1224 Wild Strawberry Press Conference Announcement

This week the Wild Strawberry Movement entered its seventh week.

The response from the government has been distinguished largely by being both scant and negative. The only response has been in regard to the Assembly and Parade Law, discussed from mid-November by the government, with draft revisions made public by the Executive Yuan on Dec. 4th.

However, when we took a closer look at the Executive Yuan version, we found that the Executive Yuan had completely ignored the 4 major demands of the Wild Strawberry Movement. The requirement that the government approve all political demonstrations, which we had asked be changed to a simply notification process, remains a compulsory
notification process, little different in practice from asking for government permission. The wording of the law regarding limitations on the location of public protests and assemblies was changed, but the law remains the same, in fact becoming even more restrictive, with the an increase in the size of the area that can be restricted from public access for protests and assemblies. Nor was the police power to dismiss assemblies revoked. Although the Special Penalty for illegal assembly was abolished, the duration of the punishment was in fact lengthened. This has had a chilling effect on the public's right to assemble.

The new Assembly and Parade Law means only a change of names, not substance, and in fact places even stricter limits on the public's right to speak freely. These changes were certainly not desired or supported by the Wild Strawberries. Once again, we wish to re-emphasize our 4 demands for modifications to the Assembly and
Parade Law: (1)change the application for a parade permit to a notification system; (2) curb the arbitrary authority of the police to arrest demontrators and dismiss protests; (3) change the law so that violations are treated as administrative violations requiring fines, rather than criminal acts carrying jail sentences; and (4) lift restrictions on places where assemblies and parades can be held. The
Wild Strawberries refuse to sanction the government's modifications to the Assembly and Parade Law, which suppress the right of the people to speak and act freely. We hope that in future discussions of the Assembly and Parade Law, the government will support the version drafted by Legislator Chu Feng-chih (朱鳳芝).

[Urgent] At 4 a. m., more than 200 policemen forced 40 students and Tibetan friends away on Liberty Square!

Dear Sir/Madam
We are very sorry to inform you that Wild Strawberries' site in Liberty Square, Taipei was forced to close by police tonight at 4 am. We will, however, keep in touch with you via this email account later. thank you.

Media Team

==
04:11
Two police truck and huge amount of policemen came to Liberty Square to force Tibetan friends away. More and more police truck arrived and they brought three trucks of Tibetans away.
警方於夜間三點多，帶著兩輛警備車與大批警力來到自由廣場，準備驅離聚集在自由廣場上的圖博朋友與野草莓們目前警備車已增加到四輛，並以優勢的警力，帶走三車圖博人士。
請能至現場的朋友們，儘速趕過去，現場需要我們的支援！

04:41
Within an hour, all Tibetans were forced away by policemen.
At this moment, more than 200 policemen surrounded approx. 40 students. Student sat quietly on the ground. Two to three journalist were on the way to the square.
在不到一小時的時間，警方已將圖博朋友驅離現場。目前超過兩百名的警力，以方陣將約莫40名學生包圍；學生靜坐在地，而已有兩、三名記者接到通知，趕往現場。

04:48
Started to "lift" away students by police patrol car (the big trick to transport criminal.)
已開始將同學抬上警備車驅離現場。

There will be a press conference held on 9:00 on Liberty Square, 11st Dec. 2008.

[Invitation] Press Conference on December 5th

Dear Sir/Madam,

On behalf of Wild Strawberries Student Movement, we would like to invite you to our press conference at Liberty Square, Taipei at 3:00 pm in the afternoon tomorrow. We will explain our parade at Dec 7th, 2008, this Sunday and also give our comments on the latest proposal from the Executive Yuan today. The English conference will be hold after the Chinese one at 3pm. We will be very appreciated if you can send anyone to come to our press conference tomorrow. Should you need any further questions, please contact us by email; 1106action@gmail.com or phone: 0938-302-649.

Time: Dec 5th, 2008 (Friday), 3 pm
Place: Liberty Square (自由廣場), Taipei
Contact: 0938-302-649 Ms. Shih

Thank you.

Best regards,
Media Team, Wild Strawberries Movement

Control Yuan Accepts the Petition on Abuse of Power by Police and National Security Agencies

November 24, 2008

After starting a petition to protest against government violence and support the sit-in students, the Taiwanese academia, along with groups such as the Judicial Reform Foundation and the Wild Strawberries Movement, delivered a petition and complaint to the Control Yuan regarding the illegal acts and abuse of power by the police and national security agencies during Chen Yunlin’s visit to Taiwan.

The petition calls for the Control Yuan to investigate and take legal action against the (1) National Security Council and its Secretary-General Su Chi; (2) National Security Bureau and its Director Tsai Chao-ming; as well as (3) National Police Agency and its Director-General Wang Cho-chiun. The petition enumerates examples of illegal state power abuse during Chen Yunlin’s visit to Taiwan, including road blocks at airports, in the streets, and along the sidewalks exceeding necessary and appropriate parameters; forced entry of Sunrise Records without probable cause or a warrant; false arrest and injury of a documentary maker in the vicinity of the Grand Hotel.

The petition also provides the Control Yuan supporting evidence in the form of video clips, photographs, medical reports, recordings, and police reports. NGOs will also conduct an independent investigation to shed light on recent events.

Former Grand Justice Su Chun-hsiung, Academia Sinica Research Fellow Chu Hei-yuan, and Chang Chin-hua of National Taiwan University’s School of Journalism pointed out that the Control Yuan has the responsibility and obligation to follow protocols, conduct a fair and transparent investigation, and censure individuals who abused authority and power.
Control Yuan members Huang Huang-hsiung and Liu Hsing-shan jointly accepted the petition. Mr. Huang will be responsible for the case and has promised to conclude the investigation and deliver results within three months.

The Wild Strawberries Movement agrees with and supports efforts by the academia and organizations such as the Judicial Reform Foundation to seek solutions to state power abuse through formal and established means. However, we will also continue grassroots efforts to urge related agencies to conduct similar investigations.

* many thanks to A-Kai for the press conference transcript