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:
ROLLER-COASTER RIDE: More than five earthquakes ranging from magnitude 4.4 to 5.5 on the Richter scale shook eastern Taiwan in rapid succession yesterday afternoon Back-to-back weather fronts are forecast to hit Taiwan this week, resulting in rain across the nation in the coming days, the Central Weather Administration said yesterday, as it also warned residents in mountainous regions to be wary of landslides and rockfalls. As the first front approached, sporadic rainfall began in central and northern parts of Taiwan yesterday, the agency said, adding that rain is forecast to intensify in those regions today, while brief showers would also affect other parts of the nation. A second weather system is forecast to arrive on Thursday, bringing additional rain to the whole nation until Sunday, it
CONDITIONAL: The PRC imposes secret requirements that the funding it provides cannot be spent in states with diplomatic relations with Taiwan, Emma Reilly said China has been bribing UN officials to obtain “special benefits” and to block funding from countries that have diplomatic ties with Taiwan, a former UN employee told the British House of Commons on Tuesday. At a House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee hearing into “international relations within the multilateral system,” former Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) employee Emma Reilly said in a written statement that “Beijing paid bribes to the two successive Presidents of the [UN] General Assembly” during the two-year negotiation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Another way China exercises influence within the UN Secretariat is
LANDSLIDES POSSIBLE: The agency advised the public to avoid visiting mountainous regions due to more expected aftershocks and rainfall from a series of weather fronts A series of earthquakes over the past few days were likely aftershocks of the April 3 earthquake in Hualien County, with further aftershocks to be expected for up to a year, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. Based on the nation’s experience after the quake on Sept. 21, 1999, more aftershocks are possible over the next six months to a year, the agency said. A total of 103 earthquakes of magnitude 4 on the local magnitude scale or higher hit Hualien County from 5:08pm on Monday to 10:27am yesterday, with 27 of them exceeding magnitude 5. They included two, of magnitude
Taiwan’s first drag queen to compete on the internationally acclaimed RuPaul’s Drag Race, Nymphia Wind (妮妃雅), was on Friday crowned the “Next Drag Superstar.” Dressed in a sparkling banana dress, Nymphia Wind swept onto the stage for the final, and stole the show. “Taiwan this is for you,” she said right after show host RuPaul announced her as the winner. “To those who feel like they don’t belong, just remember to live fearlessly and to live their truth,” she said on stage. One of the frontrunners for the past 15 episodes, the 28-year-old breezed through to the final after weeks of showcasing her unique