOME IMPROVEMENT IN THE WIND CHILL VALUES WILL OCCUR THIS AFTERNOON AS TEMPERATURES GRADUALLY RISE... BUT WIND CHILL READINGS WILL STILL BE 25 TO 35 BELOW ZERＯ.

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MSN上已經到學校的學弟傳訊息來說: 別偷懶了, 趕快來上學. 我已經在學校一小時了勒.

好不容易老闆不在卻連學弟都催我啊!

不甘不願到學校,學弟問我說: 以前有這麼冷嗎?  我告訴他,這是我第二次經歷零下40這個magic number(因為 -40F=-40C,所以是magic number)了, 這是我想要趕快畢業離開這裡的動力啊! 在一旁的另一個人說, 你現在知道這裡的productivity為什麼這麼高了嗎? 因為太冷沒有別的事可以做, 末了還加一句,這才叫冬天啊!

真奇怪,這麼冷值得驕傲嗎? 這麼冷還要上學, 我只覺得很悲情啊! 而且怎麼會沒事做? 在家賴床泡熱水澡聽音樂都是可以做的事啊!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

我將標題意譯為台灣司法錯失機會.因為從內文裡再三提到台灣的民主有賴一個透明,公正的司法來確保,然而最近的司法案件卻顯示台灣的司法讓人對此期望已經落空.

 

由於中時已有中文版, 我就不翻譯了. 感想後補

----------------------------

Chen Judges Bungle Their Chance

Author:	Jerome A. Cohen, Adjunct Senior Fellow for Asia Studies

January 8, 2009
South China Morning Post

中文版:

美國前聯邦首席大法官查爾斯．休斯（Charles Evans Hughes）在分析美國聯邦最高法院的經驗時曾言道：「（最高法院）最重大的傷害均是自我招致的。」台灣的法院應省思此句充滿智慧的經驗談。雖然對陳水扁前總統的追訴法院尚未開庭審理，但經手本案的法官們已然貽誤了陳案所提供的歷史良機去證明司法的獨立、公正與能力。

    　

台灣人多年來辛苦爭取而得來的民主現今正處於困境之中。貪腐威脅台灣政治的清廉。憑藉一個公平，透明，且可信賴的司法體系以執法乃解決此困境所不可或缺。儘管台灣社會中政治嚴重對立，且不同政黨支持者間缺乏互信，檢方於去年十一月十一日逮捕陳後，於起訴狀中對陳及其家屬與部屬大規模貪腐之指控，陳明已有令社會大眾接受有罪判決結果的預期。經由公平的刑事訴訟程序所獲致的有罪判決將可望能驗證清廉政府的價值，遏制類似犯行，並提升社會大眾對近二十年前始脫離專制國民黨政府控制的法院之信賴。

可惜的是，近來之司法程序進行著實令人對此等期望落空。除非法院能有一些出人意表的英勇舉措來回復其公信力，對陳以及其他涉案人的定罪將只會招致更多的公開批判嘲諷，使法院無法取得成功司法所必需的廣泛支持。此乃因中國人傳統上強調刑事法的實體即有罪無罪的判定而非程序。然而，近來相關的事件發展卻令人聚焦於兩個相關聯之刑事程序爭議：審前羈押與公訴審理之合併，此等爭議亦反映出台灣的刑事訴訟程序制度正逐漸由職權進行主義（inquisitorial system）轉向當事人進行主義（adversarial system）。

兩度裁定無保釋放陳的台北地院周占春庭長的專庭與兩度駁回該庭裁定的台灣高等法院之間的爭議，以將經由抽籤分配給周庭長專庭審理的陳案之眾多公訴合併於蔡守訓庭長的專庭審理之陳與其妻吳淑珍侵占國務機要費案作終結。此等合併令蔡庭長主導之專庭得以就陳的審理中羈押之第三度裁定加以審訊，並因此重新做出羈押陳的裁定。然而，此裁定卻與數日前才發布的司法院大法官會議解釋第六五三號解釋意旨有所衝突。該號解釋理由書中力陳刑事被告之羈押僅能為保全刑事程序之最後手段。雖然陳並未如公訴前為期三十二日的審前羈押般被戴上手銬以及禁止接見，惟其與家人甚至辯護律師的對話仍可被監聽並援用為追訴其與其家人律師等涉案與違法之犯罪證據。

