December 21, 2008
Reported by Lin Yi-ying
Written by Lydia Ma

The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT) is under heavy criticism by Taiwanese society and media for reaching out to former President Chen Shui-bian and his family. When corruption charges against Chen and his wife, Wu Shu-jen, surfaced in Taiwan, the former First Lady sought Gi-kong (Yi-Guang) Presbyterian Church member Li Sheng-shiung to be her defense lawyer and Li agreed. Speaking on this matter, Associate General Secretary of the PCT Lyim Hong-Tiong said that challenging an unjust judiciary that trampled a defendant's human rights is not only in accordance to the PCT's Christian values, but also pleasing to God.

Commenting from a lawyer's perspective on Chen's release after being detained for 32 days, Li Sheng-shiung said that the move was only fair and would facilitate due process. From the beginning, the trial against the former president has been marred by arrests of former aides with the intent of extracting confessions, rampant information leaks by prosecutors, and trial by the media long before a formal trial or indictment can take place. According to Li, all of these incidents only point to the fact that this is not an ordinary trial by the judiciary. Hence, he urges Taiwanese media and society, who do not have all the facts in the case, to treat Chen and his family as innocent until proven guilty.

Throughout the whole process Li Sheng-shiung faithfully carried out his duty as a human rights lawyer and a witness for Jesus Christ. Whenever he had to make court appearances, Li would bring gospel tracks, such as "Heart Farmer Weekly," to give to fellow lawyers, prosecutors, and the judge. He also gave a Taiwanese Bible to former President Chen and his immediate family. He would often lead them in prayer when he visited them.

When word got out in August 2008 that Li Sheng-shiung and Gi-kong (Yi-Guang) Presbyterian Church pastor Daniel Cheng had visited former First Lady Wu Shu-jen, Yi-Guang Presbyterian Church and the General Assembly office of the PCT began receiving some threatening mails and several hundreds of threatening phone calls. To ensure the safety of the neighborhood, Pastor Cheng reported these incidents to the local police. According to Pastor Cheng, Li had served as defense lawyer along with Chen Shui-bian and Frank Hsieh from as early as the Kaohsiung Incident in the 1970s. Being asked to serve as defense lawyer by the former first lady is a responsibility Li carries out with care for he has always believed that it is his duty is to help those in need. Hence, Pastor Cheng urges Taiwanese society and media to be as objective and coolheaded as possible.

Pastor Cheng believes that the PCT's role is to spread the gospel, care for people's souls, and help those who are persecuted. Because the trial surrounding former President Chen is marred by human rights abuses, the PCT felt compelled to act and voice its concern in accordance to its core faith values. However, if the allegations against the former president turn out to be true, Cheng believes that the former president should definitely face the consequences of his actions.

At the time of this news report, the General Secretary and Moderator of the PCT were overseas. Acting General Secretary Lyim Hong-Tiong represented General Secretary Andrew Chang in stating that the PCT's position remains unchanged. Throughout its existence in Taiwan, the PCT has always remained true to Taiwan and stood on the side of the oppressed. Lyim urged other Christian denominations to research on the PCT's statement of belief before passing judgment and cautioned them from believing everything reported by the media.

Taiwan Church News