Pro Bono Legal Team Statement on the Taipei District Prosecutors Office's Conclusion of Its Investigation into the "Anti-Service Trade Agreement Protest Incident"

Regarding the Taipei District Prosecutors Office's announcement today on the conclusion of its investigation into the March 18 "Anti-Service Trade Agreement Protest Incident," indicting as many as 118 defendants, the pro bono legal team issues the following statement:

1. The March 18 "Oppose the Service Trade Agreement, Defend Democracy" movement, jointly initiated by students and NGO social movement groups, was a civic awakening movement against political injustice; a movement of conscience in which citizens stood up to defend Taiwan's democracy; and a civil disobedience movement of constitutional significance. History has proven that Taiwan's civil society was thoroughly transformed as a result, shaping an unprecedented civic consciousness. The pro bono legal team affirms this movement and the righteous acts of all those indicted for participating in it in courageously bearing legal responsibility.
2. In stark contrast to today's heavy-handed prosecution of participants in the March 18 "Oppose the Service Trade Agreement, Defend Democracy" movement, prosecutors have consistently failed to proactively investigate the state apparatus's acts of police brutality and abuse of power during the movement (particularly the March 24 violent clearance of the Executive Yuan), while courts continue to pass the buck to this day. Victims of violence have yet to receive any justice through the judicial system. The pro bono legal team deeply regrets that the prosecution authorities are bold only in prosecuting citizens participating in a righteous cause, yet cowardly when it comes to investigating the state violence exhibited by those in power.
3. Upholding the commitment made to society during the March 18 "Oppose the Service Trade Agreement, Defend Democracy" movement, the pro bono legal team will continue to assist these indicted individuals in the litigation they will face in court. We also call on the judges of the Taipei District Court handling these cases to show vision—not only building a sound rule-of-law culture through these cases, but also adjudicating them from a constitutional perspective at all times, so that the judgments carry a depth of reflection worthy of this movement, and so that, through the judiciary, this movement receives a clear accounting before history!

Media Contact

JRF Executive Director / Attorney Kao Jung-chih 02-2523-1178