在押被告的防禦權在其他方面亦明顯受到制約，例如他們無法與證人或其他共同被告討論案情，此乃為檢方在陳的羈押裁定抗告理由中陳明的兩大主要考量之一。另一考量則是如未行羈押，陳可能逃亡，離開台灣。蔡庭長事實上是可以以高額的保釋金或限制住居之方式以高度降低陳逃亡的可能。此外，如陳一審被判決有罪，陳逃亡的動機理應只會增強。然而，此等可能性能意味著陳在高等法院及最高法院的上訴審理中應該繼續被羈押嗎？如果答案是肯定的，那將意味著陳在判決確定前將被羈押數年之久。惟值得憂心的是無罪推定至此可能成為毫無意義，判決確定前的羈押也可能轉化成為未經判決確定之犯行的刑事處罰。

每個國家都深受判決確定前被告的羈押造成之諸多難題所困擾。然而台灣卻以環繞著將審理公訴陳與其他同案被告的「後案」合併於審理二○○六年起訴之國務機要費案的「前案」之諸多難以解開的謎團最令人矚目。若併案審理為必要，台北地院何不在後案被提起公訴時即採行？

相反的，台北地院原先卻決定涉及洗錢與其他複雜案情，以及陳所涉嫌之侵吞國務機要費的後案，應由少數被期待較蔡庭長之刑事庭更專精於處理複雜的財務金融財務犯罪專庭抽籤來加以決定審理庭。如金融專庭比蔡庭長所屬之一般刑事庭更適合審理後案，則台北地院如何合理說明其後案併前案的處理方式？確保司法免受干預的法官法定原則能如此輕易地被規避嗎？

根據台北地院的官方新聞稿，將後案之審理合併予蔡庭長審理之前案乃是刑事庭庭長會議依照台北地方法院刑事庭分案要點召開刑事庭案件審核小組決議的結論。然而，依該要點第十條規定，簽請審核小組決定的主動權在後案的承辦法官。周庭長為何為該請求？是否有何壓力迫使其為此請求？為何審核小組未接受其僅將後案中國務機要費相關部分移轉合併於蔡庭長的前案審理，而將後案中其餘較複雜的部分如法院原先之決定般由其所屬金融專庭審理的最初提議？為何審核小組僅由五位刑庭庭長組成？為何合併的議題在周庭長第二次釋放陳後才浮現？此等不透明的程序是否為該法院針對部分媒體以及國民黨立委強烈批判之回應？有無政治人物脅迫該法院對案件為如此安排？ [註: 星期專訪黃瑞華也有類似的法律見解]

此等問題之答案早晚會變明朗。相較之下，目前比較迫切的問題應是：有無其他方式保證給陳案被告以及社會大眾一個兼具形式與實質正義的司法程序？如果蔡庭長如媒體所報導般原先並無意承接後案的審理，其何不退出後案中與國務機要費案無關起訴之審理？如此，則台北地院可以遂其原本之決定，並再次抽籤決定由一個金融專庭來審理後案中較為複雜的罪嫌。此新審理庭亦能再次審酌解除審理中羈押陳之聲請，如其決定釋放陳，應加以鉅額保釋金以及嚴格的限制住居之解押條件。 [註]

