There hasn't been a dull moment in Taiwan's politics in the last few months. Shortly after the uproar over the use of secret envoys, the Pachang Creek tragedy (八掌溪) claimed lives of four workers and threatened the viability of the new administration. Several high-ranking officials, including the vice premier and the director generals of the National Police and Fire Administrations resigned their posts to take responsibility for the deaths of the four.
The new government's punishment for official negligence has been unprecedented in its speed, administrative harshness, and the number and level of officials involved. The new government has impressed people with its swift action in enforcing the penalties, in stark contrast to its predecessor's style.
In fact, Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) "art of penalties" has been very consistent. When he was Taipei mayor, he always made swift decisions whenever his subordinates made mistakes, or accusations about their misdeeds proved to be true. He shows no partiality when it comes to political responsibility. Yu Shyi-kun stepped down despite his strong connection with Chen, as Lo Wen-chia
Compared with the KMT government, the new administration's penalty list delivered several political messages.
First, it demonstrated that Chen does not favor his close aides when they are in the wrong. During the KMT's rule, former president Lee Teng-hui
Second, it shows that DPP politicians understand political propriety; they do not cling to their posts when they should leave. Previously, whenever officials should have taken political responsibility for their mistakes, they either were reluctant to give up their posts -- and thereby justified their mistakes with weak excuses -- or they unwillingly submitted their resignations in exchange for new appointments. Although resignation is a much heavier penalty than Yu should have taken, he still stepped forward without any hesitation -- although he might have been under some pressure when making this decision.
Third, it also proved that the "new politics" of the government holds some promise. During the KMT's long rule, the image of corrupt politicians, from the ruling and opposition parties alike, disappointed the public, leading to indifference, alienation and disgust. The Pachang Creek tragedy has clearly differentiated the new government from the KMT's.
Surely there must have been some dissatisfaction among those punished, among those accustomed to the old punishment culture. The new government could have easily ignored their protests, but it did not. Nonetheless, the punishments meted out so far were marred in several ways.
First, Premier Tang Fei (
Second, the penalty list includes different levels of officials, including the vice premier -- yet no interior ministry officials were punished.
The punishment list could have gone one of two ways -- either toward the director generals of the National Police and Fire Administrations or toward the Interior Ministry. But how could it be that the list of the culpable went up to the vice premier and yet interior ministry officials were exempt? The penalty list is neither acceptable nor convincing.
During his first two months in office, Chen has faced several uproars. But the Pachang Creek tragedy is much more than an adversity; it has endangered his administration. As a result, every decision in regard to this tragedy will determine the future of the new government and its new politics. Any small mistake might risk Chen's political career as well.
Wang Chien-chuang is the president of The Journalist magazine.Translated by Kathy Chu
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