Yang placed a total of 17 bombs in parks, telephone booths and train stations between November 2003 and November 2004. Attached to the devices were notes that read, "Oppose rice imports" and "The government should take care of farmers." Rice had been mixed in with the explosives, so Yang was nicknamed "rice bomber" by the media. Two of the bombs exploded, yet caused no injuries, only minor damage. Yang was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison and fined about US$3,000 in 2005. After Yang appealed, the Taiwan High Court reduced his sentence to five years and 10 months in January 2006.
Under the commutation bill passed by the Legislature June 15, Yang was not eligible for amnesty, which would be granted to prisoners sentenced to 18 months or less. A non-binding resolution, however, was created across party lines to make his amnesty possible. Yang was exempt from the rest of his prison term while his criminal record remained. Yang's motive was understandable yet his methods were extreme, causing panic in society, the Ministry of Justice stated in a June 20 CNA report. The ministry added that Yang had been behaving well while serving his prison sentence.
Responding to press inquires for his comments after being set free June 21, Yang said that he hoped to see the public and the government would turn their attention to the welfare of farmers and poor school children, local media reported.
Yang's cause, which led to the bombings that compromised public security, has won tremendous sympathy for him in the past two years. Activists, including farmers and university professors, formed groups to support Yang and promote his release when he was detained in November 2004. Since Yang was freed, the two civic groups announced June 24 that they would disband, yet still strongly urged the government to face up to the difficulties continuing to affect farmers, according to a statement posted on a Web site that they dedicated to Yang's case.
In related news, Yang's correspondence with Wu Yin-ning, a free-lance writer from Changhua County, will be published in a book in mid-July. During his sentence, Yang wrote about 150 letters to Wu, who had encouraged him to put down his thoughts.
Like Yang, Wu came from a farmer's family. She had written her interpretation of Yang's case, which would be included with his letters, the Chinese-language China Times reported June 27. Ink Publishing would release the book and donate the profits to school children in need, the report stated.
Write to June Tsai at june@mail.gio.gov.tw