Act on Promoting Transitional Justice - Article Content - Laws ...

This Act is enacted to promote transitional justice and implement a liberal democratic constitutional order. The handling of transitional justice matters, ... GotoMainContent ::: Location： Home Law ArticleContent P Print SelectFolders： Save Save AddNewFolder ManageFolders ArticleContent Title： ActonPromotingTransitionalJustice CH AnnouncedDate： 2017-12-27 Category： ExecutiveYuan（行政院） ArticleContent ArticleNoSearch ContentSearch LegislativeHistory Article1ThisActisenactedtopromotetransitionaljusticeandimplementaliberaldemocraticconstitutionalorder.Thehandlingoftransitionaljusticematters,wheretheypertaintoillegalactsandtheresultingharmthatoccurredduringtheperiodofauthoritarianruleinviolationoftheliberaldemocraticconstitutionalorder,shallbeplannedandimplementedinaccordancewiththeprovisionsofthisAct.MattersnotprovidedforinthisActshallbegovernedbyotherapplicablelaws. Article2ThecompetentauthorityunderthisActistheTransitionalJusticeCommission(hereinafterreferredtoastheTJC),whichshallnotbesubjecttotherestrictionssetforthinArticle5,paragraph3,Article32,orArticle36oftheBasicCodeGoverningCentralAdministrativeAgenciesOrganizations,orinArticle9oftheOrganizationalActoftheExecutiveYuan.TheTJC,undertheauthorityoftheExecutiveYuan,isanindependentadministrativeinstitutionequivalenttoasecond-levelagencyofthecentralgovernment,and—exceptasotherwiseprovidedintheActGoverningtheSettlementofIll-gottenPropertiesbyPoliticalPartiesandTheirAffiliateOrganizations—shallobservetheprovisionsofArticle4toArticle7ofthisActinplanningandimplementingthefollowingmatters:1.Providingforpublicaccesstopoliticalarchivalrecords.2.Removingauthoritariansymbolsandpreservingsiteswhereinjusticeswerecommitted.3.Redressingjudicialwrongs,restoringhistoricaltruth,andpromotingsocialreconciliation.4.Settlingandutilizingill-gottenpartyassets.5.Handlingothermatterspertainingtotransitionaljustice. Article3TermsusedinthisActaredefinedasfollows:1."Periodofauthoritarianrule"meanstheperiodfrom15August1945to6November1992.2."Politicalarchivalrecords"meansarchivalrecordsorotherrecordsanddocumentsfromtheperiodofauthoritarianrulethatarerelatedtotheFebruary28Incident,mechanismsofmobilizationforsuppressionofthecommunistrebellion,andmartiallawmechanisms,andaremaintainedincustodybygovernmentagencies(institutions),politicalparties,affiliatedorganizations,andparty-ownedentities;thisalsoappliestoarchivalrecordsfromagencies(institutions)thathavebeendissolved.3."Politicalparty"meansthetypeofentityreferredtoinArticle4,subparagraph1oftheActGoverningtheSettlementofIll-gottenPropertiesbyPoliticalPartiesandTheirAffiliateOrganizations.4."Affiliatedorganization"meansthetypeofentityreferredtoinArticle4,subparagraph2oftheActGoverningtheSettlementofIll-gottenPropertiesbyPoliticalPartiesandTheirAffiliateOrganizations.5."Party-ownedentity"meansajuristicperson,group,orinstitutionthatexistsindependentlybutwhosepersonnel,financial,oroperationalmattersarecurrentlyunderthesubstantivecontrolofapoliticalparty.6."Governmentagency(institution)"meansanagencyoradministrativeinstitutionatthecentraloranylocallevel,andanyindividual,juristicperson,orgroupthatthegovernmenthasentrustedtoexercisepublicauthority,andanyexperimental(testing),research,culturalandeducational,ormedicalinstitution,foundation,orstate-ownedenterpriseestablishedbyanagencyatanylevel. Article4Materialsrelatedtopoliticalarchivalrecordscollected,produced,orestablishedastheresultofviolationsoftheliberaldemocraticconstitutionalorderduringtheperiodofauthoritarianruleshallbeacquired,assembled,preserved,and—withbalancedconsiderationfortheprivacyrightsofthepartiestothesubjectmatterofarchivalrecordsaswellastheneedforfreedomofinformation,transitionaljusticeresearch,democracy,ruleoflaw,andhumanrightseducation—shallbecategorizedandmadeavailableforpublicaccess.Inordertocomprehensivelyreconstructthetruehistoricalfactsoftheperiodofauthoritarianruleandpromotesocialreconciliation,theTJCshalltaketheinitiativetoinvestigatethetruthand,onthebasisofthearchivalmaterialsacquiredinaccordancewiththeprovisionsofthisarticle,shallinviteconcernedpartiestoexpresstheirviews,soastouncoverthefactssurroundinghumanrightsabusesandtoascertaintheresponsibilityofperpetratorsandparticipantsinmechanismsofoppression.TheTJC,actingonthebasisofrelatedstatements,investigativefindings,andarchivalmaterials,shallwriteinvestigativereports,planmeasuresforvettingandremovingabusivepublicemployees,anddrawuprelatedremedyprocedures.Proceduresandstepsforcarryingoutfact-findinginvestigationsshallbeseparatelyprescribedbytheTJCthroughregulations. Article5Inordertoestablishaliberaldemocraticconstitutionalorder,denythelegitimacyofauthoritarianrule,andlearnthehistoricallessonsofhumanrightsabuses,symbolsappearinginpublicbuildingsorplacesthatcommemorateorexpressnostalgiaforauthoritarianrulersshallberemoved,renamed,ordealtwithinsomeotherway.Placeswheretherulersengagedinlarge-scalehumanrightsabusesduringtheperiodofauthoritarianruleshallbepreservedorrebuilt,andplansshallbemadefortheirdesignationashistoricsites. Article6Criminalprosecutionscarriedoutorsentencesimposedduringtheperiodofauthoritarianrulethatviolatedtheliberaldemocraticconstitutionalorderandtheprincipleoffairtrialshallbere-investigatedwithoutregardtotheprovisionsofArticle9oftheNationalSecurityActinordertoredressjudicialwrongs,highlightjudicialfairness,rectifyeducationontheruleoflawandhumanrights,andpromotesocialreconciliation.Theprocessofredressingjudicialwrongsasprovidedforintheprecedingparagraphmayinvolveidentifyingperpetratorsandholdingthemaccountable,restoringandpayingcompensationforthedamagedreputationsandrightsofvictimsortheirfamilies,andrestoringthehistoricaltruthofjudicialwrongsaswellasmakingthempublic.Whereapersonmatchingeitherofthefollowingdescriptionshasbeenconvictedonthebasisofthesamereasonsandfacts,theconvictionandanypunishment,rehabilitativemeasure,orconfiscationrenderedagainstthatpersonshallbedeemedvoidfromthedateonwhichthisActentersintoforce,andthevoidanceshallbepubliclyannounced:1.avictimwhohasreceivedreparations,compensation,orrestorationofdamagedrightspursuanttotheFebruary28IncidentDispositionandCompensationAct,theCompensationActforWrongfulTrialsonChargesofSeditionandEspionageduringtheMartialLawPeriod,ortheActGoverningtheRecoveryofDamageofIndividualRightsduringthePeriodofMartialLaw;or2.apersonnotmeetingthedescriptionintheprecedingsubparagraphwhohasneverthelessreceivedacriminalconvictionthattheTJC,actingexofficiooruponapplicationbyaconcernedparty,hasdeterminedtobeajudicialwrongthatmustberedressed.Aconvictionvoidedpursuanttotheprovisionsoftheprecedingparagraphshallbeexpungedfromtherecord.Whereanapplicationascontemplatedinparagraph3,subparagraph2isrejectedbytheTJC,theapplicantmay—actingwithin10daysofitsreceiptofnoticeofrejection,andonthebasisofthematterssetforthinparagraph1—fileanappealagainsttheconvictioninaspecializedcourtestablishedbytheTaiwanHighCourtoranyofitsbranches.Wheretheaccusedisdeceased,orwherethetrialcannotproceedbecausetheaccusedhasfailedtoappearincourtonthetrialdate(ascontemplatedintheCodeofCriminalProcedure),orwheretheprovisionsofArticle303,subparagraph5oftheCodeofCriminalProcedureapply,theprovisionsoftheprecedingparagraphshallnotapply.Wherethetypeofcasecontemplatedinparagraph5istobetriedbyaspecializedcourtestablishedbytheTaiwanHighCourtoranyofitsbranches,thestructureandproceduralrulesofthatcourtshallbeprescribedbytheJudicialYuan. Article7Inordertopromotealiberaldemocraticconstitutionalorderandfosterfaircompetitionamongpoliticalparties,ill-gottenpartyassetsobtainedonorafter15August1945shall,unlessitispossibletoconfirmtheoriginalownerortheheir(s)thereof,betransferredtostateownershipandusedbyaspecialfundestablishedbythecentralgovernmenttopromotetransitionaljustice,humanrightseducation,long-termcare,socialwelfarepolicies,andtransitional-justice-relatedculturalmatters.Anyinvestigation,restitution,confiscation,restorationofrights,orothermatterrelatedtoill-gottenassetsshallbehandledbytheIll-GottenPartyAssetsSettlementCommitteeinaccordancewiththeActGoverningtheSettlementofIll-gottenPropertiesbyPoliticalPartiesandTheirAffiliateOrganizations. Article8TheTJCshallhaveninecommissioners,whoshallbenominatedbytheHeadoftheExecutiveYuan(Premier)andappointedwiththeconsentoftheLegislativeYuan.Whenmakingthenominations,thePremiershalldesignateonepersonasthechairpersonandonepersonasthevicechairperson.Thechairperson,vicechairperson,andthreeothercommissionersshallserveinfull-timepositions,whiletheremainingfourcommissionersshallserveinpart-timepositions;provided,however,thatamongallthecommissioners,membersofasinglepoliticalpartyshallnotexceedthreeinnumber,andmembersofeithergendershallnotbefewerthanthreeinnumber.MembersoftheLegislativeYuanandmembersoftheControlYuanshallnotserveconcurrentlyasmembersoftheTJC.ThechairpersonoftheTJCshallbeaspecialappointee,andshallrepresenttheCommissiononexternalaffairs.Thevicechairpersonshallbeapoliticalappointeewhoisequivalenttoa14th-gradesenior-levelcivilservant.Theothercommissionersshallbepoliticalappointeeswhoareequivalentto13th-gradesenior-levelcivilservants.ThetermsofthecommissionersshalllastuntiltheTJCisdissolvedpursuanttoArticle11,paragraph2;provided,however,thatwherethePremierextendsthemissionoftheTJCinaccordancewithArticle11,paragraph1,thechairperson,vicechairperson,andanyfull-timeorpart-timecommissionermaybereplacedfollowingtheproceduresetforthinparagraph1.Whereanyoneofthefollowingsituationsoccurswithrespecttoacommissioner,thePremiermayrelieveordismissthatpersonfromhisorherduties:1.ACommissionerisunabletoperformdutiesduetodeathorillness.2.ACommissionerhasresigned.3.ACommissionerhasbeenplacedunderadeclarationofguardianshiporassistance,andthedeclarationhasnotbeenvoided.4.ACommissionerhasengagedinanillegalact,hasactedindisregardofduty,orhasotherwiseactedinbreachofduty;5.ACommissionerhasbeendetainedorindictedforacrime.WhenavacancyarisesontheCommissionforanyreason,thevacancyshallbefilledfollowingtheproceduressetforthinparagraph1. Article9TheTJCshallhavefourdepartments,eachofwhichshallberesponsibleforresearching,planning,andimplementingthetaskssetforthinoneofthefivesubparagraphsunderArticle2,paragraph2.Thevicechairpersonandthethreeotherfull-timecommissionersshallchaironedepartmenteach.Eachofthefourpart-timecommissionersshalljoinoneofthedepartmentstoassistwiththehandlingofrelatedmatters.Eachofthedepartmentsoftheprecedingparagraphmayseparatelyengagetwoorthreenon-salariedadvisorsonanannualbasis. Article10TheTJCmayuseassigned,seconded,orcontractedpersonneltoserveconcurrentlyasresearchoradministrativepersonnel.WheretheTJCrequeststhesecondingofpersonnelascontemplatedintheprecedingparagraph,agovernmentagencyshallnotrefusetherequest.ThefundingneedsoftheTJCshallbemetfromthebudgetoftheExecutiveYuan. Article11Withintwoyears,theTJCshallsubmitahardcopymissionconclusionreporttothePremierregardingthetaskssetforthunderArticle2,paragraph2.Thereportshallincludeacompleteinvestigationreport,aplanningproposal,andconcreteimplementationmeasures.Ifthereisaneedtoenactoramendanylaworregulation,theCommissionshallalsosubmitaproposeddraftatthatsametime.IftheCommissionisunabletocompleteitsworkwithintwoyears,itmayreporttothePremierandrequestanextension;eachextensionshallbenolongerthanoneyear.Aftercompletingthemissionsetforthintheprecedingparagraph,theTJCshallbedissolved,andthePremiershallpubliclyreleasethemissionconclusionreport.Duringtheperiodsetforthinparagraph1,theTJCshallsubmitahardcopymissionprogressreporttothePremier.WheretheplanforimplementinganyofthetaskssetforthunderArticle2,paragraph2canbefeasiblycarriedout,theCommissionmayatanytimesubmitawrittenrequestforthePremiertoconveneameetingoftheproperagencies(institutions)tocarryouttheplan. Article12TheTJCshallexerciseitsauthoritiesofofficeindependentlyinaccordancewiththelaw.ThemembersoftheTJCshallexercisetheirauthoritiesofofficeinanindependentandnon-partisanmanner,andshallnottakepartintheactivitiesofanypoliticalpartyduringtheirterms. Article13AresolutionoftheTJCrequirestheapprovalofamajorityofthecommissionerspresentatameetingattendedbynotlessthanone-halfthenumberofcommissioners.TheapprovalofamajorityofallcommissionersisrequiredforfinalizationofthehardcopyreportsthattheTJCsubmitstothePremierinaccordancewiththeprovisionsofArticle11,paragraphs1and3.AnymemberoftheTJCmayexpressadissentingopinionoraconcurringopiniononthereportoftheprecedingparagraph. Article14InordertocompletethetaskssetforthinArticle11,paragraphs1and3,theTJCmaytakeanyofthefollowingactionstoinvestigaterelatedmatters:1.Notifyanagency(institution),organization,enterprise,orindividualtoappearbeforetheCommissiontostatethefactsorexpresstheirviews.2.Asktheconcernedagency(institution),organization,enterprise,orindividualtofurnishrecordbooks,documents,andothernecessaryinformationorevidence;provided,however,thatanyrequesttoretrievematerialsconnectedwithacasecurrentlybeingtriedmustbeapprovedbythecourtseised.3.Dispatchpersonneltotheworkplace,office,placeofbusiness,orotherlocationoftheconcernedagency(institution),organization,enterprise,orindividualtocarryoutanynecessaryinvestigationoron-siteinspection.4.Commissionananalysisoraresearchproject.5.Commissionanotheragency(institution)tohandleaspecifiedcaseormatter.6.Takeothernecessaryinvestigativeaction.Afteranagencyacceptsthecommissioncontemplatedinsubparagraph5oftheprecedingparagraph,itshallproceedforthwithtocarryouttherequestedmatter,andshallreportbackinwritingontheresultsofitshandlingofthematter.WhenaTJCinvestigativeofficerdulyperformshisorherduties,heorsheisrequiredtodisplayproofofidentity.Ifheorshefailstodoso,theinvestigatedpartymayrefusetocooperate.OthermattersrelatingtotheinvestigationsprovidedinthisActshallbeseparatelyprescribedbytheTJCthroughregulationsgoverninginvestigativeprocedures. Article15TransitionalJusticeCommissioninvestigativeofficersmayasnecessaryplacerelevantmaterialsorevidenceundertemporaryseal,ortakecustodyoforimpoundallorpartofit.Wherematerialsorevidenceinthepossessionofacentralorlocalagency(institution)aretobeplacedunderseal,takenintocustody,orimpounded,thepermissionoftheheadoftheagency(institution)shallberequired;provided,however,thattheheadoftheagency(institution)shallnotdenypermissionunlessithasbeenproventhatsuchactionwouldharmanimportantnationalinterest,andaprovisionalinjunctionconsentingtosaidactionhasbeenobtainedfromanadministrativecourtwithinsevendays.Whenmaterialsorevidencearetakenintocustody,theagency(institution)originallypossessingthemshallaffixitsofficialseal,andtheinvestigativeofficershallissueareceipt. Article16Anagency(institution),organization,enterprise,orindividualthatisinvestigatedinaccordancewiththeprovisionsofthisActshallnotevade,refuse,orimpedesuchinvestigationwithoutlegitimatereason.AnindividualconnectedwithaninvestigationconductedinaccordancewiththeprovisionsofthisActshallprovideinformationthatistrueandcompletetothebestofhisorherknowledge,withoutanyconcealmentormisrepresentation,unlessheorsheisallowedunderArticle181oftheCodeofCriminalProceduretorefusetestimony.WheretheTJCdeemsitnecessarytoprovideprotectionandimmunitytoanindividualconnectedwithaninvestigationconductedinaccordancewiththeprovisionsofthisAct,protectionandimmunityprovisionsintheWitnessProtectionActshallbeapplicablemutatismutandis.Wheretheindividualisacivilservant,theCommissionmaydecidebyresolutiontoprovideimmunityfromrelatedadministrativeliability.WhereanindividualconnectedwithaninvestigationconductedinaccordancewiththeprovisionsofthisActprovidestheTJCwithinformationrelatedtoapoliticalparty,affiliatedorganization,orparty-ownedentitytowhichheorshehasbecomeprivyintheperformanceofhis/herjobduties,thatindividualshallnotbeboundbyanynon-disclosureobligationsotherwiseowedtothepoliticalparty,affiliatedorganization,orparty-ownedentity,andshallbeimmunefromanylegalliabilityforhavingprovidedtheinformation.WhereaninvestigationcarriedoutbytheTJCinaccordancewiththisActinvolvestheuseofpersonalinformationasdefinedinthePersonalInformationProtectionAct,suchuseshallbedeemednecessaryforpromotionofpublicinterestsassetforthbythatActinArticle16,subparagraph2andArticle20,paragraph1,subparagraph2.AnypartywhichviolatestheprovisionssetforthinthefirstparagraphofthisArticleshallbesubjecttoanadministrativefinebetweenNT$100,000andNT$500,000,andconsecutivefinesmaybeimposedforeachsuccessiveviolation. Article17TJCinvestigativeofficersmayasnecessaryrequestaidfromlocalgovernmentsorotherrelatedagencies(institutions). Article18Apoliticalparty,affiliatedorganization,orparty-ownedentitythatpossessespoliticalarchivalrecordsshallfileareportwiththeTJC.OncetheCommissionhascompletedreviewandapproval,itshallorderthattherecordsbetransferredtothenationalarchives.ThereportoftheprecedingparagraphmaybepresentedtotheTJCeitherinwritingororally.Whereareportispresentedorally,theTJCshallmakearecordthereof.TheTJCmayinitiateanex-officioinvestigationintotheholdingofpoliticalarchivalrecordsbyapoliticalparty,affiliatedorganization,orparty-ownedentity,andshallorderthattheRecordsbetransferredtothenationalarchivesfollowingreviewandapproval.Thepoliticalarchivalrecordstransferredbyapoliticalparty,affiliatedorganization,orparty-ownedentityshallinprinciplebeoriginals.AfterpoliticalarchivalrecordshavebeenreviewedandapprovedbytheTJC,apoliticalparty,affiliatedorganization,orparty-ownedentitythatrefusestotransferthemtothenationalarchivesshallbesubjecttoanadministrativefinebetweenNT$1millionandNT$5million,andconsecutivefinesmaybeimposedforcontinuedrefusal.Withrespecttopoliticalarchivalrecords,thehandlingofallmatterspertainingtoacquisition,assembly,preservation,publicaccess,research,andeducationshall,exceptasprovidedinthisAct,beseparatelyprescribedbylaw. Article19Whererecordsinthecustodyofagovernmentagency(institution),politicalparty,affiliatedorganization,orparty-ownedentityaredestroyed,damaged,concealed,orrendereduselessdespiteclearknowledgethattheyarepoliticalarchivalrecords,asentenceofuptofiveyearsimprisonmentshallbeimposed.Anattempttocommitanoffensesetforthintheprecedingparagraphispunishable. Article20ApartythatobjectstoanadministrativedispositionrenderedbytheTJCmay,within30daysofthedateofreceiptofthedisposition,applywiththeTransitionalJusticeCommissionforasecondreview.Apartythatobjectstothedecisionfollowingthesecondreviewmay,withintwomonthsofreceiptofthedecision,fileforadministrativelitigation. Article21ThisActshallenterintoforcefromthedateofpromulgation.