Legislators seek revenge for Thai mask rule

"This egregious behavior manifestly humiliates our national dignity and image."

Lo Shih-hsiung, DPP lawmaker

In retaliation for a Thai demand that Taiwanese wear surgical masks at all times when they visit the country, DPP Legislator Lo Shih-hsiung (羅世雄) yesterday called on the public not to go to Thailand.

"This egregious behavior manifestly humiliates our national dignity and image," Lo said, referring to the requirement announced by the kingdom's Ministry of Public Health on Tuesday that all travelers from China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Singapore and Taiwan would have to wear masks for the first 14 days of their visits to the country.

The Thai health ministry also urged Thais to avoid visiting what it said were the areas worst affected by severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

"Given that more than 530,000 Taiwanese visited Thailand last year, I'll launch a campaign calling on the public not to go there any more," Lo told the legislature.

The Department of Health sent a letter on Wednesday to its Thai counterpart to protest the rule.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also summoned the Thai representative to protest and discuss the matter in the hope that Bangkok could take Taiwan off the travel advisory list.

Cabinet Spokesman Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said yesterday that the Thai government may soon respond to Taiwan's request.

"I've learned from unofficial channels that they might soon shelve the demand that Taiwanese visitors wear masks because it's not only unreasonable but also difficult to implement," Lin said.

Lin said that if Thailand failed to respond to either of the requests, the government would adopt "necessary measures" to ensure the nation's dignity and independent spirit are protected.

PFP legislative leader Chiu Yi (邱毅) said that the incident highlighted the necessity for this country to join the World Health Organization (WHO).

"Both legislators and the government should work together to push for Taiwan's accession to the WHO, braving the staunch suppression of China," Chiu said.

While both sides of the Taiwan Strait can cooperate in the areas of trade and economy, Chiu said, there's absolutely no room for both sides to reunite, just as the KMT and PFP can cooperate but never merge.

Because China has restricted the flow of information about SARS, PFP Legislator Kao Ming-chien (高明見) called on the government to set up a hot line to provide information to China-based Taiwanese businesspeople and their families.

In response to a suggestion from DPP Legislator Julian Kuo (郭正亮) on the possibility of barring people from Guangdong Province, the suspected source of the SARS outbreak, from entering Taiwan, Mainland Affairs Council Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said that it would probably be useless.

"I don't think it makes much sense at all to do so, since the disease has spread to neighboring provinces," she said.