如此一來，兩個審理庭審理程序之進行都會獲致廣泛的公眾支持。司法正義，如西諺所云，不只必須被實現，更必須使其實現過程被感受察覺。此乃為司法正當性之代價。

    　（孔傑榮Jerome A. Cohen，紐約大學法學院亞美法研究所共同主任，「外交關係協會」兼任資深研究員/紐約大學法學院亞美法研究所研究員宋名晰編譯）

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註: 《星期專訪》黃瑞華︰司法若毀 台灣將有危險

問：北院認為兩個法官各辦各的，擔心發生裁判歧異，他們也沒有要周占春交出案件，是周自己不想辦才簽出。

(黃)答：先講周占春，我們回顧一下歷史，當時他做出裁定，被另一邊的人罵到臭頭，發動各種方式和媒體攻勢，包括私人的事、不知道有沒有的事都被攻訐，讓法官承受非常大的壓力，幾乎無招架之力，這個時候法官審判獨立的空間可以說沒有，此時，有媒體又運作後案併前案、避免裁判歧異等議題。

想要合併，就要找依據，因而找出第十條出來，說為了訴訟經濟、避免裁判歧異；至於兩個法官協商，是要兩個人都認為有必要才協商，但在當時狀況下，這件事是被壓迫的，不是周占春自己要的，他已開兩次庭，不是一分下來就說「我不要辦」，他沒有這樣做，據了解，他也訂了庭期，訂庭期就表示要審理，沒有認為合併審理的必要。 不排除周占春是在壓力下才簽出案件，這樣的過程就不公平、程序不正義。]

關於併案的問題, 在同一個專訪裡黃提到: "台大教授王兆鵬文章很值得參考，他提出三策，上策是蔡守訓停止審判，對其取得審判權的合法性聲請釋憲，中策是高等法院將案件移轉管轄，下策是蔡聲請迴避，案子重新分案。"

延伸閱讀:(英文)

針對2008年12月2日美國發表擔心台灣司法的第二封公開信,王清峰的回函. 我摘要/翻譯部分如下. 關於第二封美國公開信,請參考此.

 

以下原文,轉載自Taipei Times.有朋友可幫忙翻譯者請留言或email給我.謝謝!

 

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Thursday, Jan 08, 2009, Page 8

Response No. 2 on justice

In “Eroding justice: Open letter No. 2,” published in the Taipei Times on Dec. 2, the signatories again criticized Taiwan’s judicial procedures. Misunderstandings concerning Taiwan’s criminal procedure law are obvious here. Following its response published in the Taipei Times on Nov. 25, the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of China has deemed it necessary to clarify these misunderstandings.

1. There is a difference between pretrial detention and preventive detention. “Pretrial detention” is employed as a means of preventing defendants, who are alleged to have committed felonies punishable with a minimum sentence of five years’ imprisonment, from absconding and destroying evidence, but only where there are difficulties in prosecution, trial or the execution of a sentence. Such detentions are ordered by a judge or a panel of three judges when one of the aforementioned requirements is met. Should there exist any possibility of tampering with witnesses or evidence, detained suspects are barred from being interviewed and corresponding with anyone except their defense counsel(s). Open Letter No. 2 clearly shows a misunderstanding in that it suggested that such detentions might be politically motivated. (美國的第二封公開信清楚的顯示美國對於羈押陳水扁有明顯的誤解. 註:美國的第二封信懷疑羈押有政治動機, 王清峰的回函駁斥此為美國的誤解)

2. The correspondence issue: To avail detained suspects of legal assistance, those whose correspondence with the outside world is prohibited do retain the right to correspond with and be interviewed by their defense lawyers. Our laws protect the privilege of confidential communication between a lawyer and his client. But in the case where detention has been deemed necessary to avoid collusion with other defendants and witnesses, it is required that communications between the detained and his lawyer be recorded. This is an attempt to balance a suspect’s right to counsel with a need to prevent obstruction of justice. Once an investigation is completed, the documents, files and other evidence that prosecutors have collected will be submitted to the trial court, and the defense counsel may examine such evidence prior to the trial. (王清峰表示,爲了防止串共, 陳水扁與家人甚至辯護律師的對話仍可被監聽並援用為追訴其與其家人律師等涉案與違法之犯罪證據。)

