Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Pasuya Yao (姚文智) yesterday called on the government to establish April 7 as a national holiday to celebrate freedom of speech and commemorate Deng Nan-jung (鄭南榕), who self-immolated 26 years ago to protest against the then-authoritarian Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) regime.
“Freedom of speech is a natural right and should be protected by the state. The First Amendment of the United States constitution prohibits the making of any law depriving people of freedom of speech; our Constitution also stipulates that people shall have freedom of speech, teaching, writing and publication,” said Yao, who proposed an extemporaneous motion in the legislature in Taipei, calling for a “Freedom of Speech Day” to be established on April 7.
On April 7, 1989, Deng, then editor-in-chief of Freedom Era Weekly (自由時代週刊), set himself on fire as heavily armed police attempted to break into his office after he had been barricaded inside for 71 days to prevent his arrest following his being charged with sedition for the antigovernment views expressed in his magazine, which published a draft “Republic of Taiwan constitution” in 1988.
The office was later named Deng Nan-jung Memorial Hall in commemoration of his bravery in calling for “100 percent freedom of expression.”
“Tainan, Kaohsiung, Taichung, Yilan, Yunlin, Chiayi and Pingtung have all made April 7 [municipal] Freedom of Speech Day and on the legislative floor I have called on the Executive Yuan to establish the day as a national holiday many times, including a declaration during the Sunflower movement last year,” Yao said.
DPP Legislator Lee Ying-yuan (李應元) seconded Yao’s proposal, saying that Deng’s deed, “to sacrifice himself for 100 percent freedom of speech, a belief harmless to others, is sublime even when put in the context of the span of human history.”
“This is an issue that goes beyond party lines and I hope that the country and society can learn a lesson from it, so that our children understand that freedom did not come freely and that democracy is a result of relentless struggles,” Lee said, adding that he goes to a commemorative event at New Taipei City’s Chinpaoshan Cemetery (金寶山), where Deng is buried, every April 7 to pay tribute to Deng, “just as I did today [yesterday].”
To mark the 26th anniversary of Deng’s death, a number of people, on their own initiative, visited the cemetery to pay tribute to Deng.
In the cities and counties that have designated April 7 as Freedom of Speech Day activities, such as film festivals, seminars and concerts, have also been held this week to heighten public awareness of democratic values.
Punk rock group Loh Tsui Kweh Commune (濁水溪公社) also produced a music video featuring Deng’s last words to publicize his philosophy.
Additional reporting by Chang An-chiao
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