Lee should resign
As Taiwan struggles to align itself with the world's democracies PFP Legislator Diane Lee's (
Instead, she chose to believe a very serious allegation before conducting a detailed investigation on the matter. Lee also allowed the factious sexual harassment case to become a media circus without careful consideration of the damage it might cause to Twu's family.
Lee's disregard of legal procedures and her insults to the integrity of the legislature should be grounds for her dismissal. Her actions not only damaged the reputations of her fellow lawmakers, but also undermined Taiwan's democratic maturity in the eyes of the international community.
Lee, and those who thought that a simple apology would relieve them from being punished for making false allegations, could not be more wrong. In a full-fledged democracy, everyone does have the right to voice his or her complaints; however, the freedom of expression does not allow one to, for example, yell "fire" in a crowded theater or in this case, make bogus claims that injure another's reputation or defame their character. Lee's public humiliation of Twu proved her malicious intent and reckless disregard for the truth. Lee is negligent because of her failure to act with due care in this situation.
Lee, as a person who is responsible for the making of the nation's laws and who is a representative of the public, should be made an example to show that in our democratic society, while voices and opinions are appreciated, libel and slander will not go unpunished. And if Lee has any integrity left in her, she will resign and surrender her post to a more competent individual.
Ketty Wani Chen
University of Oklahoma
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