3. On investigation confidentiality: With respect to the allegation that prosecutors leaked information to the press, former president Chen [Shui-bian, 陳水扁] was considered a suspect in a 2006 corruption case in which his wife was indicted as his accomplice. The aforementioned case had been publicly tried for some time and had been reported on often. The media might have access to sources other than the prosecutor’s office, including the defense counsel, defendants and even witnesses. (關於偵查不公開,王清峰認為媒體已經"審判"此案多時, 而且檢察官並非媒體討論此案唯一之來源,媒體也可以透過其他來源取得資料例如被告甚至證人的說辭)

4. On the lawyers’ code of ethics: In Open Letter No. 2, it was contended that a probe concerning Cheng Wen-lung [鄭文龍], the defense counsel for former president Chen, is confirmation of strong political bias in the judicial system. Please allow me to lay out the sequence of events to show that such a claim is not in keeping with the facts. The Taipei District Court ordered that Chen be detained on Nov. 11, and Mr Cheng communicated with the media about the situation on Nov. 12, issuing a 10-point statement on Chen’s behalf denouncing the “death of the judiciary.” Mr Cheng attempted to politicize the ongoing investigation and mislead the press, which may be considered to not only have the appearance of impropriety, but also to be a violation of the lawyers’ code of ethics. Therefore, the Ministry of Justice, the competent authority overseeing practicing lawyers, issued an official notice to the Taipei Prosecutors’ Office and the Taipei Bar Association to investigate whether any violation of ethics rules was made in conveying a detained suspect’s messages to the outside world. It is the duty of the Taipei Prosecutors’ Office and the Taipei Bar Association to decide whether or not to take action against Mr Cheng. (簡單講,王清峰認為司法單位調查鄭文龍是正當且必要的,因為王認為鄭的行為有違律師職業道德) [關於台灣司法單位對鄭文龍的"追殺",參考此]

5. On “selective prosecution”: The signatories quoted the remarks of Professor Jerome Cohen and Mr Nigel Li [李念祖] to argue that prosecutors targeted only one particular political group, the Democratic Progressive Party [DPP]. Prosecutors are obligated to investigate any act of alleged corruption committed by government officials. To protect the innocent and prosecute the real criminals, public prosecutors are required by law to perform their duties independently and impartially without any interference from any sector. As for the prosecutors’ alleged prejudice against ex-government officials of the DPP, it is universally acknowledged that the crime of corruption is premised on its being committed by incumbent officials of the party in power. The opposition party enjoyed no such access; thus, there are no grounds for such investigations. Therefore, the allegation of prosecutorial bias against the DPP is entirely baseless. (選擇性辦案與起訴(只辦綠營人士)的指控是毫無根據的)

6. As for the allegation concerning my public comments on current investigations in Open Letter No. 2, I did not discuss the content of cases or give any specific instructions. The Ministry of Justice has released the text of my relevant statements. As Minister of Justice, I am fully aware of my boundaries and never step beyond them. (我--指王清峰並沒有"指導"任何案件........身為法務部長,我很清楚我的份際所在,也從未僭越)

I appreciate the signatories’ continued concern about our criminal justice system. All of our prosecutors, without exception, are under the supervision of the prosecutor-general. There can be no doubt that our public prosecutors endeavor to prosecute crimes and protect the innocent while respecting due process.

WANG CHING-FENG

Minister of Justice

Taipei

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 第一封公開信的回函(英)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

我看了幾個常翻譯外文的網站皆無關於此文之翻譯, 因此把此文貼出來.　不過太忙了，暫時不翻譯．　雖然標題是台灣民主被侵蝕，我卻歸類在人權司法觀測，因為內容講的是從檢察官抗告，阿扁被羈押的司法案件講起．　在看此文前，我先貼出兩個中文的新聞．一個其實剛好是感恩節期間我和一群朋友的對話內容（參考此文之回應），另一則是關於此外電的相關中文新聞．

3 ) 回應外媒指稱我政府介入司法案，新聞局鄭重駁斥以澄清政府立場 

以下為美聯社之原文： (文後有題外話一段)

前幾天就放了照片．最近忙，照片加減看吧！