TAA Letter To State Department

Ms. Paula J. Dobriansky
Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520


Dear Under Secretary Dobriansky,
As representatives of the major Taiwanese American organizations
we write to you today about an issue of grave concern to us.
We came to this country during a time when our mother country,
Taiwan, was under the oppressive and authoritarian rule of Chiang
Kai-Shek's Chinese Nationalist Party. We became American citizens
to further pursue living in a democratic and free society.
Yes, we rejoiced when, without bloodshed, Taiwan became a
democratic country with direct elections of the president and the
legislature, while freedom of the press blossomed. But recently
Taiwan's democracy has begun to slowly crumble.
During the past eight years of Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party
administration, democracy in Taiwan was carefully preserved and
advanced. In 2007, the Worldwide Press Freedom Index ranked
Taiwan No. 1 in Asia and No. 32 in the world, ahead of both the U.S.
and Japan. But a mere five months into the new Ma Ying-Jeou
administration, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)
condemned the Ma government's interference with Taiwan's media.
The police have become more aggressive too. On October 11, 2008,
police harassed and arrested a man in front of the presidential
palace for wearing a T-shirt critical of President Ma without citing
any violation of the law. Also, it has been reported that police were
collecting names and taking pictures of participants in political
rallies.
Overall, politically motivated persecution has intensified since Ma
Ying-Jeou became president. Relentless prosecutorial pursuit of
former officials in former President Chen Shui-Bian's administration
continues, while careless leniency is shown to Chinese Nationalist
Party members. Immediate detention without bail has become