March 28~April 3, 2011
Headline News
Activists condemn attack on Christian environmentalist
Reported by Lin Yi-ying
Written by Lydia Ma
Chen Jiau-hua, a long-time environmentalist and member of Fuchiang Presbyterian Church in Tainan and former Tainan Environmental Protection Union CEO, was recently assaulted because of her involvement in environmental issues. Chen, an associate professor at Chianan University of Pharmacy and Science and a long-time environmental campaigner, reported that she was beaten by two black-hooded men with sticks on the night of March 21, 2011, as she was getting into her car after leaving Taiwan Environmental Protection Union’s (TEPU) Tainan office. Chen suffered serious bruises and some bleeding on her left hand and left feet.
Her pastor, Rev. Tsai Cheng-tao was among the first to visit her after the incident. He later said, “It’s the government’s duty to safeguard the environment and public safety. It never occurred to us that people protecting the environment on the government’s behalf would face violent threats. The government ought to take this incident and breach of security seriously and have some measures in place.”
According to Tsai, Chen had been a vocal advocate of environmental protection and Taiwan’s welfare for years, so she’d readied herself long time ago to face threats and libel due to her views. However, it never occurred to her that she’d also face physical violence from the mafia.
Commenting on Chen’s attackers, Tsai said Jesus had already foretold Christians they would be persecuted for pursuing righteousness, but the public ought to decry Chen’s assailants’ use of violence and contempt for the rule of law. He added that his congregation would support Chen and her family to the end.
Several environmental protection agencies were present at this press conference on March 24, 2011, where photos of a bleeding and wounded Chen were displayed for all to see. Chen’s supporters spoke out against mafias, violence, and incompetent governments. DPP legislator Tien Chiu-chin was also spotted at the press conference where she hugged Chen and gave her a bouquet to express her encouragement and concern. Sadly, all long-time environmentalists present had been threatened at one time or another.
“I’m not afraid, I just feel sorry for the worry I’m putting my family and friends through,” Chen told the press, adding that the ultimate goal of the mafia is to use such incidents to threaten other environmentalists to back off. She worried that people’s resolve to protect the environment would eventually weaken because of their fears and it wouldn’t benefit Taiwanese society at all.
