Lee Ming-yen's Trial Opens in Taipei|李明彥:循正當管道無解 只剩"正義的暴力"

Last October, Lee Ming-yen assaulted Taipei City Department of Labor Commissioner Lai Hsiang-ling with a steel rod and was indicted. Before his trial, Lee was interviewed and said labor problems in government agencies can't be solved through legitimate channels and it has hence pushed workers to resort to revolution and "righteous violence."


Lee Ming-yen's trial opened on the 18th. Last October, he attacked Taipei City Labor Commissioner Lai Hsiang-lin with a steel rod and was indicted for aggravated assault, breaking and entering, and interference with legal activities. Lee says he tried reporting labor violations including fake contracts and fake dispatch work at government agencies including CPC Corp. and Taipei Metro through various legitimate channels, but to no avail. Therefore, he was left with no choice but to resort to violence.

Victims do everything they can, from pursuing civil and criminal action to seeking assistance from legislative representatives, Control Yuan members, the media, and civic organizations. All this shows is that none of these work. What are workers supposed to do then? Are they supposed to suffer in silence? Or should they revolt or use righteous violence? Isn't this how it is?

Lee, who previously worked as a contract worker at CPC, says he never even met the outsourcer and was under the management and supervision of CPC the entire time. Asked why he attacked Lai when labor issues can't be resolved overnight, Lee said it was because Lai represents government persecution of workers.

She refused to talk to me. These three major illegal outsourcing cases -- her secretary would never let me talk to her or would call security to have me thrown out. She refused to take action against CPC for its labor violations. Lai Hsiang-lin is only a symbol of (what's s wrong with the system). Truth be told, I look down on her.

Lee also said he will sue netizens that criticized him and he welcomes the court of public opinion. His public defender, meanwhile, has petitioned the court for a psychiatric evaluation. The Department of Labor says it respects the judicial system and will proceed with fines. It also says violent harassment of civil servants doesn't help solve any problems.