Looks like the cops are on high alert since the first part of the prisoner release.
T.V. news says within a few hours, several had already been arrested. There was video footage of one in a cop station, ranting and raving over his previous arrest.
Is this really a good idea to release 25.000 prisoners at the same time?
relax, it’ll be fine… I’m sure most of them are genuinely nice salt of the earth folks who had no other way to express their love for Taiwan than planting bombs in public places, robbery, arson, assault, theft, murder and all those other trivial little ways that otherwise upstanding folks are prone to “act out” in… on the bright side, there’ll be lot more bus drivers and taxis when you need them, and in my neighborhood anyway, releasing several thousand convicts would marginally improve the caliber of the average resident, so no worries there… 
Some more details please.
Any foreigners released?
What for? It’s a rule for nationals. Foreigners with criminal records get deported.
What for? It’s a rule for nationals. Foreigners with criminal records get deported.[/quote]
Suits me fine. Let me rephrase my question: Any foreigners released and deported?
[quote]TAIPEI: Taiwanese police were yesterday placed on high alert following the release of more than 10,000 prisoners under a controversial amnesty bill.
Police were ordered to keep close tabs and conduct regular tests on the freed inmates, around half of whom are drug addicts.
The National Police Administration (NPA) said it was prepared for the prisoners’ release and would crack down heavily on any crimes they committed.
They were freed under a new bill presented by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) that halves the initial prison sentence of anyone serving less than a year.
The justice ministry estimated it would affect some 25,000 inmates, more than 10,000 of whom would be released.
Local television showed one freed prisoner’s emotional reunion with his son after more than a year as he emerged from jail in the central county of Taichung.
The bill drew strong criticism from opposition politicians, who said it was aimed at winning votes in forthcoming elections.
Taichung city mayor Jason Hu criticised the move, saying the central government had not sought the opinions of local authorities in preparing for the mass release.
"It’s good to pardon some inmates, but it should not be done for political considerations,” said Hu, a senior politician from the leading opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party.
In a recent poll, 60% of respondents opposed the amnesty — the third of its kind since 1988 — and said it was an attempt to drum up voter support.
Another 55% said they feared it might have a negative impact on social order.
President Chen Shui-bian ordered the bill in April to mark the 20th anniversary of the end of martial law and the 60th anniversary of the so-called 2/28 massacre, when thousands were slaughtered by Nationalist troops from the mainland.-AFP[/quote]
link
Mostly druggies. Not to worry, but don’t leave your munchies unattended.
Was there any reason given for this mass amnesty and the two prior ones? Prison overcrowding? Unreasonably harsh sentences given in the past? Praise Buddha? Or was it solely out of the kindness of Chen’s little heart?
Prison overcrowding and electioneering. That’s all.
Ok, here’s more. I don’t know how true it is, but supposedly there was a rational basis for the release (and apparently this happened twice before under KMT rule).
[quote]TAIPEI, Taiwan: Taiwan freed 11,000 drug users and dealers, burglars and other petty criminals Monday to help ease overcrowding in prisons, officials said.
Those freed had served at least half of their prison terms, meeting requirements for the clemency act signed by President Chen Shui-bian, said Vice Interior Minister Lee Chin-yung.
“This is the first clemency of its kind in 16 years, and we hope the prisoners can behave and not commit crimes again,” Lee said.
Of the 11,000 people freed, nearly half had been jailed for drug-related crimes, followed by those convicted of theft and fraud, Lee said. They were met by their relatives at jails across Taiwan or taken to train stations where they returned home on their own, he said.
Taiwanese jails had held 65,000 people, well over their capacity.
Health officials said they would keep track of released drug addicts to ensure they continued to receive medical treatment.[/quote]
iht.com/articles/ap/2007/07/ … emency.php
And to confuse matters further, here’s a completely different version.
[quote]Taipei - Taiwan began releasing some 25,600 prisoners from Taiwan jails on Monday under a presidential amnesty marking the 20th anniversary of the lifting of the martial law.
The amnesty is part of a string of activities celebrating the 20th anniversary of the end of the martial law. . . [/quote]
link
Hell, I don’t know, sounds like nothing more than a political stunt to me. 
Agreed. 25,000 free votesd to the greens. Which if you think about makes a pleasant change - crims voting I mean, as opposed to the public voting for the crims.
HG
Here’s what’s in the paper. You’ll need to watch the T.V. for the details of the arrests made so far.
Police on alert for inmates’ release
Tuesday, July 17, 2007 - The China Post staff
Taiwan police and all law enforcement agents under the ministries of Interior and Justice were on high alert after around 10,000 inmates were released on an amnesty.
National Police Agency (NPA) Director-General Hou Yu-ih yesterday ordered all law enforcement authorities across the country to step up their spot checks, inspection, and immediate crackdown on crimes through early this morning, after around 10,000 inmates were released on the first day of a sentence commutation program.
Legal and sociological experts suggested that the public lend a helping hand to the released prisoners, but must not let down their guard, because a majority of ex-convicts tend to repeat offenses, they claim.
It was estimated by the MOJ that more than 25,000 inmates will benefit from the commutation statute, meaning more batches of prisoners will be set free from jails scattered around Taiwan and on offshore islands in coming weeks.
Full story here:
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/news/115230.htm
[quote=“Huang Guang Chen”]Agreed. 25,000 free votesd to the greens. Which if you think about makes a pleasant change - crims voting I mean, as opposed to the public voting for the crims.
HG[/quote]
Aren’t we optimistic… I think the best you’ll get is crims voting for green crims as opposed to blue crims.
Talk about Democracy getting you the government you deserve
What I don’t get is the part where they say its for people incarcerated for a year or less. However, there was one released bloke interviewed yesterday who had served five years for beating some poor fucker to death. He’s now out on the streets, complaining bitterly that he was right and that the victim deserved it.
Gotta love Taiwan.
[quote=“sandman”]What I don’t get is the part where they say its for people incarcerated for a year or less. However, there was one released bloke interviewed yesterday who had served five years for beating some poor fucker to death. He’s now out on the streets, complaining bitterly that he was right and that the victim deserved it.
Gotta love Taiwan.[/quote]
In otherwords more proof that the penal system works?
[quote=“Elegua”][quote=“sandman”]What I don’t get is the part where they say its for people incarcerated for a year or less. However, there was one released bloke interviewed yesterday who had served five years for beating some poor fucker to death. He’s now out on the streets, complaining bitterly that he was right and that the victim deserved it.
Gotta love Taiwan.[/quote]
In otherwords more proof that the penal system works?[/quote] 
:bravo:
The part I’m not sure about is this.
Does it mean we should help these poor fellows but be prepared to get fu**ed over the majority of the time we do?
"Legal and sociological experts suggested that the public lend a helping hand to the released prisoners, but must not let down their guard, because a majority of ex-convicts tend to repeat offenses, they claim. "
My wife just saw on the news that 5 had already died from overdoses. How many will manage to stay free or alive long enough to vote?
every once in a while this place just seems so ridiculous that it is laughable, then I remember this is my home and full of my loved ones. 
There must be some kick ass parties happening in Taichung’s gangster pubs!
HG
Last I checked, the streets were full of lethargic canadian pothead english teachers, trying for a few minutes to topple garbage cans and then giving up quickly.
Why would you ban this guy for this post?
Seriously as a Canadian I am more offended that you banned the guy then I am for the comment.