While Taiwanese were enjoying the Lunar New Year and Lantern Festivals, the nation's worsening law and order problem was a frequent theme on TV news coverage. Appalling incidents such as gun battles between police and bandits, bank robberies, bank clerks absconding with funds to China, kidnappings and criminals ramming through the doors of jewelry stores made the holiday appear exceptionally violent.
The rising crime in the new year serves as a warning to Premier Su Tseng-chang (
It is hoped that Su, who is known for his energetic efforts in rejuvenating the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), will push the judiciary to bring strength and determination to its fight against crime -- rather than shouting empty slogans -- so that people can live free from fear and threat.
According to statistics from the National Police Agency, more than 330,000 cases of theft occurred last year. From 1992 to 2001, crime grew at an annual rate of 5.78 percent. Although statistics for the last few years are still being compiled, the situation has clearly not improved. If we look at opinion polls from the last two years, we see that around 75 percent of the population is dissatisfied with social order.
When "Southeast Asia's grandest and most luxurious hotel" opened in Taichung last weekend, the event was attended by 500 women working in "public relations." That open "PR" push led many frustrated Taichung residents to despair of ever improving law and order in their city.
Many of the DPP's former supporters used to think that the transfer of power would put an end to government incompetence and corruption. They also entertained the wishful thinking that once a more "local" government took power, crime rates would drop. Such thinking was optimistic but naive. And as the public recognizes this, their disappointment with the DPP grows and their trust in the party deteriorates -- as can be seen in the party's bitter defeats at the ballot box in 2004 and last year.
It is very difficult for Taiwan to break out of its diplomatic isolation. And the nation's economic situation is deeply affected by international factors that are beyond the government's control. But the improvement of law and order is a different story. The success of anti-crime efforts is determined to a large measure by the responsibility and determination of government officials.
Fighting crime is a major challenge for Su and his new Cabinet. Su must demand that his Cabinet face this problem head on and make a determined effort to deal with the nation's criminals once and for all. Only then will the people of Taiwan live in Chen's "secure and pure" environment.
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