This is a non-partisan message aim to express the concern about recent police brutality and excess use of power during Chen’s visit. We may disagree whether Chen should visit Taiwan or not, but we all agree the government should not abuse its power.
I am Tim GT Chien, and I endorse this message.
這是一個無關黨派的靜坐活動，目標是在於表達在陳會長訪台期間警察藉維安之名的所作所為的抗議；我們或許對陳會長來訪的意義有不同的解讀，但是我們都同意政府不應濫用人民給予它的權利。
我在這裡支持這項聲明。
抗議警察暴力！捍衛自由人權！
Protest police brutality! Defend freedom and human rights!
(Sit-in Activity Statement)
從11月3日開始，中國海協會代表團來臺與政府簽署各項協定，同時在臺北各處，就陸續出現警方藉「維安」之名，對各類以和平方式表達不同意見者，進行粗暴的盤查、損毀、沒收、禁制、拉扯、驅離甚至拘捕。絕大多數遭致警察暴力相向的民眾，根本不曾靠近陳雲林人身，有的市民甚至只是路過、停留或單純拍攝記錄，即遭受上述對待。
Starting on November 3, with the visit of representatives from China’s Association for Relations Across theTaiwan Strait (ARATS) to sign various agreements with our government , police officers have engaged in numerous abusive acts against peaceful protestors from various dissenting groups, under the guise of “keeping the peace”. These acts have included arbitrary searches and prohibitions, seizure and destruction of property, physical assault, dispersion, and even arrest and detention. The vast majority of the victims of this police brutality were nowhere near ARATS Chairman Chen Yunlin, and were simply passing, standing, or photographing various areas when they were victimized.
透過媒體畫面傳送，我們驚覺事態嚴重¬—這已經不是維安有否過當的技術問題、更不只是政黨認同選擇的問題，而是暴力化的國家公權，對市民社會的嚴重挑釁和侵犯。所有彷彿戒嚴、罔顧自由人權與民主價值的管控鎮壓，連執政黨的國會議員都質問行政院長；卻只見身為最高責任主管的劉揆，仍在輕佻地詭辯和推責。實在令人既錯愕憤怒，又深感羞辱和不安。
Through reports in the media, we have come to realize the seriousness of the current situation. It is no longer a technical question of excessive law enforcement tactics, nor is it simply a partisan issue between supporters of various political parties. This is a proliferation of state sponsored violence that is provoking and attacking civil society. All these oppressive acts, which ignore human rights and democratic values are reminiscent of martial law. Even legislators from the ruling party have expressed concern over this issue to the Executive Yuan, only to see the chief authority – Premier Liu, dodge responsibility while providing only the flimsiest of excuses. We are stunned and outraged by this response, as well as ashamed and increasingly uneasy.
我們不禁要問：難道要強化兩岸經貿交流，也必須透過降低臺灣的民主自由程度、以達成與中國同樣極權統治的水準嗎？
We must ask: Does increasing cross-Strait exchange require Taiwan to lower its standards of freedom and democracy, in order to achieve the same level of repressive authoritarian rule that China has?
才不過短短幾天，臺灣人民好不容易匍匐建立的民主自由體制，在滿城的警力、威嚇的氛圍與強勢的防堵中，幾近崩解。我們政府，在如同警察國家的武裝保護裡，自我陶醉於「歷史性儀式」的想像、與酒酣耳熱的輪番大宴中。於此，憲法所保障人民的自由言論與行動權利，完全地被擱置、甚至忘卻。
In only a few short days, the liberal democracy that the people of Taiwan have fought so hard for has nearly collapsed amid massive police presence in the city, and the atmosphere of fear and repression that it brings. Behind its police state-like barricades, our government remains blinded by its delusions of a “meeting of historic proportions”, and indulges itself in its receptions and banquets. Through this all, the peoples’ constitutionally guaranteed rights to freedom of speech and movement have been cast aside, and even forgotten.
為多數的強勢作為根本違憲違法，無怪乎鏡頭前沒有一個警察能理直氣壯說出，他們根據何種「法律」，執行這般上級交待的勤務。警察原是保護人民的公僕，如今在這政府由上而下的嚴峻要求中，竟競相成了限制與懲罰人民表達意見的打手。我們無意歸咎個別只能服從上命的員警，相對的，我們嚴正要求下達此一惡令的政府高層，必須負起最大的政治責任。
As many of their actions are unconstitutional, it is not surprising that not a single police officer before the cameras has been able to definitively state what law empowers them to carry out the orders issued to them by their superiors. Police officers are supposed to be civil servants charged with protecting the people. Yet under the outrageous requests issued from above, they have become thugs restricting and punishing the people for expressing their opinions. We have no intention of blaming individual police officers who can only obey orders issued by their superiors. Rather, we solemnly demand that the highest authorities in the government bear the
largest share of political responsibility for these abuses.
們只是一群憂心臺灣混亂現況與未來發展的大學教授、學生、文化工作者和市民，在沒有任何政黨與團體動員及奧援的前提下，十一月六日（四）上午十一點，將自發性地集結於行政院大門前，以「著黑衣、戴口罩」作為沈痛抗議的象徵，並牽手靜坐至訴求達成為止。我們的訴求是：
We are simply a group of university professors, students, cultural workers, and citizens who are concerned about Taiwan’s current state of disorder and future development. At 11AM on November 6, without any support or mobilization from any political party or civic group, we will assemble at the gate of the Executive Yuan in black clothes and face masks symbolizing our painful protest, and will join hands sitting in civil disobedience until our requests are met. Our requests include:
- 馬英九總統和行政院長劉兆玄必須公開向國人道歉。
President Ma Ying-jeou and Premier Liu Chao-shiuan must publicly apologize to all citizens.
- 警政署長王卓鈞、國安局長蔡朝明，應立刻下臺。
National Police Agency Director-General Wang Cho-chiun and National Security Bureau Director Tsai Chaoming must step down.
- 立法院應儘速修改限縮人民權利的「集會遊行法」。
The Legislative Yuan must revise the Parade and Assembly Law, which currently restricts the rights of the people.
You can also read the statement and download PDF version from here.
Update: 對於集會遊行法修改的具體訴求：
對於集會遊行法我們有以下幾點具體建議：(1)許可制改為報備制。政府不應事前審查，預設人民的集會遊行會違法；(2)檢討禁制區之規定。集會遊行是手無寸鐵、無權無勢者陳情抗議的方法，現行的禁制區規定卻不容人民挑戰行政機關；(3)規定警察執法的界線。避免警察無限上綱、恣意妄為；(4)取消刑罰，改採行政罰。就同樣的行為而言，集會遊行法規定的罰則比其他法律苛重，違反比例原則。