miscarriage of justice?

One of Taiwan's longest-running and most controversial criminal cases has once

again hit the headlines - sparking a big debate about the judicial system.

Su Chien-ho , Liu Bing-lang and Chuang Lin-hsun (pictured on their way to today's High court hearing) were teenagers when they were arrested sixteen years ago. They were given double death-sentences after the court found them guilty of robbery, rape, breaking and entering, and the gruesome murder of a couple in Hsichih, Taipei County, in 1991.

Various hearings later, the death penalties were upheld. But the three told lawyers their confessions had been extracted from them after they'd undergone torture by the police - including electric shocks to their genitalia.

In a retrial, in 2003, the High Court acquitted the men. But, just a few months later, the Supreme Court ordered a fresh trial - ending in today's verdict, which shocked defence laywers and supporters who had gathered outside the courthouse. There were highly emotional scenes - with most supporters, including some lawyers, in tears. One lawyer said it was an "international joke". The defence team symbolically turned their legal robes inside out - signifying their disgust at the verdict - and held a silent vigil on the steps of the court house. They have vowed to appeal again to the Supreme Court.

Amnesty International has been among the various human rights groups voicing concerns over the case. Last October, they wrote: "The case against the three is based almost entirely on their confessions which were allegedly extracted through torture at the hands of the police. These allegations combined with an apparent lack of material evidence and irregularities in the investigative process give us serious cause for concern that this case is a miscarriage of justice. "

Lawyers here say the case is "special" in many ways: and has helped bring about some real changes in the judicial system - for example, new rules that mean a case cannot be built only around confessions - but needs to have material evidence for convictions; allowing cross examination of witnesses by prosecutors and reducing the dominance of judges in a trial. But, they say, it also exposes the fact that, despite substantial reform, some flaws still remain .

photography museum

Photographers gathered in Taipei's only art photography gallery, TIVAC, at the weekend to launch a campaign to try to raise funds and government support to establish a national photography museum - which could be the first in the Chinese speaking world.

While several museums (like the TFAM) have photography collections, many important historical photos are not kept in any special collection, but held by family members of photographers who have since passed away.

But a museum would be costly (several million USD) and there's also a problem of finding qualified staff to run it and help conserve fragile prints. No-one is under any illusion it will happen any time soon - but a dream has been planted.

"Photography is very important…. image is in fact related to our culture, society, and human being", said photographer Leon Tsai, one of the organisers of the campaign.

Lee Yong-Pin, head of Taipei's cultural affairs bureau, is supportive of the idea; but also says funding is a problem. She says some other cities have combined fine arts museums with a photography museum - and that might be a possible alternative.

One of the key advocates of the museum idea is Malaysian-Chinese Suan Hooi-Wah, who runs the TIVAC gallery and is a passionate champion of of local photographers. He recently curated a photo exhibition at TFAM, tracking down photos that were once displayed at Taiwan's first photo gallery (long since closed), Rose Marie.