Ex-premier forms lawyers alliance for human rights

Written by Writer on Monday, November 17th, 2008

Ex-premier forms lawyers alliance for human rights

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Former Premier Frank Hsieh launched a lawyers alliance Saturday aimed at safeguarding the country’s judicial human rights.

Speaking at a news conference, Hsieh said lawyers created the alliance not to speak up against any specific cases but rather to defend human rights that could be undermined by biases in the judicial system.

Hsieh served as premier from February 2005 to January 2006 and also ran a losing campaign as the Democratic Progressive Party’s candidate for president in 2008 against the Kuomintang nominee and eventual winner, President Ma Ying-jeou.

Hsieh said the alliance supports the legal system’s anti-corruption efforts, but is against the legal system being used as a tool for settling political scores.

He was referring to ongoing investigations in alleged acts of corruption by former President Chen Shui-bian, Yunlin County Magistrate Su Chih fen, and Chiayi County Magistrate Chen Ming-wen, all DPP members.

Su was indicted Friday on corruption charges for allegedly taking NT$21 million in bribes, while the former president and Chiayi County chief are being detained but have yet to be formally charged.

All three have claimed they are victims of political persecution.

Hsieh did not specify, however, how judicial human rights are being damaged and what actions the alliance would take to achieve its goals, which also include protecting the rights of the disadvantaged.

Sunday, November 16, 2008 11:47 am TWN, CNA