The ‘Hole’ Story: My Two Months of Hell in the Taipei Detention Center
By ‘M’
I am a very stubborn person. I made myself a promise I would not let all that chaos break me and make me go nuts, no matter how long I was about to stay there. Sometimes being stubborn is a good thing, if you use that in a productive way.
So I read a lot, and I ran. Every time I felt I was going nuts or claustrophobic, I ran from the one side of the room to the other side – many, many times. Some women prayed, some played cards, some of them made things out of paper. I ran, thinking of running through a forest, a beautiful park; I visualized freedom and nature. I had lots of books that friends and N– had brought me. I read all the time, so that the guards started talking about my bed full of books, smiling, being nicer to me.
One day one guard told me, “So, you’re very smart hey? You always read and stay out of trouble. But when you’re angry you are scary. Some girls are afraid of you. They say you told them, fuck, or fuck off, getting angry in the morning. Why are you angry?”
Ha! Why was I angry?! How about waking up at 6:30 every morning, eating crap, the lack of fresh air or hygiene, having to wait to pee for 20 minutes in line, hearing everybody eating so nasty and noisily, spitting rice and talking while eating, having nothing to do, nowhere to go, the constant noise and spending four fuckin’ holidays locked up — Christmas, New Year, Chinese New Year and Valentine’s day.
WHY WAS I ANGRY? I am still angry about their laziness and ignorance. Was it really necessary to put me in jail for two whole months? NO! Those are the things I’m angry about: the lack of human rights, the hypocrisy and their slow process of releasing people. Okay, maybe I was lucky that I only stayed there only two months, because there are still some people – many other human beings — with the same problem I had, but they can’t go home, because they don’t have money or anybody to help them. Money means everything in Taiwan, and it SHOULDN’T BE THAT WAY in this situation.
I know girls who had stayed in Sanxia for 8 or 12 months, just because their lazy arresting officer wouldn’t open their case or present the case to a judge. I met girls without family or friends, who have no money to pay their ticket home, so they lived in jail. Period. End of story. Nobody helps.
You asked me what were the women inside like, and why were they there. I was in the non-smoking section the first 20 days and there were 40 women there. After that I was transferred to the smoking A section, sharing my life with around 90-100 women. All together there were around 150 women and that many more men upstairs. We saw and interacted with the male prisoners only during the work-out time (supervised by a lot of guards and the boss of the detention center, who was a nice man).
So, the 90 women I met in the A section were all very different and everybody had their own story. We talked about our problems or stories during the smoking or sleeping time. Everybody knew everybody inside, but like everywhere in the world, we chose our friends and women we trust carefully. At least I did. I had couple of good friends inside, but my best friend was a pregnant lady called Elena. Her English was very good, and she helped me communicate with others in Chinese, get to know them better, translated thing to the guards (whose English was very poor) because her Chinese was far more fluent than mine. There were all sorts of cases inside: fake marriages, prostitution, lost passports, illegal entries in Taiwan, fake passports, fake ARC [Alien Resident Certificate], overstayed visas, drug users, drug dealers, murder attempts (Taiwanese prosecutors consider a girl barfight an attempted murder), thieves, women caregivers who were accused of neglecting the old people they took care of when they died, women who were waiting months and months for a crucial witness (who’d already left Taiwan) to come back to the country and be a witness in their advantage, even young girls who initially reported themselves to the authorities for overstaying, but didn’t have money for the ticket and punishment fee of 10,000nt and so on.
Continue to Part 4
Thanks for taking the time to respond and explain M. What you say makes sense. Good luck with everything here and have a great day!
M: “WHO ARE YOU TO SAY WHAT KIND OF PUNISHMENT TAIWAN SHOULD HAVE FOR PEOPLE WHO OVERSTAY?! ”
M: “In my opinion, if a person is caught overstaying visa there should be only payment, punishment and immediate deportation — not ‘doing time’”
M – you have contradicted yourself. You have stated your opinion regarding what the appropriate punishment should be for an overstay, but then insinuated that the commenter does not have a right to an opinion on the very same topic.
