In August, Ching prepared a document detailing his experiences in the detention center, with particular focus on situations in which he experienced or witnessed his fellow detainees experience treatment that compromised the said person's human rights. We believe that, apart from the issues of the trial, these occurrences need to be brought to the attention of the public and that the handling of detainees and accused persons by the Taiwanese legislative system must be revised to meet the standards of a fully-developed country.
The statement was notarized at the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) in Taipei. Due to the sensitive nature of the material, we will not reproduce that document here at this time. However, posted below is the correspondence between Rosalyne and Dr. Stephen Young, director of the AIT.
Here is the text of the original letter that Dr. Young is replying to:
Rosalyne F. Shieh
57 Birch Avenue
Princeton, NJ 08542 USA
October 31, 2006
Dr. Stephen M. Young
American Institute in Taiwan
No. 7, Lane 134, Sec. 3, HsinYi Road
Da-an District, Taipei City 10659
TAIWAN
Dear Dr. Young,
Thank you for your letter dated August 25, 2006 regarding my father, Dr. Ching Jyh Shieh. Please note that my mailing address has since changed.
My father was indeed allowed to post bail on July 21, 2006, after 59 days of detention, incommunicado. To date, he has still not been charged with any crime; but, as the investigation is ongoing, he is prohibited from leaving Taiwan.
I understand that AIT was unable to demand Consular access or information because my father is not an American citizen. However, both my brother and I are natural-born, American citizens and our mother is a naturalized American citizen. I appeal to you to continue to monitor my father's situation because my father was an exemplary American citizen while he retained that status, and because he is the father and husband of three American citizens (as well as the uncle, cousin and brother of numerous concerned American citizens), and finally, in your responsibility as a representative of the United States to uphold the universal values of civil and human rights.
I am enclosing for your review and files a statement made by my father in the form of a notarized affidavit wherein he states the procedures and conditions of his arrest and detainment, with a special emphasis on human rights violations. I would also like to refer back to the letter I sent you dated July 22, 2006 wherein I itemized the human rights of detainees provided in the following declarations: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948, the European Convention on Human Rights, 1950; the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 1966; and the Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment, 1988.
I request that you make this document available through AIT under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
I look forward to hearing from you.
Thank you.
Very Sincerely,
Rosalyne Shieh
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