Civic groups and Sunflower movement leader Lin Fei-fan (林飛帆) yesterday voiced support for former National Cheng Kung University student Lee Ying-jui (李盈叡), who was charged with and acquitted of vandalism for damaging a campus sign, but faces more legal action.
They held a Taipei news conference to condemn the Greater Tainan school’s suit and a prosecutor’s decision to appeal Lee’s acquittal.
The case stems from a 2013 university request that the student association choose the name of a new campus plaza. Although an overwhelming number of students voted to name the square after democracy and human rights activist Deng Nan-jung (鄭南榕) officials rejected the students’ decision.
Photo: Liu Hsin-de, Taipei Times
University president Huang Huang-hui (黃煌輝) said a university should not get involved in political activities or embrace a specific political ideology.
Students protested that stance, saying that the names of the school’s two campuses should then be changed, since the Chung-cheng (中正) campus was named for Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石) and the Kuang-fu (光復) campus referred to the “return of Taiwan to China after Japanese colonial rule.”
Lee, then a political science graduate student, removed the characters for kuang-fu from a sign at an entrance to the school.
He was indicted by prosecutors, but acquitted by the Tainan District Court. However, prosecutors have appealed the verdict.
“After he removed the characters, he did not run away. He stayed there to be arrested, because he wanted to call the school administration’s attention to the issue. It was an act of freedom of expression,” Lin, a Cheng Kung alumnus, told reporters. “University campuses are places where we should have 100 percent freedom of speech. However, we regrettably have not achieved democracy on campus, and it is just ridiculous that National Cheng Kung University even filed a lawsuit against one of its students.”
Attorney and human rights activist Huang Di-ying (黃帝穎) said that judging by Council of Grand Justices’ constitutional interpretations, Lee’s act was a symbolic expression of protest.
“I am glad the Tainan District Court values the freedom of expression over National Cheng Kung University’s property, but I am worried that there may be many authoritarian-era judges in the Taiwan High Court who lack true understanding of democracy, and could overturn the district court’s verdict,” Huang said.
Representatives from the Taiwan Association of University Professors and the Deng Liberty Foundation also attended the news conference to support Lee.
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
Taiwan Travelogue (臺灣漫遊錄), which earlier this week became the first Taiwanese novel to win the International Booker Prize, is to be adapted into a television series through a Taiwan-Japan coproduction, producer Chang Chen-yu (張辰漁) said yesterday. Chang, a producer at World Softest Production Film Co, wrote on Facebook that the company had been searching for projects with international appeal that retain a strong Taiwanese identity after colleagues and Japanese partners strongly recommended the novel. After reading the book, Chang said he immediately decided to pursue the screen rights. “A great story has the power to transcend time and borders, and connect countless people,”
RSS