Supporting A-Tsai from Luchou, Putting Down Roots in Taiwan~ 20 Years of Local Service: Press Conference Calling for the Issuance of a "Special Contribution" Alien Resident Certificate

Recently, the media reported on the case of an Indonesian man named A-Tsai, who was forced to overstay in Taiwan for 28 years because his documents were withheld by an unscrupulous employer. Following outreach and concern from the Action Alliance for Undocumented Migrants and the Judicial Reform Foundation (JRF), it was learned that a group of A-Tsai's Taiwanese friends have been exhausting all possible avenues to help him stay in Taiwan legally. They noted that A-Tsai has long taken the initiative to care for the elderly, children, and the homeless in the Luchou area, and served as a volunteer lifeguard at beaches such as Shalun and Baishawan. Over a span of 10 years, he rescued nearly 20 swimmers and recovered at least 5 bodies. A-Tsai's Taiwanese friends hope the government will recognize his long-standing contributions to the Luchou local community and allow him to continue living here.

The Action Alliance, the JRF, and other groups believe that A-Tsai's years of practical service embody the Ministry of the Interior's definition of "special contributions" by foreign nationals: making exceptional contributions to Taiwan's democratic and human rights fields and elevating our nation's international profile. Furthermore, A-Tsai's 20 years of dedication and contribution to Taiwan far outweigh his overstaying violation of administrative regulations. The National Immigration Agency should proactively issue him a special contribution alien resident certificate, allowing him to continue living in Taiwan and striving alongside us for this land of Taiwan.

Changes in Taiwanese Law Turned A-Tsai from a National into a Foreigner

A-Tsai's parents fled from Kwangtung to Indonesia during wartime. When the war ended, they were penniless and unable to return to their hometown. A-Tsai and his siblings were all born and raised in Indonesia. Remembering his roots and instructing his children never to forget theirs, his father specially asked a gentry member of the overseas Chinese community in their place of refuge to handwrite a document certifying that their family originated from Kwangtung and were Republic of China nationals. After the war, local life in Indonesia was difficult, and the wealth gap caused social turmoil. The target of anger was initially the minority overseas Chinese who controlled key industries, but unexpected long-accumulated public grievances erupted into large-scale anti-Chinese riots. Having grown up watching locals treat Chinese people unkindly and even with violent hostility, A-Tsai feared he too would fall victim and constantly longed to go to Taiwan. In 1987, introduced by local overseas Chinese, he obtained an Indonesian passport, entered Taiwan, and worked in exchange for food, lodging, and Chinese lessons. Due to a lack of information, A-Ts'ai did not know that overseas Chinese holding relevant documentation at the time could obtain a Taiwanese ID card.

Subsequently, the Taiwanese government successively amended entry and exit laws, abolishing the privilege for overseas compatriots to apply for ID cards, and also amended the Statute for Certifying Overseas Chinese Status, requiring related documents to be issued by designated official units in order to prove our nationality. Consequently, the handwritten document that A-Tsai possessed could no longer prove his nationality of our country as it once did.

Subject to Unscrupulous Exploitation, Forced to Overstay

Entering Taiwan in 1987, A-Tsai left home for the first time with the help of local overseas Chinese who introduced him to a laundry factory in Luchou. The employer promised him food, lodging, and Chinese lessons in exchange for labor, and the naive A-Tsai thought his luck was finally turning. Nearly half a year later, the employer took his passport under the pretext of applying for an extension. Having no one to rely on in Taiwan, A-Tsai had no choice but to trust his employer. Over a year later, the factory closed down without warning and the employer vanished without a trace. A-Tsai had learned little Chinese and even finding a full meal became a problem. Later, when A-Tsai ran into a former factory coworker and heard that the employer had long ago handed his passport over to the police, A-Tsai became even more afraid to surface and seek help, thus falling into the status of an undocumented overstayer.

A-Tsai of Luchou: Serving Society for 20 Years

Convinced that he could not leave Taiwan, A-Tsai turned to striving to make himself like a Taiwanese person. Naturally kind-hearted and helpful, he initially faced a language barrier and expressed himself through actions, proactively helping the elderly cross the street and directing traffic to protect children's safety. On weekends, he volunteered as a lifeguard at Baishawan on the North Coast, Shalun, and other locations for over 10 years, rescuing more than 20 swimmers and even assisting in recovering bodies.

A-Tsai considers himself a part of Luchou. Not only does he speak fluent Taiwanese, but he has also spent years chatting with elderly community members and acting as a caring uncle who temporarily looks after children so that parents working sudden overtime can have peace of mind. During school commute hours, he voluntarily serves as a traffic crossing guard to ensure the safety of community children going to school. A-Tsai's contributions to the local community have spanned over 20 years, extending beyond elder and child care to also caring for the homeless, occasionally using his own means to buy them bento boxes.

From working as a volunteer lifeguard to minor tasks like escorting children across the street, A-Tsai believes this is what he ought to do as a member of Taiwan. His years of local service have allowed A-Tsai to make a group of friends as close as family. Because his parents passed away many years ago and contact with his siblings has been almost entirely lost, A-Tsai's life, interpersonal network, and everything else are entirely in Taiwan, in Luchou.

From the perspectives of sentiment, reason, and law, we believe: A-Tsai has made numerous contributions to Taiwan, and the National Immigration Agency of the Ministry of the Interior should grant him a "Special Contribution" Alien Resident Certificate on the grounds of 20 years of social service, allowing him to achieve legal status right where he is.

Joint Expressions of Support

Action Alliance for Undocumented Migrants
Judicial Reform Foundation
Migrant/Immigrant Human Rights Legislation Action Alliance
Taiwan Association for Human Rights
Taiwan New Immigrants' Labor Rights Promotion Association
Taiwan International Family Support Association
Nanyang Taiwan Sisters Association
Awakening Foundation
Hope Workers' Center
Scalabrini International Migration Network (SIMN) Taiwan

Press Contact

Judicial Reform Foundation, Huang Ling-hsuan 02-25231178