For Immediate Release
January 24, 2000

Republic of China passes groundbreaking legislation on conscientious objection

TAIPEI—On January 15, 2000, legislators in the Republic of China on Taiwan (ROC) passed two groundbreaking pieces of legislation. The first one revised military conscription law. The second creates a provision for civilian service as an alternate to military service, making the ROC the first Asian country with a compulsory military to allow conscientious objectors a non-military option.

The new civilian program is designed to benefit the community while respecting freedom of conscience and freedom of religion for Taiwan's citizens. Those refusing military service for reasons of conscience will spend 33 months in civilian service performing community service as social workers, as fire fighters, as workers in the field of environmental protection, and the like. Others drafted into the military but who receive assignment to civilian service will serve from 26 to 28 months. The normal term for military service will be shortened to 22 months. The bills await President Lee's signature.

As legislators voted in favor of the new law, 24 Jehovah's Witnesses were serving prison sentences for refusing to participate in the military. When the new military law takes effect, the 10 who have already served prison terms of three years or more will be eligible for immediate release. According to an attachment to the civilian service law, the remaining 14 will have the option of finishing their prison terms or fulfilling a full term of civilian service. The program is to be implemented beginning in July of this year.

For nearly 40 years, Jehovah's Witnesses in the ROC were faced with a choice of prison terms or military service. They were sentenced to terms of from 10 months to 15 years, the shorter terms being the most recent. Under previous law, unless someone served four consecutive years in prison for refusing military service, he could be reinducted and resentenced. As a result, most male Witnesses served repeated sentences.

Jehovah's Witnesses believe that the Bible prohibits Christians from taking up arms against their fellowman and from becoming involved in secular conflicts, citing as an example Isaiah 2:4, where it tells all to "beat their swords into plowshares." There are about four thousand Witnesses in Taiwan and about six million worldwide.

Contact in the ROC: Chien Zhuchin or Terry Reynolds, telephone: 886 3 477 7999
Contact in the United States: James N. Pellechia, telephone: 718 560 5600