Roger Hsieh Explained

Roger Hsieh
Hsieh Tsung-min
Native Name Lang:zh-tw
Honorific-Suffix:MLY
Smallimage:謝聰敏委員.jpg
Order1:Member of the Legislative Yuan
Constituency1:Changhua County
Term Start1:1 February 1996
Term End1:31 January 1999
Term Start2:1 February 1993
Term End2:31 January 1996
Constituency2:Republic of China
Birth Date:2 May 1934
Birth Place:Taiwan, Empire of Japan
Death Place:New Taipei, Taiwan
Nationality:Taiwanese
Alma Mater:National Taiwan University
National Chengchi University
Occupation:politician

Roger Hsieh or Hsieh Tsung-min (; 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

Hsieh attended Taichung First High School, studied law at National Taiwan University alongside, 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 10,000 copies of the "," 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] 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

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 bribery 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

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

Notes and References

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