Chiu Hsien-chih

Chiu Hsien-chih (born 29 April 1976) is a Taiwanese lawyer and politician. He contested the 2016 and 2020 legislative elections as a member of the New Power Party, winning the latter election. Chiu served as leader of the New Power Party between March and August 2019, and was reappointed to the role in an acting capacity in August 2020.

In this Chinese name, the family name is Chiu.
Chiu Hsien-chih

MLY
邱顯智
Chiu in January 2016
Member of the Legislative Yuan
Assumed office
1 February 2020
ConstituencyRepublic of China
Chairperson of the New Power Party
In office
1 August 2020 – 5 August 2020 (acting)
Preceded byHsu Yung-ming
Succeeded byKao Yu-ting
In office
1 March 2019 – 12 August 2019
Preceded byHuang Kuo-chang
Succeeded byHsu Yung-ming
Personal details
Born (1976-04-29) 29 April 1976
Zhuqi, Chiayi County, Taiwan
Political partyNew Power Party (since 2015)
Spouse(s)Huang Wan-ting
Children2
Alma materHeidelberg University
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese邱顯智
Simplified Chinese邱显智

Early life

Chiu was born on 29 April 1976,[1][2] and was raised in Zhuqi, Chiayi County, near Fengchih Lake.[3][4] His mother was a factory worker and his father was a teacher.[4] He lived in Germany for five years, returning to Taiwan in 2010, upon completing a doctorate at Heidelberg University.[3] He and his wife Huang Wan-ting moved to Huang's native Hsinchu, where the couple raised two children.[3][5]

After the death of Hung Chung-chiu, Hung's family hired Chiu as legal counsel.[6][7] He remained the Hung family's legal representative until the conclusion of the case, an appeal heard in June 2017.[8] During the Sunflower Student Movement, Chiu served as spokesman for a group of over three hundred lawyers that pledged legal aid to protesters.[9] Chiu also represented Liu Yen-kuo in a murder case dating to 1997 until Liu's execution on 29 April 2014, Chiu's birthday.[1][10] Chiu worked with fellow lawyer Tseng Wei-kai on the Hualon Textile workers' compensation case.[11] Chiu often offered legal commentary in his capacity as chairman of the Taiwan Association for Human Rights.[12][13][14] In 2015, Chiu was present at an Anti-Black Box Curriculum Movement demonstration to offer legal assistance.[15] The next year, Chiu represented music teacher Hsiao Hsiao-ling in a wrongful termination lawsuit.[16][17] After Chiu contested the 2016 legislative elections as a New Power Party candidate, the party retained him for its legal team.[18] Chiu has since taken on cases relating to public safety.[19]

Lawyers Chiu, Tseng, Liu Chi-wei, and Essen Lee were featured in a 2016 documentary directed by James Su titled Fight For Justice.[20][21] In December 2017, Chiu published his first book in the Chinese language, Stand By You, about several of the legal cases he had worked up to that point in time.[22]

