TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Chung Chia-pin (鍾嘉賓) led a briefing on Monday in the Judiciary and Organic Laws and Statutes Committee to discuss whether organizing protests against ongoing legal proceedings constitutes obstruction of justice.
Chung invited officials from the Ministry of Justice, the Judicial Yuan, and legal scholars to address the issue, according to RTI. The briefing followed a protest organized Saturday by the Taiwan People's Party, with support from the Kuomintang, at Liberty Square. The protest aimed to highlight perceived injustices in Taiwan's legal system.
Yang Ming Chih Tung University law professor Lin Chih-chieh (林志潔) noted that while protesting is a fundamental right protected under free speech, it could unduly influence ongoing legal cases. She urged lawmakers to prioritize protecting the judiciary and legal professionals when drafting legislation.
Justice Minister Cheng Ming-chien (鄭銘謙) agreed, emphasizing that while protests are protected under freedom of expression, they must comply with legal boundaries, CNA reported. Regarding whether rally participants committed offenses such as defamation or intimidation, Cheng said each case would need to be evaluated individually. He clarified that calling for public protests against specific legal proceedings does not inherently violate the law.
Acting TPP Chair Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) criticized the briefing, according to UDN. He invited authorities to investigate him, as he was one of the organizers of the Liberty Square protest.
Huang also pointed to similar actions by DPP legislators in the past. He referenced a 2011 incident where DPP Legislative Caucus Whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) called for public protests outside the Yunlin District Prosecutor’s Office in support of a local magistrate who was later acquitted of bribery charges, according to PTS.
Additionally, Huang cited a "Blue Bird" protest where police barriers were reportedly destroyed using hydraulic shears by Chung himself, UDN reported. He called on Justice Minister Cheng to ensure that laws are enforced equally and without exceptions.
