No. 32 (7/1 -7/15/98)

  1. Featured News: Focus of the Cheng Chuan Case Shifted from Sexual Harrastment to Political Struggle
  2. The Raped as Martyrs, Not just Victims
  3. Disputes on Sexual Discrimination in Job Income
  4. Compensation for the Victims of Silicon implants
    5.

  1. Featured News: Focus of the Cheng Chuan Case Shifted from Sexual Harrastment to Political Struggle

    2. The report on the Cheng Chuan Case by the investigative team of the Ministry of Legal Affairs is finally released. It claims that Cheng behaved improperly in Paris when he touched Ms. Yang's breast while massaging her. However, this behavior does not constitute a sexual offense. The report also castigates Cheng, the acting head of Taiwan's Bureau of Investigation, for denying the charges in public and for trying to prevent internal investigation. Ms. Yang's parents, however, faults the report for not dealing with the real issues. They said Cheng should be charged for attempted murder; and they would sue him in France for monetary compensation. Cheng, on the other hand, calls the report biased while announcing he would not resign. He also accused Liao Zheng-Hao, Minister of Legal Affairs, of conspiring behind the scene for political reasons. Liao denies the charges and criticized Cheng for defying his superior (Liao). Premier Hsiao Wan-Chang, declaring neither Cheng nor Liao fit to serve, has asked for and accepted Liao's resignation; and Cheng has been transferred to another position.

    We have been following gender-related cases, and the latest development in this case does not surprise us at all. With sexual harassment cases that broke out on campuses, the accused male professors always claimed: "This is another manifestation of academic politics," thus shifting the focus of discussion. The female students who made the accusations therefore became suspects. When Cheng and Liao accused each other of wrongdoings, was there anyone concerned with Ms. Yang in faraway France?

  2. The Raped as Martyrs, Not just Victims

    3. Li Shing Foundation, Pin An Cultural Publishing Company, and the Voice of Taipei radio station have initiated the campaign "Guardian Angels for Silent Lambs Wanted-- petition to help victims of sexual attacks." They echo Hsu Lu's idea, presented in her recently published book, in demanding the change of criminal law. They too viewed sexual attacks as "crimes against sexual autonomy." Punishment against rapist should be more severe, and every effort should be made to avoid injuring the victims again. Taipei City mayor Chen Shui-Bian voiced his support for Hsu Lu. He also apologized for the improper handling of her case six years ago. Also showing their supports at the event were Mayor candidates Ma Yin-Jiu and Wang Jian-Hsuan.
    In the 1994 March against Sexual Harassment, we held a memorial service at the intersection of Jing Hua Street and Shin Sheng South Road for all our sisters who were raped and killed. Friends who coordinated the march thought the term "victims of sexual violence" was too passive and sentimental. They chose to use the term "martyrs of sexual violence." The difference is only one character in Chinese, but we regard rape as a ruling device in sexual politics, and rape victims are prisoners of sexual politics. Therefore, they are martyrs, not victims, and they shall not be silent lambs. We make this point because we hope the courage Hsu Lu demonstrated would not be reduced to "lambs" or "victims."
     

  3. Disputes on Sexual Discrimination in Job Income

    4. Tao Hsiu-Hui, former secretary to the Chief of the Bureau of Labor in Taipei City, accused her boss, Guo Ji-Ren, of sexual discrimination. Tao was transferred to the Bureau of Labor last November, and she found out that a male secretary made ten thousands Taiwan dollars more. She was fired after demanding equal pay. This case is now under the mediation of the Council of Equal Employment.

  4. Compensation for the Victims of Silicon implants

    5. Dow Corning Corporation, the company that made silicon implants, will provide 3.2 billion dollars in compensation to women who had silicon breast implants. Currently the class action suit has 170,000 plaintiffs, and each of them would receive 31,000 dollars. A woman said this amount is not enough to pay her medical bills in the past 13 years, let alone the ordeal she went through.

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