Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05TAIPEI474
2005-02-03 23:31:00
UNCLASSIFIED
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Cable title:
TAIWAN TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS DEMARCHE DELIVERED
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 000474
SIPDIS
STATE PASS AIT/W
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV TW TIP
SUBJECT: TAIWAN TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS DEMARCHE DELIVERED
REF: STATE 009756
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 000474
SIPDIS
STATE PASS AIT/W
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV TW TIP
SUBJECT: TAIWAN TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS DEMARCHE DELIVERED
REF: STATE 009756
1. (SBU) AIT Acting Deputy Director Chuck Bennett delivered
reftel Trafficking in Persons (TIP) talking points on
February 2 to the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) Administrative
Vice Minister and the Ministry of Interior (MOI)
Administrative Deputy Minister. AIT Political Section Chief
James Huskey delivered the TIP demarche talking points on
February 3 to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) North
American Department Director General.
Ministry of Justice
--------------
2. (SBU) In response to the demarche, MOJ Vice Minister Yen
Da-ho told AIT that most of the TIP concerns we raised fall
under the jurisdiction of the MOI and not the MOJ. He
assured AIT that MOJ is very serious about TIP issues and
wants to cooperate with the U.S. Yen pointed out that the
new MOJ Minister, Hung Mao-lin, had specifically mentioned
the problem of TIP during his February 1 arrival speech at
MOJ, stating that TIP is a crime and that it not only gives
Taiwan a bad image abroad, but is itself a basic human rights
issue. Beijing's reluctance to repatriate Mainland Chinese
women on a regular basis, Vice-Minister Yen explained,
contributes to overcrowding at Taiwan detention facilities.
Nevertheless, he continued, conditions at Taiwan's illegal
immigrant detention centers have been improved and several
NGOs are working with the women.
3. (SBU) AIT told Vice Minister Yen that Washington stands
ready to assist the Taiwan authorities at any time with TIP
training, cooperation, or any other assistance needed to
improve the TIP situation in Taiwan. The Vice Minister
thanked AIT and said his office will stay in contact with AIT
on this issue.
Ministry of Interior
--------------
4. (SBU) In response to the demarche, MOI Deputy Minister
Chien Tai-lang told AIT that MOI has already begun to make
improvements on the TIP issue. Since December 2004, Chien
said Taiwan authorities have increased efforts to distinguish
between TIP victims and non-victims at the detention centers.
MOI is now placing confirmed victims in a separate area with
better facilitates and placing them on a priority
repatriation list. In response to AIT's request for
elaboration, Deputy Minster Chien explained that a judge must
determine if a detainee is a TIP victim and once that
determination has been made, the court assigns the victim to
the separate area where they have access to better care,
including counseling services. Echoing MOJ Vice Minister
Yen, Chien stated that that PRC unwillingness to repatriate
Mainland women detained in Taiwan on a regular basis
continues to exacerbate the situation.
5. (SBU) AIT acknowledged that the PRC's unwillingness to
repatriate Mainland women held in detention centers places
Taiwan in a difficult position. Deputy Minister Chien
responded that Taiwan hopes Washington will urge Beijing to
be more cooperative on the TIP issue. He thanked AIT and
said he clearly understood the concerns raised by AIT.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
--------------
6. (SBU) In response to the demarche, MOFA's North America
Director General Victor Chin stated that Taiwan takes the TIP
issue very seriously and wants to cooperate with the U.S. on
this issue. He assured AIT that his department would work to
ensure that other government agencies are aware of the TIP
concerns raised by AIT and active in resolving any problems.
TIP, he explained, has become a high-profile issue in Taiwan,
and Taiwanese NGOs are already working with TIP victims at
detention centers. Like Yen and Chien, he explained that the
TIP issue in Taiwan is rendered more difficult by PRC
unwillingness to accept the return of Mainland women without
proper documents. He also emphasized the problem Taiwan
authorities have in differentiating actual trafficking
victims from the large number of illegal immigrants seeking
economic opportunities, as virtually all detainees claim to
be trafficking victims.
7. (SBU) AIT thanked Chin for his assistance in relaying our
concerns to other government offices. Chin directed his
department section chiefs present to stay engaged on this
issue and work closely with AIT.
