Leaders across party lines yesterday condemned a former lawmaker for physically attacking a political commentator during a live TV news talk show on Thursday night.
Former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator Lin Cheng-chieh (林正杰), a guest on a live TV talk show, slapped and kicked another commentator, Contemporary Monthly magazine editor Chin Heng-wei (金恆煒), during a debate on whether President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) should quit over allegations of corruption.
The fight was repeatedly broadcast yesterday on local cable TV channels.
The fight started after Chin interrupted Lin on The People Talk program on Formosa TV on Thursday night. Annoyed, Lin responded by slapping and kicking Chin.
Lin, who quit the DPP in 1990, is a strong supporter of the campaign led by former DPP chairman Shih Ming-teh (
The fight on Thursday night compelled the program's moderator to suspend the live talk show broadcast. When it resumed Lin apologized for disturbing the show, but threatened that ``if Chin Heng-wei does not change his behavior, I will hit him again.''
TV footage showed Chin leaving the studio with his nose bleeding. Chen received emergency treatment at a hospital, including five stitches to his nose.
"This [Lin attacking Chin] is absurd and unacceptable," Premier Su Tseng-chang (
Su urged Shih and Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (
"Since [the Taipei City Government] approved the request, they are responsible for ensuring that it will be a peaceful activity and that everything will be under control," Su said.
Ma, who also doubles as chairman of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), yesterday condemned the violence and promised that as Taipei mayor, he would not allow any kind of violence during the upcoming anti-Chen protest.
"We will not tolerate any kind of violence during the street demonstration," Ma said.
"Everyone hopes that President Chen will step down, but this goal should never be pursued through violent means," the Taipei mayor said.
DPP city councilors, however, blamed the mayor for rousing political sentiment by donating NT$100 to the sit-in protest initiated by Shih.
"[The incident] is a result of your donation, and your approval of the protest to be staged 24 hours has turned Taipei into a killing field," DPP City Councilor Lee Wen-ying (李文英) told Ma yesterday during a question-and-answer session at the Taipei City Hall.
"What's my donation have to do with the incident? ... A million people donated the money, how can you blame me alone?" Ma fired back at Lee.
DPP City Councilor Hsu Chia-ching (
"I didn't ask Lin to beat Chin up when I donated the money," Ma said.
A group of DPP lawmakers called on Shih to call off his anti-president campaign to avoid potential conflicts. They also urged Ma to rescind the permission allowing a round-the-clock protest.
"Lin's beating of Chin was not just about Lin himself. Behind Lin are Wang Lan (王蘭) and `The Angel.' I don't think Shih can control the strength of the anti-Bian [Chen's nickname] movement," said DPP Legislator Wang Shih-cheng (王世堅), referring to the gangster's participation.
Wang Lan is the ex-wife of the gangster, Chu Chia-hsun (朱家訓), the former leader of the Bamboo Union's Tiger Division (竹聯幫). "The Angel" refers to a gang of people organized by the Bamboo Union's former leader Chang An-le (張安樂).
DPP Legislator Hung Chi-chang (
Former DPP legislator Tuan Yi-kang (
However, DPP lawmakers Wang Sing-nan (
SECURITY: As China is ‘reshaping’ Hong Kong’s population, Taiwan must raise the eligibility threshold for applications from Hong Kongers, Chiu Chui-cheng said When Hong Kong and Macau citizens apply for residency in Taiwan, it would be under a new category that includes a “national security observation period,” Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said yesterday. President William Lai (賴清德) on March 13 announced 17 strategies to counter China’s aggression toward Taiwan, including incorporating national security considerations into the review process for residency applications from Hong Kong and Macau citizens. The situation in Hong Kong is constantly changing, Chiu said to media yesterday on the sidelines of the Taipei Technology Run hosted by the Taipei Neihu Technology Park Development Association. With
CARROT AND STICK: While unrelenting in its military threats, China attracted nearly 40,000 Taiwanese to over 400 business events last year Nearly 40,000 Taiwanese last year joined industry events in China, such as conferences and trade fairs, supported by the Chinese government, a study showed yesterday, as Beijing ramps up a charm offensive toward Taipei alongside military pressure. China has long taken a carrot-and-stick approach to Taiwan, threatening it with the prospect of military action while reaching out to those it believes are amenable to Beijing’s point of view. Taiwanese security officials are wary of what they see as Beijing’s influence campaigns to sway public opinion after Taipei and Beijing gradually resumed travel links halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the scale of
A US Marine Corps regiment equipped with Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) is set to participate in the upcoming Balikatan 25 exercise in the Luzon Strait, marking the system’s first-ever deployment in the Philippines. US and Philippine officials have separately confirmed that the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) — the mobile launch platform for the Naval Strike Missile — would take part in the joint exercise. The missiles are being deployed to “a strategic first island chain chokepoint” in the waters between Taiwan proper and the Philippines, US-based Naval News reported. “The Luzon Strait and Bashi Channel represent a critical access
Pope Francis is be laid to rest on Saturday after lying in state for three days in St Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history’s first Latin American pontiff. The cardinals met yesterday in the Vatican’s synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis’ successor, as condolences poured in from around the world. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5 and 10. The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College
RSS