Anyone who makes discriminatory comments to others based on nationality, race, color of skin, class, or place of birth could face a fine of between NT$5,000 (US$160) and NT$30,000 as early as June, a National Immigration Agency (NIA) official said yesterday.
The agency has drafted an anti-discrimination bill for all people living in Taiwan and submitted the bill to the Ministry of the Interior for review, NIA official Tsao Ku-ling (曹顧齡) told the Taipei Times during a telephone interview yesterday.
According to the draft, "discrimination" is defined as insulting, threatening or intimidating a person through verbal, written, televised, radio broadcast or other forms of communication based on race, nationality, skin color or birthplace, Tsao said.
Arguing that people of a certain nationality, race, skin color or birth place are superior or inferior would also constitute a violation, she said.
Although the draft was initially designed to protect the rights of immigrants, the new version applies to everybody.
"We will create a panel with 15 to 21 people from the government, academics and non-governmental organization [NGO] representatives to assess complaints of discrimination," Tsao said.
If the accusations are found to be true, "panel members would require corrections within a certain period of time. If no correction is made, the wrongdoers will be fined," she said.
Rainfall is expected to become more widespread and persistent across central and southern Taiwan over the next few days, with the effects of the weather patterns becoming most prominent between last night and tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. Independent meteorologist Daniel Wu (吳德榮) said that based on the latest forecast models of the combination of a low-pressure system and southwesterly winds, rainfall and flooding are expected to continue in central and southern Taiwan from today to Sunday. The CWA also warned of flash floods, thunder and lightning, and strong gusts in these areas, as well as landslides and fallen
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