A court is expected to put the government’s plan to reorganize Public Television Services’ (PTS) board of directors on hold tomorrow after Cheng Tung-liao (鄭同僚), the network’s chairman, yesterday filed for an injunction to halt the appointment of eight board members.
The latest move will most likely sabotage the original line-up of new directors that were scheduled to be installed tomorrow, reports said.
Chen Shih-min (陳世敏), the board member most likely to replace Cheng, said the official court papers should arrive tomorrow.
Chen told reporters that the content of the injunction not only puts a halt to the eight appointments, but also restricts the board from “discussing PTS-related matters.” Cheng is also expected to hold a press conference on the same day to explain his decision.
REGRETTABLE
Responding to Cheng’s move, Chen said it was regrettable that the network’s internal matters had to be aired in public because it could mar PTS’ image, but added that he respected the legal process.
The PTS’ board of directors was established in 2007. Only seven of the 21 original members remain. On Dec. 29, the board passed a resolution to elect a new chairman tomorrow. In the meantime, Cheng will remain chairman.
When joining a forum on PTS and Chinese Television System (CTS), Chen said one premise for his candidacy for the PTS chairmanship was that Cheng had received less than 20 percent support in the PTS’ annual management evaluation. In the PTS management evaluation, company employees give their evaluation of PTS managers. The results will be announced tomorrow.
The legislature passed an amendment to the Public Television Act (公共電視法) in June increasing the number of PTS board members and supervisors.
Critics have accused the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) of using the increased size of the board to take control of the public broadcaster.
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