The Persecution and Deportation Order of Scott Ezell

[Eric W. Lier]

An article concerning Officer Chen's work last year in connection with the harassment of foreigners in Taidong.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/ ... 3427/print

...The woman was brought to the station after the three went to complain about police harassment, including illegal searches, officers obtaining keys to at least one man's home and spreading rumors that the men were drug dealers.

There are about 80 foreigners in Taidong County, including about 20 English-language teachers. Within the last year, two teachers have been charged with various crimes and eventually prosecuted for forgery of documents -- college diplomas -- related to work visas.

One man -- one of the three who complained of police harassment -- says he's frightened that he is the target of a setup, even though the clerk did not recognize him.

"I woke up this morning and suddenly I'm accused of armed robbery," he told the Taipei Times yesterday. "It seems to me that I'm the prime suspect."

The man, an English teacher, said the police grilled him about his whereabouts Monday evening.

The man said he had been surfing at Dongho. He said one officer repeatedly asked him, "What time did you leave Dongho? Your innocence depends on it."

[danny]

In Taiwan you are guilty until proven innocent. Not my words. I forget where I heard that though.

[twocs]

It seems like he's being deported because he was making music.

How about foreigner bands in Taiwan. Can they legally play music at locations in Taiwan? What kind of music performance is illegal, and what's legal?

[wendao]

I play music publically all the time in Hualian, including many gigs sponsored by the government for which I dutifully pay taxes.

I know for a fact that Scott received a very public blessing from the Taidong County Cultural Bureau and the Taidong mayor for what he was making happen at the sugar factory in Dulan. In fact our troupe of performers was going to perform at the Sugar Factory when it came to light that Scott was being investigated.

When Scott and I played together on a far earlier occasion (almost 2 years ago) in Taidong, our gig was stopped by one and the same Peter Chen. It has come to mind that Chen may have it in for Scott partially because the drummer in my band and I ended up in the back of the police car and not Scott (who made himself scarce before his ARC could be requested and surrended). Not being a man given to conspiracy theories it would be too much to assume for me that Peter has it in for Scott based on that snubbing of his authority. On the other hand, given the propensity for pettiness I have already witnessed there myself firsthand. . .

Vis-a-vis political activity making one rather. . .uh. . .subject to the deportation hit-list I can report that I have easily erred on the side of danger here in Hualian for my own activism. No problems to report here as of yet. . .though my friendship with Scott does make me wonder if there isn't a checklist somewhere.

Sigh.

All for playing music? How absurd can it get?

[sandman]

It seems like he's being deported because he was making music.

How about foreigner bands in Taiwan. Can they legally play music at locations in Taiwan? What kind of music performance is illegal, and what's legal?

I think techinically its illegal but the cops turn a blind eye if the venue pays them off. I wonder if the laoban of the Living Room can cast some light on the situation. I'd like to know -- not for my JFRV-holding self (personally I'd really dig the opportunity to flash my ARC and the finger at the cops) but for others in the band that perhaps don't.

[almas john]

I've been doing volunteer activities for a while - seeing as I could not get a work visa for gigolo services, I've just been giving away freebies!

Tigerman, I think you could get into trouble with giving away so much free legal advice not to mention your free "beer tasting" work on behalf of the foreign community.

[MJB]

I've been a volunteer crossing guard at my daughter's school for 4 years..........Am I breaking the law? (I do have a JFRV)

I've never gotten anything other than thumbs-ups from the cops here....

[Jinete Mortal]

Were all the people involved with the Fred Frontier concert/search breaking the law?

Hah! They can try busting me for that...but I ain't going down without a fight. I guarantee they haven't seen what a huge, pissed off Mexican-American looks like. LOL. As moot as it would be in the end, anyway, since of course it wouldn't change anything. But this is ridiculous. No volunteer activities. What a crock.

Scott's music is phenomenal. If he goes, it is Taiwan's loss.

[maoman]

I've been doing volunteer activities for a while - seeing as I could not get a work visa for gigolo services, I've just been giving away freebies!

I think the cops view that not so much as you doing volunteer work, but the girls doing penance.

[Visitor]

Serious questions here boys and girls.

1. How does one know if the 'volunteer work' you're involved in is illegal?
2. Is this a Taidong thing? Afterall. the place isn't the most progressive part of Taiwan?
3. Has anyone ever been deported for this in Taipei or Kaohsiung? Stuff like this goes on ALL THE TIME here, and I've never heard of any problems.
4. Richard states that there's pretty much nothing that can be done about this law. While I believe his judgment to be impeccable, is there another interpretation of the situation?