President Chen Shui-bian (
"Although there are people who disagree with this rhetoric, I will stand firm on this stance," Chen told a delegation headed by International Federation of Journalists president Christopher Warren at the Presidential Office yesterday afternoon.
Chen said that Taiwan, having progressed from the oppression of the Martial Law era to consolidating its democracy and freedom, wouldn't be the way it is today without the media's efforts and its vision for democracy.
Chen told his guests that the "media is the greatest helper" in the implementation of the universal values of democracy and freedom in Taiwan.
"Although there are times where media reports run counter to the truth and appear absurd to the individuals involved, we still need to give [the media] our respect ... The media is a politician's best mirror and the government's best antiseptic," Chen said.
"Many might have criticized Taiwan's press freedom now as being overly lax, but, given that Taiwan was under martial law for 38 years during which there was no room for freedom of expression, my stance toward defending press freedom is that I would rather it be too lax than not enough," he said.
Citing his experience as a defense lawyer for Formosa magazine -- which offered a forum for people opposed to the former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) government in the late 1970s -- Chen said that experience had strengthened his determination to fight for freedom of expression.
The freedom of press, which ensures the people's right to know and strengthens the media's function of supervising the government, is an indispensable link in the formation and development of democracy, Chen said, noting that the government is pushing a second phase of constitutional reform.
"We look hope defense of an absolute press freedom will be included in the Constitution," he said.
He noted that China, on the other hand, is the world's leading jail for journalists.
According to a report issued by the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists' in May, China was the leading jailer of journalists for the sixth consecutive year, with 42 imprisoned at the end of last year.
Cuba ranked second with 23 members of the media behind bars.
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