Protesters demand TVBS shut down

Hundreds of demonstrators demand the closure of TVBS following a series of fabricated news stories. The demonstration was arranged by several civic groups. PHOTO: CNA

Hundreds of people marched in Taipei yesterday to demand the closure of TVBS after a series of false reports.

The demonstrators, mobilized by several civic groups, expressed their anger towards TVBS by asking the National Communications Commission (NCC) to shut down the TV station as they marched from the Control Yuan to the TVBS headquarters on Bade Road.

"TVBS -- shut down!" The crowd shouted as they marched.

"The news media, as a source of information for the public, should provide accurate information," said Tsay Ting-kuei (蔡丁貴), president of the Taiwan Association of University Professors, one of the sponsoring groups.

"After the tar duck [report], the gangster video, and the abolition of Tomb Sweeping Day? we can't tolerate the station causing any more social chaos," he added.

The "tar duck" report was a story broadcast by the station last December claiming some farmers removed feathers from ducks sold to restaurants by applying tar and ripping it off.

"The news media, as a source of information for the public, should provide accurate information"

Tsay Ting-kuei, president of the Taiwan Association of University Professors

The story proved to be false.

Last month, the station aired footage of a gangster threatening to kill his estranged gang boss.

TVBS claimed the gangster had sent the video to the station, but it later emerged that the video footage had been fabricated by the station. Earlier this month, the station reported that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) planned to abolish the traditional Tomb Sweeping Day on April 5.

TVBS apologized when they later discovered that the DPP's actual plan was to cancel official commemoration of Chiang Kai-shek's (蔣介石) death, which also falls on April 5.

"We're here to tell TVBS not to stir up any more social unrest," a demonstrator surnamed Lo from Hsinchu, said.

Some 300 police officers were called in to prevent demonstrators from rushing into the station, but there were no serious conflicts reported.

Officials at TVBS said the station would not respond to demonstrations by political groups.