8. (SBU) AIT will continue to provide G/TIP with any updates
or additional information on Taiwan's progress on the TIP
issue.
PAAL
SIPDIS
STATE PASS AIT/W
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV TW TIP
SUBJECT: TAIWAN TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS DEMARCHE DELIVERED
REF: STATE 009756
1. (SBU) AIT Acting Deputy Director Chuck Bennett delivered
reftel Trafficking in Persons (TIP) talking points on
February 2 to the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) Administrative
Vice Minister and the Ministry of Interior (MOI)
Administrative Deputy Minister. AIT Political Section Chief
James Huskey delivered the TIP demarche talking points on
February 3 to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) North
American Department Director General.
Ministry of Justice
--------------
2. (SBU) In response to the demarche, MOJ Vice Minister Yen
Da-ho told AIT that most of the TIP concerns we raised fall
under the jurisdiction of the MOI and not the MOJ. He
assured AIT that MOJ is very serious about TIP issues and
wants to cooperate with the U.S. Yen pointed out that the
new MOJ Minister, Hung Mao-lin, had specifically mentioned
the problem of TIP during his February 1 arrival speech at
MOJ, stating that TIP is a crime and that it not only gives
Taiwan a bad image abroad, but is itself a basic human rights
issue. Beijing's reluctance to repatriate Mainland Chinese
women on a regular basis, Vice-Minister Yen explained,
contributes to overcrowding at Taiwan detention facilities.
Nevertheless, he continued, conditions at Taiwan's illegal
immigrant detention centers have been improved and several
NGOs are working with the women.
3. (SBU) AIT told Vice Minister Yen that Washington stands
ready to assist the Taiwan authorities at any time with TIP
training, cooperation, or any other assistance needed to
improve the TIP situation in Taiwan. The Vice Minister
thanked AIT and said his office will stay in contact with AIT
on this issue.
Ministry of Interior
--------------
4. (SBU) In response to the demarche, MOI Deputy Minister
Chien Tai-lang told AIT that MOI has already begun to make
improvements on the TIP issue. Since December 2004, Chien
said Taiwan authorities have increased efforts to distinguish
between TIP victims and non-victims at the detention centers.
MOI is now placing confirmed victims in a separate area with
better facilitates and placing them on a priority
repatriation list. In response to AIT's request for
elaboration, Deputy Minster Chien explained that a judge must
determine if a detainee is a TIP victim and once that
determination has been made, the court assigns the victim to
the separate area where they have access to better care,
including counseling services. Echoing MOJ Vice Minister
Yen, Chien stated that that PRC unwillingness to repatriate
Mainland women detained in Taiwan on a regular basis
continues to exacerbate the situation.
5. (SBU) AIT acknowledged that the PRC's unwillingness to
repatriate Mainland women held in detention centers places
Taiwan in a difficult position. Deputy Minister Chien
responded that Taiwan hopes Washington will urge Beijing to
be more cooperative on the TIP issue. He thanked AIT and
said he clearly understood the concerns raised by AIT.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
--------------
6. (SBU) In response to the demarche, MOFA's North America
Director General Victor Chin stated that Taiwan takes the TIP
issue very seriously and wants to cooperate with the U.S. on
this issue. He assured AIT that his department would work to
ensure that other government agencies are aware of the TIP
concerns raised by AIT and active in resolving any problems.
TIP, he explained, has become a high-profile issue in Taiwan,
and Taiwanese NGOs are already working with TIP victims at
detention centers. Like Yen and Chien, he explained that the
TIP issue in Taiwan is rendered more difficult by PRC
unwillingness to accept the return of Mainland women without
proper documents. He also emphasized the problem Taiwan
authorities have in differentiating actual trafficking
victims from the large number of illegal immigrants seeking
economic opportunities, as virtually all detainees claim to
be trafficking victims.
7. (SBU) AIT thanked Chin for his assistance in relaying our
concerns to other government offices. Chin directed his
department section chiefs present to stay engaged on this
issue and work closely with AIT.
8. (SBU) AIT will continue to provide G/TIP with any updates
or additional information on Taiwan's progress on the TIP
issue.
PAAL