Government Information Office (GIO) Minister Su Jun-pin (蘇俊賓) yesterday called on Public Television Service’s (PTS) board of directors to deal with the controversy over its reshuffling rationally after he was sued by Huang Shih-hsin (黃世鑫), a PTS supervisor.
Huang filed a lawsuit with the Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office against Su and eight newly appointed PTS board members for perjury and breach of trust.
CONTROL
The GIO nominated the eight after the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT)-controlled legislature amended the Public Television Act (公共電視法) in June to increase the number of seats on the PTS board, which was criticized as a way for the government to control it.
Huang’s move followed legal action by PTS’ former and current acting chairman, Cheng Tung-liao (鄭同僚), who filed for an injunction last week to halt the appointment of the eight board members.
As a result, the board called off a meeting scheduled for last night that would have seen the eight members installed and Chen Shih-min (陳世敏) elected chairman.
“The court order suspends the function of the eight new board members. Hence, with respect to the judiciary and to the Control Yuan, we follow the court order and act accordingly,” the foundation said in a statement released yesterday.
The remaining 13 members would meet next Monday for their monthly meeting, the statement said.
‘UNFAIR’
Su said in a press statement issued late last night that “if the controversy continues to escalate, it will be unfair to PTS’ employees and its audience.”
Cheng was ousted by the board, with the eight new members present, at a provisional board meeting late last month.
“The Control Yuan censured the GIO for what it said were problematic procedures involving the appointment of the eight members. Given this, the eight members were not entitled to attend December’s provisional board meeting,” Huang said.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY LOA IOK-SIN
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