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MOE head says people will judge hall change

Two people walk past signs promoting exhibitions at the National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall in Taipei yesterday. The second floor of the hall will be open to the public today from noon. At the same time, the first floor will feature exhibitions on human rights in Taiwan and the 20 years since the end of martial law. PHOTO: CNA

Minister of Education Tu Cheng-sheng (杜正勝) yesterday refused to apologize after Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) said on Sunday that his handling of the National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall name plaque project had affected the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) popularity.

Tu refused to respond directly to Lu's remark and would only say that the people would be the judge of his decisions and that he had no doubt a large percentage of hall visitors would highly approve of the hall's makeover after its grand opening today.

"Taiwan is experiencing a transitional period right now. Of course there are people who are still nostalgic for life during the martial law period. People have their own views on the hall and we [the MOE] will respect all voices," he said.

He said that even though the hall had been officially renamed National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall, many individuals, referring to the Taipei City Government, still refuse to change the name of the MRT station and the bus stops to reflect its new status.

"Taiwan is experiencing a transitional period right now. Of course there are people who are still nostalgic for life during the martial law period. People have their own views on the hall and we [the MOE] will respect all voices."

Tu Cheng-sheng, minister of education

Tu came under fire on Sunday when Lu, at an election rally event in Jhonghe, said she believed the renaming controversy was the main reason for the party's recent waning support and that Tu must apologize to the public for handling the ordeal in an inconsiderate manner.

Lu also called on Tu to stop using his subordinates as his personal "shields" and "hit men."

MOE Secretary-General Chuang Kuo-jung (莊國榮), who spearheaded the project, said he respected Lu's opinion, but retorted that "those who really have the ability to self-evaluate" should demand the Chinese Nationalist Party's (KMT) former "hit man" apologize to the public, in reference to the party's presidential hopeful, Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九).

Asked for comment in Taipei County, Ma answered: "Don't all the DPP members think highly of Tu?"

Meanwhile, hall official Tseng Kun-ti (曾坤地) said that the grand opening today would feature the National Experimental Chorus, which will perform several classic songs accompanied by the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra.

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) is also expected to lead one of the songs, he said. The president will also lead the opening of the bronze doors at about 10:30am. Afterwards, he will visit the special exhibit on human rights on the first floor of the main hall.

Tseng said the public would not be allowed to attend the opening ceremony but the hall would be open to the public after 12pm.

Additional reporting by Flora Wang
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