One hour of your time in exchange for the redress of the Hsichih Trio case, a miscarriage of justice which has already cost three young men nine years of their lives.

The Hsichih Trio case is not just a simple miscarriage of justice, it is a sensitive litmus test of the judicial process in Taiwan and our attitudes towards human rights.

In 1991, there was a couple surnamed Wu was murdered in Hsichih, and because the police believed there was more than one person involved they tortured the chief suspect, Wang Wen-hsiao, into revealing the names of his "accomplices". He named, in no particular order, three eighteen year olds, Su Chien-ho, Liu Bin-lang and Chuang Lin-hsun. These naive youths were then subjected to the most appalling, inhumane treatment, at every step from being hunted down, arrested and then taken into custody and coerced to confess, force was illegally used. Eventually, though the prosecution lacked hard evidence and relied solely on their confessions, all three were given death sentences. An unjust trial and death sentences handed down on the basis of flimsy evidence shook the international community. Letters pleading for clemency flooded into the Presidential Office from around the world, and there were a series of large demonstrations organized within Taiwan, all concerned that once the men were killed, there could be no way they could be brought back. But although the demands for mercy grew, any hope of the men being released receded further and further away.

Nine years on, these young men are young no more, and public indignation and outrage have mellowed into waiting and hoping, and now all activities are focused around the 'Walking towards the Light' movement. Starting April 15, the Humanistic Education Foundation (人本教育基金會), the Taiwan Association for Human Rights (台灣人權促進會), the Judicial Reform Foundation(民間司改會) and other groups invited all those involved with the case to go to the Chinan Church (next door to the Legislative Yuan) every day from 5.30 to 6.30 and walk round in a circle silently to show their dedication to getting justice done, swearing not to rest until the condemned are released from jail and the final page of the diary of the 'Walk Towards the Light' movement is written down.

We vow to keep walking until the condemned are released, though it is not easy for already hard-pressed groups to hang on if we cannot have the support of the public. Still we make the vow, and we hope that you too can join us in this movement.

Time: Daily 5:30pm~6:30pm
Venue: Chinan Presybterian Church (Chung-shan S. Road, No. 3, Taipei)

For more information, please contact the following organizations:
Taiwan Association for Human Rights(tel:23639787 http://tahr.yam.org.tw)
Humanistic Education Foundation (tel:23670151ext.12)
Judicial Reform Foundation (tel:25231178)

Translated by Liao Hsiao-jing（廖曉晶 協助翻譯）