We
Urge Peaceful and Democratic Resolution of the Sunflower Student Movement
in Taiwan
We write to express our concerns for the
use of force deployed by law enforcement officials toward peaceful and unarmed
student protesters in Taiwan. Taiwan’s vibrant democracy has allowed for
robust political discussions on important social issues. We therefore urge the
government in Taiwan to act in accordance with the fundamental principles embodied
in its Constitution, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in dealing with peaceful
protests. We hope that the government in Taiwan can continue to engage in
constructive dialogues with its protesters and take active steps to reach a
peaceful and democratic resolution.
Background
On March 18, 2014, hundreds of students
entered and occupied the Legislature Hall in protest against the violation of
due process when the ruling party secretly forced the motion of cross-strait
trade deal to the legislative floor in thirty seconds without a bipartisan
clause-by-clause deliberation as previously agreed upon by the Legislature
itself.
On March 24, when some of the student
protesters extended the sit-in to the nearby Cabinet Office, the authority
immediately ordered 5,000 armed riot policemen to remove them. During the
eviction, as evidenced by photos and videos, the riot police illegally and
inappropriately used disproportionate force against the students. The
riot police swung their PVC shields and hit the protesters on the legs. They
dragged students off the ground, and beat those who struggled with batons.
Approximately one hundred were injured, including students, on-duty journalists,
a physician and a congresswoman. Some fell unconscious as a result of the
beating. The Premier claimed the police action was legal and appropriate the
next day.
There are still hundreds of students
remaining in Legislative Hall at the moment.
Contact
Yi-chen
Lo
S.J.D.
Candidate, Harvard Law School
Szu-Yu
Kuo
Ph.D.
Candidate, Harvard Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology
Kevin Chen
Ph.D.
Candidate, Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
List
of Signatures
Mario Biagioli
Distinguished Professor of Law and Science and Technology Studies, UC Davis School of Law; Associate/Affiliate Faculty, Department of the History of Science, Harvard University
Distinguished Professor of Law and Science and Technology Studies, UC Davis School of Law; Associate/Affiliate Faculty, Department of the History of Science, Harvard University
Sarah Bracke
Visiting Assistant Professor of Women's Studies and Sociology of Religion and WSRP Research Associate, Harvard Divinity School; Associate Professor of Sociology of Religion and Culture at Ghent University
Visiting Assistant Professor of Women's Studies and Sociology of Religion and WSRP Research Associate, Harvard Divinity School; Associate Professor of Sociology of Religion and Culture at Ghent University
Hsiao-wen Cheng
Visiting Lecturer on Women’s Studies and Chinese Religion and WSRP Research Associate, Harvard Divinity School
Visiting Lecturer on Women’s Studies and Chinese Religion and WSRP Research Associate, Harvard Divinity School
C.-T. James Huang
Professor of Linguistics, Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Linguistics, Harvard University
Professor of Linguistics, Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Linguistics, Harvard University
Amanda
Izzo
Visiting Lecturer on Women's Studies and American Religious History and WSRP Research Associate, Harvard Divinity School
Visiting Lecturer on Women's Studies and American Religious History and WSRP Research Associate, Harvard Divinity School
Sheila Jasanoff
Pforzheimer Professor of Science and Technology Studies, Harvard Kennedy School
Pforzheimer Professor of Science and Technology Studies, Harvard Kennedy School
Duncan M. Kennedy
Carter Professor of General Jurisprudence, Harvard Law School
Carter Professor of General Jurisprudence, Harvard Law School
HT
Kung
William H. Gates Professor of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
William H. Gates Professor of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Tun-Hou
Lee
Professor of Virology, Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard University
Professor of Virology, Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard University
Zilka
Spahic Siljak
Visiting Lecturer on Women’s Studies and Islamic Studies, Harvard Divinity School
Visiting Lecturer on Women’s Studies and Islamic Studies, Harvard Divinity School
Lihi Ben Shitrit
Visiting Assistant Professor of Women's Studies and Religion and Society and WSRP Research Associate, Harvard Divinity School
Teresa
Kuo-yu Tsui
Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, National Chengchi University, Visiting Scholar at Harvard Divinity School
Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, National Chengchi University, Visiting Scholar at Harvard Divinity School
Salil Vadhan
Vicky Joseph Professor of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics, Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Jacquelyn Williamson
Visiting Lecturer on Women’s Studies and Near Eastern Studies and WSRP Research Associate, Harvard Divinity School
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