Political career

Chiu joined the New Power Party (NPP) upon its founding in 2015.[23] In February of that year, Chiu and Hu Po-yen became the first two people to represent the party as legislative candidates.[24][25][26] Chiu faced incumbent lawmaker Lu Hsueh-chang in the Hsinchu district.[24] The New Power Party attempted to ally itself with the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP),[27] but Chiu was critical of Ker Chien-ming,[28] the DPP's candidate in Hsinchu, and refused to abandon his bid for office to support Ker's.[29] Chiu's main point of contention with Ker centered on political transparency within the legislature.[30] In October 2015, Chiu claimed that Ker had not responded to offers for the two candidates to debate each other before integration polling started.[31] With no deal in place to conduct integration polling,[32] Chiu formally registered his legislative candidacy by the November 2015 deadline.[33] Chiu's campaign partnered with that of Hu Po-yen, Hung Tzu-yung, Ko Shao-chen, and Freddy Lim, winning early support from Lin Yi-hsiung.[34] Chiu's campaign team was led by Chen Wei-ting, a leader of the Sunflower Movement.[35] Other Sunflower activists, such as Lin Fei-fan and Dennis Wei, also contributed to Chiu's campaign.[36][37][38] During the campaign, Chiu spoke in support of legislative reform,[39] and sharply criticized the scheduled Ma–Xi meeting.[40][41] After Chiu Hsien-chih lost the election to Ker Chien-ming,[42] he was named to a NPP task force on legislative reform.[43] In April 2016, the New Power Party opened its inaugural local office in Hsinchu, and named Chiu its first director.[44] In February 2019, Chiu contested an open seat on the New Power Party's executive committee and was subsequently elected party chairman, succeeding Huang Kuo-chang.[45][46] Chiu resigned the party leadership on 12 August 2019,[47] soon after Freddy Lim left the party, and Kawlo Iyun Pacidal's membership was suspended.[48][49] Following the departure of Hung Tzu-yung from the party, the NPP continued attempts to convince Chiu to return as chair.[50] Chiu refused to resume the chairmanship, and stated that either Hsu Yung-ming or Tseng Wei-kai should run for the position.[51] In November 2019, Chiu accepted a nomination from the New Power Party to contest the 2020 election as an at-large legislative candidate. He was ranked second on the NPP party list.[52] The New Power Party won over seven percent of the party list vote, allowing three at-large legislative candidates to take office.[53] Within the Tenth Legislative Yuan, Chiu served as New Power Party caucus whip.[54] On 1 August 2020, Chiu was named acting NPP chairman following Hsu Yung-ming's suspension from the post.[55] Chiu and all members of the New Power Party's executive committee resigned their positions on 5 August,[56] and the succeeding committee elected Kao Yu-ting to replace Chiu on 29 August.[57][58]

