Newsroom search sparks outrage

Although the search of the newsroom of the China Times Express by prosecutors yesterday prompted a backlash from legislators across party lines, the government maintains the action was legal.

An interpellation session was taking place at the Legislative Yuan yesterday morning when the search took place. Many lawmakers from different parties questioned Premier Tang Fei (唐飛) over the matter.

Among them, KMT Legislator Tina Pan (潘維剛) said she suspected that prosecutors had over-reacted and violated fundamental press freedoms.

Tang at the time said that he did not know much about the search but that it would be inappropriate for the Executive Yuan to intervene in the investigative process.

Legislative Yuan Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) addressed the media, calling on the government not to harm freedom of the press.

He said that while it might be improper for the media to publish details of interviews for cases that were currently under investigation, prosecutors should use more appropriate methods of investigating leaks than raiding media organizations.

The People First Party's (PFP) legislative caucus was unrestrained in its criticism, calling a press conference yesterday to voice its objections.

Caucus spokeswoman Diane Lee (李慶安) condemned the prosecutors, calling the action "serious" and "rude."

Lee said that freedom of the press is one of the most important civil rights in a democratic country. "All Taiwanese people should stand up and protect our press freedom together," Lee said.

Meanwhile, PFP Legislator Lee Ching-hua (李慶華) demanded that the president, premier and minister of justice apologize to the public.

More than 40 KMT lawmakers also signed a statement condemning the search and asked the prosecution to halt its investigations into the matter.

The statement said that if reporters could be charged with betrayal of confidential information while exercising their rights under freedom of the press, then the people's right to know would be seriously compromised.

"This is a great irony for President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) administration, which has been trumpeting human rights," the statement read.

Even legislators from the ruling party vented their anger over the matter.

"It's just ridiculous. I've never seen such a thing in my whole life," said DPP Legislator Shen Fu-hsiung (沈富雄).

The Association of Taiwan Journalists (台灣記協) also issued an announcement objecting to the prosecutors' actions.

"It is a step backwards for democracy," the association said.

In response to the controversy, director-general of the Government Information Office, Chung Chin (鍾琴), held a press conference yesterday afternoon, during which she said she believed the search was legal.

"It is not proper to intervene in or comment on cases under judicial investigation. In the interest of freedom of the press, however, [we] hope that the judicial departments will respect the media during the execution of their duties," Chung said.