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Shih Ming-te

Nori Shih
Shih Ming-teh
施明德
Shih Ming-de 2006 Depose Abian.jpg
5th Chairperson of the DPP
In office
July 18, 1994 – March 23, 1996
Preceded by Hsu Hsin-liang
Succeeded by Hsu Hsin-liang
Personal details
Born (1941-01-15) January 15, 1941 (age 76)
Takao City, Takao Prefecture, Japanese Taiwan, Empire of Japan
Nationality Republic of China
Political party Green Taiwan in White Cross.svg Democratic Progressive Party(1986-2000)
Independent (2000-present)
Occupation Politician
Shih Ming-teh
Traditional Chinese 施明德
Shih Ming-teh
Traditional Chinese 施明德

Nori Shih (or Shih Ming-teh; Chinese: 施明德; pinyin: Shī Míngdé; Wade–Giles: Shih1 Ming2-te2; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Si Bêng-tek; born January 15, 1941) is a political activist in Taiwan and was once a political prisoner for 25-and-a-half years.

He was arrested at the age of 21 in 1962 and charged with creating the "Taiwan Independence League" (a study group) with the intention of overthrowing the Kuomintang government, Shih was sentenced to life imprisonment. The sentence was commuted to 15 years in 1975, and Shih was released on June 16, 1977.

He promptly joined the Tangwai (literally meaning "outside the party", because the Kuomintang was the only legally existing political party in Taiwan at that time), became a reporter for the Liberty Times and married the American researcher Linda Gail Arrigo. After playing a part in organizing the December 10, 1979 pro-democracy rally subsequently known as the Kaohsiung Incident, (also known as the Formosa Incident or Meilitao Incident), an arrest warrant was issued charging Shih with treason, and following 26 days on the run he was again arrested and sentenced to life in prison. In 1984, while he was incarcerated, Polish politician and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Lech Wałęsa nominated him for Peace Prize.

In July 1987, Chiang Ching-kuo lifted martial law and offered an amnesty to Shih, but he refused to accept. On May 20, 1990 he was finally released. In total, he spent 25 years in prison, 13 years in solitary confinement and over 4 years on hunger strike.


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