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Taiwan News Quick Take

■ ADMINISTRATION

Youth agency chief quits

Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) has approved the resignation of Cheng Li-chun (鄭麗君), chairwoman of the National Youth Commission, the Cabinet said in a statement yesterday. Cheng's resignation came on the heels of a complaint filed by Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Hsiao Ching-tien (蕭景田), who accused Cheng of neglecting her duties and spending her working hours campaigning for Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷). Cheng said she had tendered her resignation earlier, but Chang did not approve it until Tuesday. Cheng has since taken a leave of absence and participated in a south-to-north march to mark the 61st anniversary of the then KMT government's crackdown on a civilian uprising. The activity began on Lunar New Year's Eve and will conclude in Taipei next Thursday.



■ LITIGATION

John Chiang loses lawsuit

The grandson of dictator Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石) lost a libel lawsuit against a political rival who branded the former leader the "culprit" behind the 1947 massacre, a court official said yesterday. The Taiwan High Court rejected the appeal by John Chiang (蔣孝嚴), a Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmaker, over a district court ruling last year in favor of former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairman Yu Shyi-kun. The earlier court verdict had noted that although "culprit" was an exaggerated and sensational word, the comment was not libelous. "Yu's remarks were based on a research paper on the incident that concluded Chiang should `shoulder the greatest responsibility,'" said high court spokesman Wen Yao-yuan (溫耀源). "A former leader's conduct is a public affair, which can be subject to scrutiny." The high court ruling is final.



■ DIPLOMACY

Tripoli office opens

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the nation had opened a representative office in Libya last Wednesday. "The establishment of the office in Tripoli will further facilitate the development of mutually beneficial relations between Taiwan and Libya," the ministry said in a press release. The opening of the Taiwan Commercial Office in Tripoli was the result of an agreement reached by the two countries when President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) visited Libya two years ago, ministry spokeswoman Phoebe Yeh (葉非比) told the Taipei Times by telephone. With the opening of the office, Yeh said she hoped that exchanges between the two countries in the areas of business, tourism and the exploration of Libya's natural resources would increase.



■ DIPLOMACY

Games ship sets sail

Officials have come up with a twist to promote the 2009 World Games in Kaohsiung, transforming a naval vessel into a floating exhibition hall that will visit Latin America to publicize the event. The Wuyi, a naval vessel and one of three ships in Taiwan's "Fleet of Friendship," is having its hold converted into a 40m-long gallery that will display information and photographs relating to the Games. The ship is making its way around the country until March 4 before sailing to Latin America to promote the competition. Calling the Wuyi a "ship of peace," International World Games Association president Ron Froehlich said in Kaohsiung that it would be the best and most effective way to convey the message of world peace to athletes, children and future generations.
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