Roger Hsieh

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.

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

Education and activism

Hsieh attended Taichung First High School, studied law at National Taiwan University alongside Wei Ting-chao, 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," 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 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 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]

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References
  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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