President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) paid his respects to the late Huang Hsin-chieh (黃信介), his mentor and a pioneer in Taiwan's democratic development yesterday.
Accompanied by Huang's younger brother Huang Tien-fu (黃天福) and his widow, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Lan Mei-chin (藍美津), Chen visited Huang's tomb at a cemetery in Pali (八里), Taipei County.
Chen kept a low profile during the visit.
PHOTO: WU CHIA-YI, TAIPEI TIMES
After burning incense and bowing before the late Huang's tomb, the president chatted with Huang's family members for 20 minutes, according to Ma Yung-cheng (馬永成), deputy secretary-general of the Presidential Office.
Chen made no public statement, but he prayed that Huang's spirit will give him strength and guidance to continue on the path of reform, Ma said.
Ma also quoted the president as saying that he couldn't come to Huang's cemetery earlier because he was in southern Taiwan stumping for DPP candidates, so he decided to visit yesterday, which was the 26th anniversary of the Kaohsiung Incident.
The incident, in which police cracked down on a peaceful rally to mark Human Rights Day on Dec. 10, 1979, is generally recognized as an important turning point in Taiwan's transition to democracy.
Chen said Huang, a former DPP chairman, is the perennial spiritual leader of the party, which stands for the pursuit of the ideals of democracy, freedom, human rights, social justice, protection of the disadvantaged, as well as Taiwan first, Ma said.
On questions regarding the administration's lineup now that Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) has stepped down as DPP chairman to take responsibility for the party's election loss and a possible Cabinet reshuffle, Ma said that the president will reveal his ideas after careful consideration.
Lan said the president has visited the late Huang's tomb every year since Huang passed away on Dec. 30, 1999 to pay his respects.
She said that the president shouldn't shoulder the responsibility for the election defeat alone, because he had worked hard during the campaign. She said the DPP should continue on the path of reform.
Three Taiwanese airlines have prohibited passengers from packing Bluetooth earbuds and their charger cases in checked luggage. EVA Air and Uni Air said that Bluetooth earbuds and charger cases are categorized as portable electronic devices, which should be switched off if they are placed in checked luggage based on international aviation safety regulations. They must not be in standby or sleep mode. However, as charging would continue when earbuds are placed in the charger cases, which would contravene international aviation regulations, their cases must be carried as hand luggage, they said. Tigerair Taiwan said that earbud charger cases are equipped
UNILATERAL MOVES: Officials have raised concerns that Beijing could try to exert economic control over Kinmen in a key development plan next year The Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) yesterday said that China has so far failed to provide any information about a new airport expected to open next year that is less than 10km from a Taiwanese airport, raising flight safety concerns. Xiamen Xiangan International Airport is only about 3km at its closest point from the islands in Kinmen County — the scene of on-off fighting during the Cold War — and construction work can be seen and heard clearly from the Taiwan side. In a written statement sent to Reuters, the CAA said that airports close to each other need detailed advanced
Tropical Storm Fung-Wong would likely strengthen into a typhoon later today as it continues moving westward across the Pacific before heading in Taiwan’s direction next week, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. As of 8am, Fung-Wong was about 2,190km east-southeast of Cape Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, moving westward at 25kph and possibly accelerating to 31kph, CWA data showed. The tropical storm is currently over waters east of the Philippines and still far from Taiwan, CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said, adding that it could likely strengthen into a typhoon later in the day. It is forecast to reach the South China Sea
WEATHER Typhoon forming: CWA A tropical depression is expected to form into a typhoon as early as today, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, adding that the storm’s path remains uncertain. Before the weekend, it would move toward the Philippines, the agency said. Some time around Monday next week, it might reach a turning point, either veering north toward waters east of Taiwan or continuing westward across the Philippines, the CWA said. Meanwhile, the eye of Typhoon Kalmaegi was 1,310km south-southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, as of 2am yesterday, it said. The storm is forecast to move through central
RSS