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member, Ju Gao-jeng, who had consistently refused to answer summonses regarding his role in a demonstration on 29 March 1988. The matter was not finally put to the vote as Ju eventually consented to appear voluntarily, though he continued to argue that the case was a political one. The first hearing was held on 18 March, and the matter was adjourned until April. In addition Huang Chao-hui, a DPP member of the National Assembly, was taken into custody on 11 March to be questioned on his part in a demonstration on 26 February in which a number of policemen were injured. Lastly warrants were issued for the arrest of
Hsieh Chang-ting (of Taipei City Council) and Hong Chi-chang (of the National Assembly, at present in the United States) for their refusal to appear for trial over their part in the 12 June demonstration last year.
4.
On 17 March, Neil Magill, a Catholic priest from Northern Ireland who had been working in Taiwan since 1979, was expelled for having engaged in "activities incompatible with the purpose of his visa." His fault was having become too closely involved in the labour movement in Taoyuan and setting up the New Life Workers Centre there. The authorities claimed he had been warned on several occasions to refrain from these activities, but had disregarded their advice and had continued to participate in labour disputes.
5.
While a number of commentators have seen these developments as attempts by the Kuomintang authorities to weaken or discourage the oppostion in the lead up to the elections, not everything has been going their way. A major judicial scandal has broken out following the acquittal of Wu Tien-hui, a former departmental head in the Judicial Yuan, for charges of trying to influence court officials in a case his wife was defending (she was found guilty of bribery). Four local judges and a number of other officials have tendered their resignations over the verdict.
International Affairs
6.
Taiwan press comment on President Bush's visit to China in February focussed in two main issues: exactly what he said or did not say over secessionism in Taiwan (the New China News Agency quoted him as saying: "the US openly announces this policy (one China) to show that it opposes secessionist activity on the island"); and what one paper described as the "tragic farce" of the Chinese refusal to allow the dissident Fang Lizhi to attend the President's reception. Otherwise trade and money issues continued to dominate relations with the United States, including the US Treasury's request that Taiwan repay a wartime lend-lease loan (possibly of $500 million).
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