What can I say Jimmy,I am an optimist and want people with non violent problems to serve less time behind bars.I must say my comment was written in a moment of anger,because the other reader keeps using very strong language and keeps verbaly attacking,while I just give my opinions .I was asked to write the truth,I was asked about my opinions.After all,I did serve time.Let the other reader who has so much to say go behind bars and feel misery for a while and then holaa at me;))Thanks for reading anyway,no matter what the thoughts after that are.
I think the article was a fair and enlightening account of what was no doubt a challenging experience… I see nowhere in M’s post that warrant charges of racism. Indeed the opposite. She constantly refers to how lucky she is compared to some of the Thai and Filipinos there. “Alien” your Boo hoo comments are infantile and unproductive. You make reference to suggested earnings and the government simply trying to exact unpaid tax. You even suggest an incarceration period equal to the overstay. That defies logic. They spend more keeping her there than shipping her out. Thanks for the insight M and take heart. Many of us have learned from your mistake and appreciate the info!
ALIEN – Lighten up, M is sharing her personal experience and writing an honest story about what happened, how she felt and what was going through her mind at that time. She has every right to feel…honestly, wouldn’t same thoughts run through YOUR mind if you were in the same position? Don’t tell me you would just sit quietly…
Exactly, and without these kinds of accounts, the same will happen to potentially more people. Nobody denies that overstaying the visa was a bad idea, but I can’t imagine that many people will just sit meekly and accept whatever punishment is doled out. M, you don’t come across as self-pitying at all, for the record.
Better Ms M read the story of a foreign man and his Taiwanese wife who spent time in jail for getting caught with drugs. Certainly a much better story, and certainly the husband didnt try to call himself a victim. They got a light sentence ( several weeks in jail ) and no criminal conviction for pleading guilty. Who says the local court system is not fair to foreigners or locals alike here.
Accidental or mistakenly overstay a short time we can understand. But 2 years??? Come on lady, you had a choice not to overstay but decided otherwise. Yes you regret the punishment because you believe everybody should only get a sweet little 10K fine before going home.
Unfortunately you have to understand you are no different to others who overstayed. Nobody here is gloating over your minor misery of a couple of months free room and board. What good comes of this? Nothing really. Most people know being detained isn’t fun. You will soon be forgotten and your story is not really a tragedy or travesty of justice.
By the way M…. YOU ARE NOT A VICTIM. A victim is someone who is wrongly imprisoned or has something bad happen to them for no reason. For you there is a very good reason you got to do a short stint in detention. Were you deprived of your right to tell a judge your story? Were you wrongly put in detention? No, I think not.
People are asking if she had her rights. Yes, she did. She enjoyed her rights to enter Taiwan on a short stay visa, then overstay, work illegally, get caught, get taken to a judge, get sentenced, and get deported. She wasn’t deprived in anyway at all. The government simply exercised its right to give her dure process and some free R&R.
If you are arrested by the police you have the right not to make a statement, the right to get a lawyer, and the right to trial if charged. If you are a foreinger you have the right to have the FAP come as local police need to have the FAP present. M isn’t denying she was given these rights, even if she didnt use them does not mean they were not there.
