Taiwan's Justice System in Action: Investigations Target "Double Recall" Campaign

Authorities in Kaohsiung Launch Investigation into Signatures Related to Recall Efforts Against Legislators Huang Jie and Hsu Chih-chieh.

In a significant development, the Kaohsiung District Prosecutors Office (KDPO) has initiated investigations into alleged irregularities in the signature collection process for the recall campaigns targeting Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators Huang Jie and Hsu Chih-chieh. This follows actions taken by the Central Election Commission (CEC) which referred 41 cases of suspected forgery and signatures of deceased individuals in recall petitions to the Supreme Prosecutors Office.

Acting on the Supreme Prosecutors Office's guidance, the KDPO, in conjunction with the Investigation Bureau, conducted a search of the "Double Recall" campaign headquarters in Kaohsiung this morning. The search is ongoing.

The "Double Recall" team has confirmed the search, denouncing the investigation as "Green Terror." They have voiced strong opposition, chanting slogans such as "Political interference in the judiciary, judicial interference in recall" and accusing authorities of "Green Communist authoritarianism." The team further stated that the search targeted the residences and signature collection sites of the two lead organizers, Zhu Lei, stating, "Even if you detain one of us, we believe there are thousands upon thousands of us in Kaohsiung."

The "Double Recall" team had previously submitted supplementary documents to the CEC. Huang Jie needed to provide 445 additional signatures, while Hsu Chih-chieh required 224. The photo shows the team's leader, Xu Shangxian (left) and general secretary Zhu Lei (left), and the search of the signature collection station.