References
  1. Loa, Iok-sin (1 May 2014). "Anti-death penalty activists condemn executions". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  2. "【一鏡到底】律師難忘的數字 邱顯智" (in Chinese). Mirror Media. 12 December 2017. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  3. Liu, Edward (12 December 2015). "Interview: Chiu Hsien-chih (邱顯智)". New Bloom Magazine. Translated by Hioe, Brian. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  4. 馬岳琳 (20 August 2014). "邱顯智律師：台灣的未來，不再有冤案". CommonWealth Magazine (in Chinese). Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  5. Gerber, Abraham (10 January 2016). "NPP focuses on family in night rally". Taipei Times. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  6. Wang, Chris (18 July 2013). "Hungs demand speed, honesty in investigation". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  7. Chang, Rich (29 July 2013). "Prosecutors name commander as defendant". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  8. Pan, Jason (29 June 2017). "Ruling by High Court angers soldier's family". Taipei Times. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  9. Loa, Iok-sin (22 March 2014). "Students call on public to join protest". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  10. Shih, Hsiu-chuan (4 May 2014). "Minister of Justice to be subpoenaed". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  11. Lii, Wen (22 October 2014). "Hualon workers' leader faces court". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  12. Loa, Iok-sin (23 May 2014). "RAIL RAMPAGE: Attack reignites death penalty debate". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  13. Tseng, Wei-chen; Pan, Jason (17 July 2014). "Ma returning nation to Martial Law era: academics". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  14. Loa, Iok-sin (3 May 2014). "Rights advocates pan pre-emptive detention plan". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  15. Loa, Iok-sin (1 August 2015). "Curriculum Protests: NPP supports students, vows lawsuit over suicide". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  16. Lin, Sean (26 May 2016). "Experts question Taipei's punishment of teacher". Taipei Times. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  17. Lin, Sean (23 September 2016). "Sacking was 'nightmare': teacher". Taipei Times. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  18. "NPP files complaint against police attempt to end strike". Taipei Times. 8 January 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  19. Maxon, Ann (22 May 2018). "NPP urges regulation of amusement ride rentals". Taipei Times. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  20. "Human Rights Documentary Fight for Justice Premiere and Special Screening". Taipei Film Commission. 2 November 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  21. Hioe, Brian (29 November 2016). "Review: Fight for Justice (進擊之路)". New Bloom Magazine. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  22. Huang, Yahsin (12 December 2017). "Lawyer, Advocate, Activist: Chiu Hsien-chih's Vision for Justice in Taiwan". Taiwan Sentinel. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  23. Lin, If (19 December 2018). "INFOGRAPHIC: Charting 20 Years of 'Third Force' Electoral Gains in Taiwan". The News Lens. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  24. Lii, Wen (17 February 2017). "NPP announces its first election candidates". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  25. Lii, Wen (25 February 2015). "NPP nominates political novices". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  26. Chen, Wei-han (23 February 2015). "Metal singer to run for legislator". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  27. Lii, Wen (13 March 2015). "Minor parties seek political alliances". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  28. Lii, Wen (5 May 2015). "Top Sunflower joins NPP, eyes legislative run". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  29. Loa, Iok-sin (19 July 2015). "NPP elaborates platform, slams PFP as KMT stooge". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  30. Gerber, Abraham (18 September 2015). "NPP criticizes Ker's values". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  31. Gerber, Abraham (15 October 2015). "Pan-green integration attempts appear to stumble". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  32. Gerber, Abraham (20 November 2015). "Neil Peng withdraws from election race". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  33. Gerber, Abraham (25 November 2015). "NPP candidate registers for Hsinchu seat race". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  34. Lii, Wen (7 April 2015). "Lin I-hsiung endorses New Power Party". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  35. Hsiao, Alison (2 December 2015). "Legislative reform should start in legislature: Ker". Taipei Times. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  36. Lin, Sean (16 January 2016). "ELECTIONS: Reconciliation a must for social harmony, Ko says". Taipei Times. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  37. Gerber, Abraham (19 January 2016). "Ex-Sunflower movement leader Chen quits NPP". Taipei Times. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  38. Gerber, Abraham (9 January 2016). "ELECTIONS: Sunflower leaders endorse party's election alliance". Taipei Times. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  39. Gerber, Abraham (1 December 2015). "NPP calls for meaningful reform of negotiations". Taipei Times. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  40. Gerber, Abraham (5 November 2015). "Third-force parties rally against Ma-Xi meeting". Taipei Times. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  41. Gerber, Abraham (10 November 2015). "MA-XI MEETING: DPP has failed as watchdog, new alliance says". Taipei Times. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  42. Gerber, Abraham (17 January 2016). "ELECTIONS: New Power Party wins five legislative seats". Taipei Times. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  43. Hsiao, Alison (3 February 2016). "NPP caucus organizes teams to push for change". Taipei Times. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  44. Gerber, Abraham (10 April 2016). "NPP seeks to sink roots with Hsinchu office". Taipei Times. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  45. Maxon, Ann (25 January 2019). "NPP postpones poll as Freddy Lim says he will not run". Taipei Times. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  46. Peng, Wan-hsin (16 February 2019). "NPP elects lawyer Chiu Hsien-chih as chairman". Taipei Times. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  47. Wang, Yang-yu; Kao, Evelyn (12 August 2019). "NPP chairman announces resignation (update)". Central News Agency. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  48. Maxon, Ann (13 August 2019). "Chiu steps down as NPP roiled by internal conflict". Taipei Times. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  49. DeAeth, Duncan (12 August 2019). "Chairman of Taiwan's New Power Party resigns". Taiwan News. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  50. Maxon, Ann (14 August 2019). "Hung Tzu-yung to leave NPP over internal row". Taipei Times. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  51. Maxon, Ann (21 August 2019). "Not interested in returning to be NPP chair: Chiu". Taipei Times. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  52. Kuo, Chien-shen; Fan, Cheng-hsiang; Mazzetta, Matthew (13 November 2019). "2020 Elections: New Power Party lists 12 at-large legislator nominees". Central News Agency. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  53. Lee, I-chia (12 January 2020). "2020 Elections: Taiwan People's Party tops among 'third force' parties". Taipei Times. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  54. Lin, Sean (15 February 2020). "Friday set for new legislative session". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  55. Wu, Su-wei; Xie, Dennis (3 August 2020). "NPP suspends chairman over probe". Taipei Times. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  56. 王, 揚宇 (29 August 2020). "高鈺婷接掌時力 喊話勇敢改革重新打造政黨" (in Chinese). Central News Agency. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  57. Wang, Yang-yu; Lee, Hsin-Yin (29 August 2020). "Kao Yu-ting elected chairwoman of embattled New Power Party". Central News Agency.
  58. Wu, Su-wei; Chung, Jake (30 August 2020). "NPP elects a new leader amid crisis". Taipei Times. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
Party political offices
Preceded by
Huang Kuo-chang		 Chairperson of the New Power Party
2019		 Succeeded by
Hsu Yung-ming
Preceded by
Hsu Yung-ming		 Chairperson of the New Power Party
(acting)
2020		 Succeeded by
Kao Yu-ting
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