I want to point out couple of things to any reader ,especially to those who completely missunderstood some chapters of this story. I am sorry and was sorry for overstaying my visa since the first day it happened.Of course I had regrets.I am not a complete idiot..it was a choice that I couldn’t avoid because of certain reasons-not saving big bucks.I think it’s surprisingly nice and fair to punish overstayers only 10000NT dollars.I really do! I paid my mistake and I’m writing this story because I was asked about my experience(I did not force this upon anybody or insist to be written),and I know there are OF COURSE far worse and heavier experiences people needed to go through being locked up.I thought ,since I’m free and have spare time,maybe,telling a bit about me could help others in some way.Prepare them for what might happen to them if they are already overstaying or stop them of doing so (if possible)Is that so bad? Then ..people who complain and insult me can try to write something smarter,help other people,visit them ,bring them food,soap,money..whatever.Instead of throwing stones and being mercyless towards people who overstayed in Taiwan maybe they should focus all that energy on doing something good for others,and make this world a better place.I made a mistake..lots of people in Asia made mistakes.We fail to be perfect sometimes ,you don’t have to gloat and feel happy if somebody’s misery(and believe me ,overstaying is not fun)and stress are increased and punished harder.How about a little humanity and giving a person a benefit of a doubt? Some women inside anoyed me so much,stole from me,used bad language with me etc..but I think of them every day,and I wish they can go home and be free. I am not a rasist,I didn’t fool myself that just because I’m white(like some people wrote)I deserve special treatment.All I said is that I was the only European,I mean English speaking person.That’s all. I never said I was better than others or shouldn’t have been punished,but,not without receiving a right to a phone call 10 days,being in an isolation room for 5 days,no right to a translator or any news except”we don’t know”for two months until the day of my flight!That is all I complain about.I am not a killer,or a rapist.a pedophile,drug user or a drug smugglerer,a prostitute etc.I overstayed my visa..because I had no choice.Maybe some people should worry about many real criminals who with money and connections)easily get out and still walk free on the streets of Taiwan.I am trying to help in any way I can,so yes I decided to share my story..Would I write something so private ,if there wasn’t a hope that some good will come out of it?What’s my motive to write this? Certanly not getting anything out of this ,I just thought it would be helpful..for others(although I didn’t like half of them)and some deserved me punching them in the mouth ..but I understand everybody is human and there is good in every person.So I wish hem the best .I am finishing this story soon and won’t be talking about Sanxia anymore.I have a life to live..enjoying my freedom to the fullest. thanks for your patience or impatience ;)) Em
David — you and others are raising good questions. What are her (and our) legal rights in situations like this?
Another person asked about what rights do we have when the police wish to question us?
Anyone know of a good source to quote on this, or lawyers out there who can fill us in on this issue?
NOBODY IS LOOKING FOR YOUR PITTY! I REPEAT-THIS STORY IS ABOUT OTHER THINGS, NOT ME AS A VICTIM…I GUESS some smart people understood that, but others like ALIEN for example have a problem.WHY? WHO ARE YOU TO SAY WHAT KIND OF PUNISHMENT TAIWAN SHOULD HAVE FOR PEOPLE WHO OVERSTAY?! YOU ARE SUCH A BITTER AND CRUEL PERSON. OF COURSE YOU WOULDN’T HELP ANYBODY!!! YOU WOULD WANT TO TELL THEM HOW IMMATURE THEY ARE AND GIVE THEM MORE TIME TO SERVE…OH, I FORGOT…IN A REAL JAIL!! BECAUSE SANXIA IS A FREAKING HOLIDAY INN (THAT’S WHY PEOPLE DIE IN THERE)!! RIGHT? SO NOBODY WANTS YOUR FREAKING OPINION! WE ARE HELPING OTHERS..BA-BYE:)))
merci pour cet actlrie. Je ne connaissais pas ludao, et vos photos de plongee donnent vraiment envie d’y aller. Savez-vous s’il y a des avions au depart de Taipei ?
Read what she wrote …. my only opinion is that the Taiwanese laws are a bunch of horseshit. I ‘m not saying I shouldn’t have been deported, because I did overstay my visa for more than 2 years, but I’m kinda angry because I wasn’t deported faster and because of some other things that happened while I was inside the detention center.
Boo Hoo… Taiwan laws are horseshit because some woman overstayed 2 years and she wasn’t deported in the timely manner she expected for her sorry self. Sorry as an overstayer who worked illegaly you don’t get to choose your own sentence.
She is right though, laws here should be changed and they should put all overstayers in mandatory detention if they overstay more than a month.
Taiwan is too soft.
David, she herself wrote that others were in there for overtsaying as well. So was she treated fair? In comparison to others in the same detention center Yes.
She is not sorry for overstaying or breaking the law. She’s only sorry that she thought she wouldnt do any time in a detention center. She thought that being white she wouldn’t do time and miss some holiday. All she complains about is others eating habits and her not getting her favourite holidays.
She doesn’t accept that she’s wrong, she attacks the system for putting her in for 2 months, she clearly shows no responsibility for her actions.
Why should she be able to appeal and appeal what? You appeal when you haven’t overstayed or been caught working illegaly.
I’m not sure if a MORE important question is was she treated fairly. If you overstay and get busted, you go to jail. If you’re a drug dealer and get busted you go to jail. I’ve known a lot of people that have overstayed and they think about it every single day because it’s hanging over their head like a dark cloud. 2 months for two years overstay seems pretty easy in my book. I’m not sure what the end result is but from what I know they’ve been assuming that people that overstay make $50,000 per month illegally so they want 20% of that back in taxes for the amount of overstay.
How can we help those who are stuck in detention for lack of money to go home?
Is there any organization that has taken an interest in prisoners here?
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ALIEN, of course M broke the law, but the more important question is was she treated fairly by the law? The key issue here is whether the people detained are given their legal rights. Do they have access to a lawyer and legal advice? Do they have a right to appeal their case in a timely manner?
David,you asked about the rights..ummm,yes,you have one week (from the moment you’re taken to the immigration office)to complain or aply a form for faster release .They give you that right,ha ha but how can you use it ,when you spend that first week being in an isolation ,without right to a phone call or a visit? I am trying to understand the way you can use that”right”,because although it’s “given to people,they make sure you can’t use it.And about the lawyers..ha ! It cost’s more money than two or three airplane tickets altogether.So,lot of people have problems getting lawyers because of lack of money.There was a case ,a woman from the Philipines who was there 8 months ,waiting to go to her second hearing.She had a fake ARC..there is no given of a hearing in any timely manner.There is only waiting,month after month..she was released after her second hearing,for which she has waited entire 6 months to happen although it was promised to happen 5 months earlier.Each month she would wait for any kind of news,but she never got any.In six months..no news.I think that’s harsh and unfair,while Alien justifies some guy and his wife being released after couple of weeks ,because they admited their guilt (possesion of drugs)to the judge.Where is the justice in all this? I hope there is a free legal advice in Taiwan and people can be represented by lawyers free of charge,because the way things are going,everyone will need a lawyer in the future.So that’s it?!! Drug users and dealers and real criminals walk free after couple of weeks because ,they had money for a lawyer and they were called and heard out,while others with not so terrible cases are thrown inside like garbage and wait forever because they are broke or come from a country that’s not important or judged fairly in Taiwan?!I’m sorry ,I think that’s absurd and Alien is calling the local court system”fair” towards foreigners or locals in Taiwan..yeah,fair towards the ones who should be behind bars! several weeks for drug possesion?? I got more for overstay..sorry got carried away.Hope some people make a difference between one law offence and other(much more serious one).
I was attacked by a rich man with a driving iron, plus 6 of his friends with empty beer bottles outside of a bar because i tried to stop a fight. The police in this town in Taiwan welcomed the attacker as a brother when he came to the police station, and the police did everything they could to protect their rich friend. There is justice if you have the right color and right connections, as in most places. Best to figure out their prejudices and hope the innocent you try to protect never need protection
Oh boo hoo. You are the one who decided to overstay 2 years. It wasn’t an accident. They should give you an equal amount of jail time that you overstay. Then you might think better next time you want to do something illegal. The only reason you are angry is because you thought that being white you wouldn’t have to serve any time at all. You admitted that in your other post.
Other people were in there for overstaying just like you, don’t see them whinging or moaning about it. Your hell was more like a pleasure cruise compared to an actual jail.
Was it necessary for them to put you in jail? Damned right it was.