Taking responsibility for the Aug. 21 riot by Thai laborers in Kaohsiung, Council of Labor Affairs (CLA) Chairwoman Chen Chu (
The riot began over poor working conditions at the Kaohsiung MRT construction project.
"As a government official, self-reproach is not enough; I also have to take responsibility," Chen said, almost in tears. "Seeing the rights of the Thai laborers being so abused has put a new perspective on their importance; I have suffered great agony and my conscience has been restless throughout this time."
PHOTO: CNA
Chen apologized for letting the country down and for tarnishing Taiwan's image in the eyes of the world.
"As the daughter of Taiwan and a great believer in democracy, I need to reflect on my actions and take full responsibility," Chen said, adding that "taking responsibility is the least I can ask of myself, after being involved in politics for the past 30 years."
At the press conference she held to make the announcement, Chen also explained the actions of the CLA since the events of Aug. 21.
The CLA started an investigation into the affair on Aug. 23, and on Aug. 26 Chen told Hsieh that she wanted to resign, Chen said. Hsieh refused to accept her resignation.
The CLA investigation was completed on Aug. 30, and a report including initial suggestions about how the situation could be improved was being sent to Hsieh, she added.
Commenting on Chen's resignation, Cabinet Spokesman Cho Jung-tai (
"We believe that people will remember what she has done for the Council of Labor Affairs over the past five years as chairwoman," Cho said.
Cho also confirmed that acting Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (
Cho, however, said that the premier will not consider the resignation of Chen Chi-mai until the Cabinet's investigation report is complete.
Dogged by the media about the rumor that he had also offered to step down, Chen Chi-mai confirmed yesterday afternoon that he had tendered his resignation to shoulder the political responsibility for the riot by Thai workers.
Chen Chi-mai said that he had offered his resignation twice since the incident took place. His first resignation was offered on Aug. 28 and then last Tuesday in writing, but were both turned down by Hsieh.
Chen said that he would hold a press conference today to offer more details of his decision.
Regarding Chen Chu's resignation, Cho said Hsieh's attitude toward the issue remained the same.
"The premier still thinks that Chen [Chu] should not leave at this moment, as the investigation is not complete yet," Cho said.
In related news, deputy director of the Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corp (KRTC) Chen Min-hsien (
"I am a traditional businessman and my guiding principle is honesty. The decision to hire laborers directly from Thailand and the procedures that followed were entirely innocent, and well within the regulations of Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corp," he said, adding that he will resign from his duties both as vice president of the KRTC as well as a presidential policy adviser.
As the Ministry of Transportation and Communications has invested NT$131.9 billion in the construction project, Lo threatened to freeze the annual budgets of the ministry and the Kaohsiung City Government until the truth comes out.
TSU Legislator Tseng Tsan-teng (
additional reporting by Jimmy Chuang
also see story:
The government is aiming to recruit 1,096 foreign English teachers and teaching assistants this year, the Ministry of Education said yesterday. The foreign teachers would work closely with elementary and junior-high instructors to create and teach courses, ministry official Tsai Yi-ching (蔡宜靜) said. Together, they would create an immersive language environment, helping to motivate students while enhancing the skills of local teachers, she said. The ministry has since 2021 been recruiting foreign teachers through the Taiwan Foreign English Teacher Program, which offers placement, salary, housing and other benefits to eligible foreign teachers. Two centers serving northern and southern Taiwan assist in recruiting and training
WIDE NET: Health officials said they are considering all possibilities, such as bongkrekic acid, while the city mayor said they have not ruled out the possibility of a malicious act of poisoning Two people who dined at a restaurant in Taipei’s Far Eastern Department Store Xinyi A13 last week have died, while four are in intensive care, the Taipei Department of Health said yesterday. All of the outlets of Malaysian vegetarian restaurant franchise Polam Kopitiam have been ordered to close pending an investigation after 11 people became ill due to suspected food poisoning, city officials told a news conference in Taipei. The first fatality, a 39-year-old man who ate at the restaurant on Friday last week, died of kidney failure two days later at the city’s Mackay Memorial Hospital. A 66-year-old man who dined
RESTAURANT POISONING? Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Victor Wang at a press conference last night said this was the first time bongkrekic acid was detected in Taiwan An autopsy discovered bongkrekic acid in a specimen collected from a person who died from food poisoning after dining at the Malaysian restaurant chain Polam Kopitiam, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said at a news conference last night. It was the first time bongkrekic acid was detected in Taiwan, Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Victor Wang (王必勝) said. The testing conducted by forensic specialists at National Taiwan University was facilitated after a hospital voluntarily offered standard samples it had in stock that are required to test for bongkrekic acid, he said. Wang told the news conference that testing would continue despite
‘CARRIER KILLERS’: The Tuo Chiang-class corvettes’ stealth capability means they have a radar cross-section as small as the size of a fishing boat, an analyst said President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday presided over a ceremony at Yilan County’s Suao Harbor (蘇澳港), where the navy took delivery of two indigenous Tuo Chiang-class corvettes. The corvettes, An Chiang (安江) and Wan Chiang (萬江), along with the introduction of the coast guard’s third and fourth 4,000-tonne cutters earlier this month, are a testament to Taiwan’s shipbuilding capability and signify the nation’s resolve to defend democracy and freedom, Tsai said. The vessels are also the last two of six Tuo Chiang-class corvettes ordered from Lungteh Shipbuilding Co (龍德造船) by the navy, Tsai said. The first Tuo Chiang-class vessel delivered was Ta Chiang (塔江)