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Minister of education misses meeting

An already embattled education minister invited further scorn yesterday by not appearing before a legislative committee as scheduled.

Minister of Education Tu Cheng-sheng (杜正勝) violated both the Constitution and Organic Law of the Legislative Yuan (立法院組織法) by blowing off a meeting yesterday of the Education and Culture Committee, the committee's convener and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Diane Lee (李慶安) said at the meeting.

"Minister Tu has disrespected the legislature by sending subordinates to deliver a key report for him -- all ministers must come to such meetings in person," Lee said, referring to a report on the proposed bulldozing of the wall surrounding the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. "The minister is seeking to evade legislative oversight."

The ministry, which manages the hall, has invoked pan-blue lawmakers' ire with its recent announcement that the memorial will be renamed and have its outer walls demolished.

Vice ministers of education Lu Mu-lin (呂木琳) and Chou Tsan-der (周燦德) said Tu couldn't come because of a Cabinet meeting.

"Minister Tu will arrive soon. In the meantime, we can deliver the report," said Lu, referring to himself and Chou, after an hour of waiting for Tu had passed.

"Why are all of you just sitting with your heads down?" Lee shouted at education officials waiting for their boss to show up.

"Isn't anybody able to contact Minister Tu? What about you, Vice Minister Chou? You're such a smooth talker. Don't you have anything to say?" Lee added.

Ignoring Chou's offer to speak on Tu's behalf, Lee canceled the meeting.
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