The government failed to learn from previous disasters and failed to improve inadequate flood prevention measures, Control Yuan President Wang Chien-shien (王建煊) said yesterday as he ordered Control Yuan members to launch an investigation into government accountability in the wake of Typhoon Morakot.
Wang said the Control Yuan would hold off on subpoenaing government officials for the moment to avoid obstructing disaster relief efforts.
He said the government failed to address problems and learn from the suggestions on disaster prevention measures that the Control Yuan had presented several times in the past.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Wang said he was deeply saddened by the tragedy.
“I was so angry that I wanted to scold and kill people, but I didn’t know who to blame. I believe Taiwanese are also feeling disheartened and indignant,” he said.
The Control Yuan last week issued corrective measures to 14 government agencies for their handling of Typhoon Kalmaegi last year, while similar warnings had been issued to government agencies in each of the previous three Control Yuan terms.
Wang said that a significant amount of heartache could have been prevented if the government had paid more attention.
“We will not allow the power of the Control Yuan to be disregarded. The Control Yuan will impeach the heads of government institutions who failed to improve the problems highlighted by the Control Yuan’s corrective measures,” Wang said.
He said government agencies’ defiance of corrective measures issued by the Control Yuan was more serious than corruption.
“The Control Yuan is entitled to impeach heads of government agencies repeatedly until they step down, and to keep impeaching their successors until problems are resolved,” Wang added.
Control Yuan Vice President Chen Jinn-lih (陳進利) will work with the heads of the four sitting Control Yuan committees to decide how to examine the government’s responsibility for losses suffered as a result of inadequate disaster prevention measures.
GENSLER SURVEY: ‘Economic infrastructure is not enough. A city needs to inspire pride, offer moments of joy and foster a sense of belonging,’ the company said Taipei was named the city with the “highest staying power” in the world by US-based design and architecture firm Gensler. The Taiwanese capital earned the top spot among 65 cities across six continents with 64 percent of Taipei respondents in a survey of 33,000 people saying they wanted to stay in the city. Rounding out the top five were Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City (61 percent), Singapore (59 percent), Sydney (58 percent) and Berlin (51 percent). Sixth to 10th place went to Monterrey, Mexico; Munich, Germany; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Vancouver; and Seoul. Cities in the US were ranked separately, with Minneapolis first at
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
ENDORSING TAIWAN: Honduran presidential candidate Nasry Afura said that Honduras was ‘100 times better off’ when it was allied with Taipei The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it would explore the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Honduras based on the principle of maintaining national interests and dignity. The ministry made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions regarding an article titled: “Will Taiwan Regain a Diplomatic Ally?” published in The Diplomat on Saturday. The article said Honduras’ presidential election in November could offer Taiwan the chance to regain an ally, as multiple candidates have promoted re-establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March 2023 in favor of Beijing, but since switching its diplomatic recognition,
Scoot announced yesterday that starting in October, it would increase flights between Taipei and Japan’s Narita airport and Hokkaido, and between Singapore and Taipei. The low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, also said it would launch flights to Chiang Rai in Thailand, Okinawa and Tokyo’s Haneda airport between December and March next year. Flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai would begin on Jan. 1, with five flights per week operated by an Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, Scoot said. Flights between Singapore and Okinawa would begin on Dec. 15, with three flights per week operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said. Services between Singapore
RSS