Government Information Office head Arthur Iap (葉國興) yesterday offered an apology at the Legislative Yuan to "those photographers who felt they were offended by my gesture."
Iap said that when he was pointing at photographers in the Legislative Yuan late last week, he was merely saying hello, not, as the media has implied, pretending to shoot them.
"I would like to apologize to the public and the photographers for the reported gesture if the gesture has caused offense to the public."
Iap made the remarks in response to a lawmaker's argument yesterday morning that the gesture had upset the public.
Iap emphasized that he made the gesture as a way to greet news photographers at the Legislative Yuan since he wanted to show that he understood that the photographers have a heavy workload.
"I would like to offer my sincerest apologies to them if anyone was offended," he said.
Iap said he doubted that the media edited his gesture in a way that would mislead the public.
"The gesture, at least, should not have had dubbed in background music," he said.
Iap made the gesture Friday when he finalized legislators' interpellation.
The gesture was repeatedly aired on local news stations and has led to even more criticism of Iap.
The shooting gesture also sparked disputes among ruling and opposition lawmakers.
Chen Chin-jun (陳景峻), a DPP caucus whip voiced disagreement over Iap's gesture.
He said that the GIO chief was "impervious to the obvious" and the improper action could bring more trouble to the DPP government.
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