Stop the imperial drug cartel
What would we call the leaders of an international drug cartel that come to this country with the openly stated intention of selling millions of our people a powerful, extremely addictive substance contained in “delivery systems,” as the cartel leaders call them, which will severely injure or kill a vast number of their users?
We would call them shameless, outrageous murderers, and we would kick them out of Taiwan, or arrest, charge, convict and imprison them.
And what would we do if they ask that their manufacturing operations in Taiwan be allowed to expand production and regional distribution of their packaged poison?
We would take every action possible to prevent that development and commit our full resources and energies to removing all of their threatening facilities and influences from this society.
And how would we label any business and government leaders who cooperate with the cartel’s growth plans for their own selfish interests — all the while claiming how building up the drug factories will improve the lives of Taiwanese?
We would label them accomplices to a crime and remove them from their positions.
All these questions describe our current situation, as we face the “Imperial Tobacco Group’s” program to increase its deadly grip on our people and land (“Activists campaign against tobacco plant’s expansion,” Sept. 3, page 3). They must be stopped.
MATT NICODEMUS
Taipei
Kennedy remembered
News of the death of Ted Kennedy on Aug. 25 brought back memories of the late US senator. Following is one of the things I remember him for.
In April 1992, Tim Wang, president of the Formosan Association for Human Rights (FAHR), was denied a visa to visit his sick mother and to attend the funeral of his nanny in Taiwan. Despite several repeated tries, Wang received no mercy from the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) government.
This action from the KMT government was so outrageous that I, as executive director, initiated a letter campaign to request help from senators Kennedy and Claiborne Pell, as well as US House Representative Stephen Solarz.
On June 23, 1992, Wang received a phone call from the Coordination Council for North American Affairs saying that his visa had been approved. Wang finally got a visa and the opportunity to visit his ill mother and Taiwan — the land he loves and missed so much after more than a quarter of century. We all were so delighted. We didn’t know then why the KMT government had changed its mind.
On August 17, 1992, I received a letter, from Kennedy, saying he had contacted and received word from the office of the Coordination Council for North American Affairs that Wang’s case had been taken care of.
Senator Ted Kennedy was indeed a great friend of Taiwanese and will be missed.
KEN HUANG
Murrieta, California
Helmet insanity
International authorities credit Taiwan with one of the most successful programs for getting scooter and motorcycle riders to wear helmets.
What is profoundly irritating is the negligence of about 10 percent to 15 percent of parents, who put their children on scooters without head protection and the failure of police to rigorously fine these creeps.
What insanity and ignorance causes these “adults” to endanger their loved ones is impossible to fathom. That senior government officials and the police allow these widespread violations says something very different about Taiwan.
Is there no part of Taiwan’s civil society that can take up a the cause of protecting innocent lives from crippling injuries?
In Taiwan, the best answer is to make violating parents know they will pay the price. One simple step: enforcement without exception. Give every cop a quota of five kiddie helmet tickets per week and the problem will vaporize ... almost overnight. Let’s do it now!
JOHN HANNA
Taoyuan
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