White Terror Painted Green, We Still Recognize It

 White Terror Painted Green, We Still Recognize It

United Daily News Editorial (Taipei, Taiwan)

December 21, 2017

 Translation of an Excerpt

Wang Ping-chung and three others of the New Party Youth Wing on December 20^th were searched and arrested by prosecutors and investigators with a large number of officers; the four were interrogated for 12 hours on the grounds that they were involved in violating the "National Security Act," they were released at midnight. Why Wang Ping-chung et al. were charged is not clear at the present; we only know that the case is connected with the conviction of Mainland student Zhou Hongxu for espionage. Set aside the content of the charges, the proceedings of the searches and arrests by the prosecutors and investigators on the 20^th are subject to criticisms; what Wang Ping-Chung et al. each received was a notification for interview as "witness," the police and investigation officers, however, went to their homes in the early morning ahead of schedule, and refused to allow their lawyers to be present. The approach was brutal to the surprise and astonishment of many.

The DPP has just completed the legislative action of the "Statute on Promotion of Transformational Justice," and is undertaking, in a massive fashion, a purge of White Terror and "injustices" during the two Chiangs era. The arrest operation of New Party Youth Wing members by the Tsai government is precisely like a mirror, reflecting the face of the DPP's "new authoritarianism." When in opposition, the DPP knew full well the dreadfulness of the abuse of power; once in power, it, however, enjoys the inviting taste of abuse of power. This is precisely the DPP’s view of power. However, the people are not forgetful, nor are they ignorant; even if White Terror is painted Green, people still recognize its appearance.

In the brutal search operation this time, the prosecutors and investigators did not observe the law enforcement norms required for a country under the rule of law, searching and arresting witnesses as suspects; it not only left our countrymen with a bad impression, international media outlets also criticized the Tsai government for oppressing a political party with different doctrines. As to the New Party’s pro-unification rhetoric, the DPP may not be able to agree, if advocating "Taiwan independence" is protected by freedom of speech, then could we ever say that people advocating "reunification" should be treated as traitors and infringe on their citizen rights?

If a government official representing it in law enforcement, simply acting according to the color in the political spectrum, could discriminate against the words and deeds of its nationals, then that will not be a country under the rule of law. The DPP is moving backwards on the road to democracy; the search and arrest incident of New Party Youth Wing members this time further exposed the true colors of its abuse of power. If the DPP believes that convicting someone for espionage could improve its election prospects, then that will be too naive!

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