EXTERNAL (for general distribution)AI Index: ASA 38/07/91

Distr: UA/SC

PLEASE ORGANIZE UP TO 20 APPEALS PER SECTION.

UA 167/91Arrests14 May 1991

TAIWAN:Chen Cheng-ran

Liao Wei-cheng

Wang Hsi-hui (f)

Lin Yin-fu

On 9 May 1991, the Investigation Bureau arrested four people on charges of violating the Statute for the Punishment of Sedition by their alleged membership of the banned Tokyo-based Association for an Independent Taiwan. The four have apparently met or been in contact with Shih Ming, a Taiwanese in exile in Japan and previously a member of the Chinese Communist Party, who is said to be the founder of the Association for an Independent Taiwan. Little is known about the Association; in recent years it is reported to have been concerned mainly with publishing articles on Taiwan's political and economic situation. Shih Ming's 1,500-page book Four Hundred Years of History of the Taiwan People was banned for a long time by the authorities in Taiwan, but is said to be now easily available in Taiwan.

The four prisoners are :

Chen Cheng-ran, aged 32, a graduate of sociology from National Taiwan University and a former student at the University of California in Los Angeles, USA. He has been collecting documents on the culture and history of Taiwan and was building a computer database with these documents. Chen Cheng-ran had been in contact with Shih Ming in connection with this project and books and manuscripts of Shih Ming as well as correspondence between the two were found at Chen Cheng-ran's home.

Liao Wei-cheng, aged 25, a graduate of history from National Chengchi University and currently a postgraduate student of history at Chinghua University. Liao Wei-cheng is believed to have been working with Chen Cheng-ran on building the database of information on the history and culture of Taiwan.

Wang Hsi-hui, aged 32, is a graduate from Kainan Commercial School in Taipei and from a church institute Urban and Rural Mission. A grassroots activist, Ms Wang is said to be particularly active in the Progressive Women's League and the Foundation of Political Prisoners in North Taiwan.

Lin Yin-fu, aged 30. A member of the Abi tribe, his aboriginal name is Masao Nicar. He graduated from Yushan Theological Seminary and was working at the Presbyterian's Church Fisherman's Service Centre in the southern city of Kaohsiung. He is a member of the Association for the Advancement of Aboriginals' Human Rights.

The four are currently held at the Tucheng detention centre near Taipei and are undergoing interrogation by the prosecution authorities. They have been allowed to meet defence lawyers.

Amnesty International is seeking further information on the reasons for the arrest of these four people. It is urging the authorities to release them if they have been detained solely for the non-violent exercise of their rights of freedom of expression and association.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Telegrams/telexes/faxes/express and airmail letters:

- requesting information on the reasons for the arrest of Chen Cheng-ran, Liao Wei-cheng, Wang Hsi-hui and Lin Yin-fu;

- urging that they be released if they have been arrested solely for the non-violent exercise of their rights of freedom of expression and association.

APPEALS TO: (up to 20 appeals per section)

Mr Lu You-wen

Minister of Justice

Ministry of Justice

130 Chung Ching S Road, sec. 1

Taipei

Taiwan, Republic of China

Telegrams:Minister of Justice Lu You-wen, Taipei

Taiwan, Republic of China.

Faxes:+ 886 2 331 9102

Telexes care of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,

telex number: 11299 MOFAROC, marked attention of Minister of Justice.

COPIES TO: Diplomatic representatives of Taiwan (also known as the Republic of China) if there is one in your country. PLEASE DO NOT SEND COPIES TO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA (MAINLAND CHINA).

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 25 June 1991.