The Taipei Society recently submitted an "expostulation on national affairs" to President Chen Shui-bian (
Setting aside the various interpretations from the media and the opposition, the latest official response was a short article posted on "President A-bian's Electronic Newspaper" on June 27. Chen said, "Probably some administrative officials take different viewpoints on the scholars' remonstrance, but I adopt a positive view toward rational dialogue with intellectuals. Only with ideals and perseverance with reform can we continue to soul-search and make progress."
The members of the Taipei Society were happy to see that Chen could accept criticism with a positive attitude. If the administrative agencies have any misunderstanding, the Society's members would like to clarify their stance, instead of feeling exas-perated and wrongly creating obstacles to reform.
High-ranking officials should understand that the Society's frank criticisms have caused some ripples because the public does not trust "power." At a time when certain signals have indicated an inappropriateness in the government's policies and personnel arrangements, the Society's expostulation has fulfilled the function of speaking for the public at the right moment.
During the authoritarian era, people dared not speak out about the abuse of power or privilege, no matter how angry they were. In-sufficient transparency also made it possible for resource distributors to do whatever they wanted. Since the change in administra-tion, the scrutiny and pressure put on those in power has been far more intense than that placed on the previous regime. If administrative agencies fail to notice these changes and fail to strengthen internal coordination and external communication, they will end up creating various controversies and undermine people's trust in the government.
Both the Presidential Office and the Executive Yuan initially planned to hold regular press conferences. But both have cancelled their plans for unknown reasons. Is our government so afraid of communication? Its refusal to publicly explain policy backgrounds and personnel arrangements will merely increase the circulation of rumors and the damage of irresponsible criticism. It is clear from the evolution of Western systems that open information is the bedrock for gaining people's trust. If Taiwan's democratic reform fails to achieve this, the government will be suspected of wrongdoing no matter how hard it clarifies its immaculateness. Once the trust collapses, it will be extremely difficult to rebuild it.
The experience of Western democracies tell us that the flaws of a democracy can only be repaired with more democracy. The predicament facing Taiwan is that people's understanding of democracy still remains limited to the level of elections and voting, rather than expanding to all spheres of life.
The Society's expostulation states clearly at the beginning that it expects to open a public forum that rises above partisan interests and truly realizes the ideal of a "civil society." To achieve this goal, people have to engage in self-examination and try their best to overcome the conditions adverse to democratic development.
For instance, call-in shows and TV political commentary programs are filled with partisan and provocative rhetoric. Social organizations, including schools, religious groups, non-profit organizations, business enterprises and even political parties, appear to lack internal democratic mechanisms.
What's most absurd is that political parties are supposed to be the vehicles for democracy, but under the Civic Organization Law (
If the parties are not thoroughly democratized, it is extremely likely that they will have no respect for democracy, but only a blind faith in power. The lawmakers' absurd performance in the recent ratification process for presidential appointments should serve as a warning call. If the situation is not improved, distrust might spread to all kinds of relations in society and further bury all the opportunities for progress amid infighting.
The Taipei Society's remonstrance didn't just target those in power. With the diversified distribution of power in society, the Society hopes that every individual and organization will make good use of power and expand the scope of reform in a bid to instill change in politics, economics, education, law and society and thoroughly reform Taiwan. This is not just the government's responsibility but depends on everyone -- for the sake of ourselves and the next generation.
If the expostulation on national affairs is regarded as a tool for power struggle, that would be a letdown for the Society and its efforts.
Ku Chung-hwa is a professor of sociology at National Chengchi University.
Translated by Jackie Lin
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