Press Conference on the Verdict of the June 26 Wulai Blockade Case

Today (January 15), the Taipei District Court rendered a guilty verdict against the eight defendants in this case who, on June 26, 2014, used their bodies and iron chains to block Chang Chih-chun, Director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council of China, from traveling to Wulai. The pro bono legal team expresses its deep regret over this decision!

The year 2014 was a critical moment for the rise of civic consciousness in Taiwanese society. Major actions that captured widespread public attention—including the March 18 Occupy Legislative Yuan, the March 23 Occupy Executive Yuan, the April 28 Chung-hsiao West Road Anti-Nuclear Protest, and the June 26 Wulai Road Blockade—all aimed to awaken society's concern for major national policies, demanding that the government respond to public opinion, carefully evaluate, and reformulate policy directions. The expression of freedom of speech is a fundamental human right guaranteed by the Constitution, and "symbolic speech (including action)" directed at political opinions is the core embodiment of freedom of speech. Within socially tolerable limits, it should not be punished by criminal law.

Out of deep concern over the impact of the Cross-Strait Service Trade Agreement on Taiwan, and following the "Novotel Hotel break-in incident" the previous day, the eight protesters took action to block the road using their bodies to impede the motorcade. They hoped to draw the government's attention to public demands and prompt a reconsideration of issues such as the Cross-Strait Service Trade Agreement. Furthermore, the protest was conducted through peaceful means, lasting only a little over ten minutes with police directing traffic at the scene. Even if it caused brief inconvenience, it should reasonably fall within the tolerance of the general public. The collegiate bench failed to examine the factual background of this case, clarify the causal chain of events, and consequently issued a guilty verdict, which truly violates the spirit of the Constitution in guaranteeing freedom of speech.

Since the March 18 Occupy Legislative Yuan movement, the Anti-CSSTA Pro Bono Lawyer Platform has undertaken 7 defense cases involving 168 individuals indicted by prosecutors. Only one of these cases has reached a final verdict (the April 22 Ch'ing-tao East Road Protest Case). Meanwhile, aside from the state compensation claim filed by Teacher Lin Ming-hui being granted, all accusations brought by the pro bono legal team regarding excessive state law enforcement have fallen on deaf ears, with no one held accountable. Throughout these protest actions, the state has used judicial prosecution to infringe upon the people's right to express opinions, attempting to induce a chilling effect. Today, the court handed down a guilty verdict with exemption from punishment, holding that the defendants' act of binding themselves with iron chains to block the road constituted duress. This will criminalize future passive protest and petition activities such as sit-ins and road blockades, which not only violates the principle of legality but also severely restricts the right to express civic will. Upon receiving the judgment, the legal team will deliberate on appeal strategies to uphold the fundamental constitutional spirit of protecting human rights.

Attendees

Clients of the June 26 Wulai Blockade Case
Ku Li-hsiung, Attorney / Convener of the Wulai Blockade Case Pro Bono Legal Team
Yu Po-hsiang, Attorney / Pro Bono Lawyer for the Wulai Blockade Case
Wang Chan-hsing, Attorney / Pro Bono Lawyer for the Wulai Blockade Case
Huang Kuo-ch'eng, Attorney / Pro Bono Lawyer for the Wulai Blockade Case
Lo Wan-ting, Attorney / Pro Bono Lawyer for the Wulai Blockade Case
Lin Chun-hung, Attorney / Pro Bono Lawyer for the Wulai Blockade Case

Supporting Organizations

Taiwan Association for Human Rights
Covenant Watch
Alliance to Reform the Assembly and Parade Act
Taiwan Forever Society
Judicial Reform Foundation

Press Contact

Ho Yu-lun / Researcher, Judicial Reform Foundation