Roger Hsieh

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Roger Hsieh
Hsieh Tsung-min
MLY
謝聰敏
Member of the Legislative Yuan
In office
1 February 1996 – 31 January 1999
ConstituencyChanghua County
In office
1 February 1993 – 31 January 1996
ConstituencyRepublic of China
Personal details
Born(1934-05-02)2 May 1934
Taiwan, Empire of Japan
Died8 September 2019(2019-09-08) (aged 85)
New Taipei, Taiwan
NationalityTaiwanese
Political partyDemocratic Progressive Party
Alma materNational Taiwan University
National Chengchi University
Occupationpolitician

Roger Hsieh or Hsieh Tsung-min (Chinese: 謝聰敏; 2 May 1934 – 8 September 2019) was a Taiwanese politician. He won election to the Legislative Yuan in 1992 and 1995, losing reelection in 1998 and 2001.

Education and activism[edit]

Hsieh attended Taichung First High School, studied law at National Taiwan University alongside Wei Ting-chao [zh], and completed graduate work in political science at National Chengchi University.[1]

While studying at National Taiwan University, Hsieh, Wei and legal academic Peng Ming-min printed ten thousand copies of the "Declaration of Self-Salvation of the Taiwanese People [zh]," a manifesto advocating the overthrow of the Kuomintang one-party state.[2][3] The three were promptly arrested;[4] Hsieh was subject to torture.[5] Hsieh and Wei were later released but did not play a role in their mentor's escape to Sweden, though the government suspected the pair of aiding Peng.[6] Hsieh and Wei were jailed for a second time in 1971.[7][8] For his support of democracy, Hsieh spent over eleven years behind bars.[9]

Following his release, Hsieh spent seven years in the United States, and returned to Taiwan in 1986.[10] Demonstrators gathered [zh] at Chiang Kai-shek International Airport on 30 November 1986 to show support for Hsieh and fellow dissident Hsu Hsin-liang.[11][12] Barred from entry into Taiwan on that day,[13][14] the two explored alternative means of getting into the country and eventually succeeded.

In December 2018, Hsieh was exonerated by the Transitional Justice Commission.[15]

Political career[edit]

Another NTU classmate, Kuomintang member Shih Chi-yang, aided Hsieh's early political career.[16] With the support of Huang Hsin-chieh, Hsieh was elected to the Legislative Yuan in 1992 and 1995, though he lost election in 1998.[17] During his legislative tenure, Hsieh attempted to pass bills regarding compensation to victims of the White Terror like himself.[18] According to legislative inquires launched by Hsieh, the White Terror period saw over 29,000 people tried in court.[19][20] Subsequently, Hsieh was named an adviser to President Chen Shui-bian. While serving in this position, Hsieh spent much of his time investigating the La Fayette-class frigate scandal.[21][22] As a result of Hsieh's probe, Andrew Wang, an accused arms dealer, filed a lawsuit against him in August 2001,[23] an action that was later reviewed by the Control Yuan.[24] Hsieh resigned as presidential adviser in 2001 to run in that year's legislative elections.[25]

Death[edit]

Hsieh died in a hospital in New Taipei on 8 September 2019, aged 85.[26]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Hsieh Tsung-min (3)". Legislative Yuan. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  2. ^ Huang, Tai-lin (17 April 2005). "Peng's beliefs secures him a place in Taiwan's history". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  3. ^ "20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE END OF MARTIAL LAW:A brief history of the martial law era". Taipei Times. 15 July 2007. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  4. ^ "Prison Report Wei T'ing-ch'ao: profile of a scholar-prisoner" (PDF). Taiwan Communiqué (23). January 1986. ISSN 1027-3999.
  5. ^ Wu, Debby (9 December 2003). "Foreigners recount life under martial law". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  6. ^ Bloom, Dan (12 February 2011). "INTERVIEW: 'Fireproof Moth' recalls experiences during White Terror". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  7. ^ Citing, Frank (13 May 1971). "Diary Sent by Seized Taiwan Writer". New York Times. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  8. ^ Miles, Lynn (27 May 2001). "Amnesty and Taiwan linked by history". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  9. ^ Eckholm, Erik (22 March 2000). "Why a Victory in Taiwan Wasn't Enough for Some". New York Times. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  10. ^ "Opposition in Taiwan Calls Off 20 Rallies". Los Angeles Times. United Press International. 1 December 1986. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  11. ^ Shaw, Shullen (29 November 1986). "Thousands of police ringed the airport Sunday with orders..." United Press International. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  12. ^ "Taiwanese Police Fight Off Demonstrators' March To Airport". Chicago Tribune. United Press International. 1 December 1986. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  13. ^ "Dissident Hsu, Barred by Taiwan, Leaves for U.S." Los Angeles Times. Reuters. 8 December 1986. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  14. ^ Mann, Jim (30 November 1986). "Taiwan Asks Airlines to Bar Dissidents". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  15. ^ Chen, Yu-fu; Chin, Jonathan (2 December 2018). "Justice commission plans to exonerate 1,505 people". Taipei Times. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  16. ^ Ho, Lai-mei (16 September 2019). "Remember those who fought for Taiwan". Taipei Times. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  17. ^ Tseng, Wei-chen (24 July 2011). "FEATURE: Days of political prisoner legislators near their end". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  18. ^ Hsu, Brian (10 September 1999). "We deserve fair treatment". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  19. ^ Huang, Tai-lien (29 May 2005). "White Terror exhibit unveils part of the truth". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  20. ^ Loa, Iok-sin (9 February 2007). "Film on 228 sheds light on tragedy". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  21. ^ Engbarth, Dennis (30 November 2000). "Closing in on the Lafayette scandal". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  22. ^ Jou, Ying-cheng (12 February 2001). "Hsieh Tsung-min keeps on pursuing the Lafayette case". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  23. ^ Ko, Shu-ling (29 November 2005). "Officials were paid to endorse frigate deal, legislator says". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  24. ^ Chen, Melody (27 July 2004). "Mark Chen grills Tien over passport". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  25. ^ Huang, Joyce (31 July 2001). "DPP policy advisor Hsieh Tsung-min to quit for electoral bid". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  26. ^ Yeh, Su-ping; Yeh, Joseph (9 September 2019). "Presidential Office mourns death of independence activist Roger Hsieh". Central News Agency. Retrieved 9 September 2019. Republished as "Presidential Office mourns independence activist's death". Taipei Times. 10 September 2019. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
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