Mr. Chen's arrest is test for Taiwan's judiciary to prove democracy
(From The Japan Times Nov. 15 issue)

司法が台湾の民主主義確立を示す機会

Mr. Chen Shui-bian, an advocate of pro-independence policies vis-a-vis China, symbolized the democratization of Taiwan by winning a presidential election in March 2000. His victory ended the monopoly rule of the Nationalist Party, which opposes any moves to formally declare Taiwan's independence. He served two terms as Taiwan's president until May 2008. His arrest on suspicion of corruption Nov. 11 is a political blow to the Democratic Progressive Party, which Mr. Chen had led.

The DPP has been trying to recover lost ground since its rout in the legislative election of January 2008 and the presidential election of March 2008. But the arrest is not something to savor for the Nationalist Party since it could sharpen antagonisms between it and the opposition DPP.

Mr. Chen's arrest came at a time when President Ma Ying-jeou of the Nationalist Party is pursuing policies to deepen cross-strait relations. Taiwan and China have just had the highest-level contact since the 1949 civil war, signing agreements to increase air, shipping and postal links and to cooperate on food safety. They also agreed to hold high-level talks every six months. But a sizable number of Taiwanese oppose Mr. Ma's push to tighten ties with China.

When he was moved from the prosecutors' office to the Taipei District Court where a request was to be filed to detain him, Mr. Chen raised his cuffed hands and shouted: "This is a political persecution, a false charge. Go Taiwan! Go Taiwan!" To prove that Taiwan's democratic foundations are solid, Taiwan's judiciary must ensure the investigation and trial are fair.

台湾独立派の陳水扁前総統の不正容疑での逮捕は、彼が率いた民進党に政治的打撃を与えている。

1月の議会選挙と3月の総統選挙で大敗した民進党は失地回復に努めてきた。今回の逮捕は国民党と民進党との対立を激化させる可能性がある。

逮捕は、国民党の馬英九総統が1949年以来初めて中国の窓口トップと会談し、通信、通商、通航の拡大と食品の安全管理、半年に1度の中台トップ会談実施で合意した直後のことだった。多くの住民が台中接近に反対している。

検察庁から台北地裁に護送された前総統は手錠のかかった両手を上げ「政治的迫害だ。台湾頑張れ！」などと叫んだ。台湾民主主義の基盤が堅固であることを示す、司法の公正な捜査と裁判が望まれる。