In recent years, several political scandals have broken out in Hualien County. Not long ago, former Yuli Township (玉里) mayor Tsai Chiu-lung (蔡秋龍) was sentenced to 11 years in the first instance for embezzlement of NT$70,000 in public funds.
In May, former Hualien County Government Civil Affairs Department head Ming Liang-chen (明良臻) was indicted for alleged breaches of personal information regarding recall petitions against Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Fu Kun-chi (傅?萁). After being released on bail, Ming has returned to the Hualien County Government, serving as a top secretary.
The “family politics” of Fu and his wife, Hualien County Commissioner Hsu Chen-wei (徐榛蔚), are rampant, demonstrating how local factions manipulate the system for their gain.
This is not just a problem of two officials; it is systemic. Hualien has long been criticized for its family and factional politics. Government should be a platform for public service, but it has become a tool for factional exchanges.
When the public sees a mayor embezzling public subsidies, or an indicted official returning to the county government thanks to his personal connections, we cannot help but wonder: Are so-called responsible politics just a show? Is integrity just empty talk?
What could truly change the situation is civil power, and such a democratic force in Hualien must not collapse. Despite investigations into corruption, as well as the media’s exposure of abuse of power, whether they can transform into institutional reform and political cleanup ultimately depends on whether people are willing to stand up to monitor the government. If we choose to remain silent, then fake resignations would become the norm.
Hualien’s civic groups should demand that the county government fully disclose its personnel and bidding processes.
They should show a clear stance when casting ballots to support integrity and reject black-box operations. Democracy is not just a vote every four years, but ongoing monitoring and action in our daily lives.
Today, the Hualien County Government is a private trading center of money and power for the Fu family and other political factions. Local residents should consolidate and maintain their strength, and launch a civil movement to directly uncover misconduct and monitor the government.
Only through civil awakening and the unity of power can Hualien avoid becoming a synonym for black-box politics.
Hsieh Chia-hao is a teacher at an elementary school in Hualien County.<>
Translated by Eddy Chang
In a summer of intense political maneuvering, Taiwanese, whose democratic vibrancy is a constant rebuke to Beijing’s authoritarianism, delivered a powerful verdict not on China, but on their own political leaders. Two high-profile recall campaigns, driven by the ruling party against its opposition, collapsed in failure. It was a clear signal that after months of bitter confrontation, the Taiwanese public is demanding a shift from perpetual campaign mode to the hard work of governing. For Washington and other world capitals, this is more than a distant political drama. The stability of Taiwan is vital, as it serves as a key player
Yesterday’s recall and referendum votes garnered mixed results for the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT). All seven of the KMT lawmakers up for a recall survived the vote, and by a convincing margin of, on average, 35 percent agreeing versus 65 percent disagreeing. However, the referendum sponsored by the KMT and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) on restarting the operation of the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant in Pingtung County failed. Despite three times more “yes” votes than “no,” voter turnout fell short of the threshold. The nation needs energy stability, especially with the complex international security situation and significant challenges regarding
Much like the first round on July 26, Saturday’s second wave of recall elections — this time targeting seven Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers — also failed. With all 31 KMT legislators who faced recall this summer secure in their posts, the mass recall campaign has come to an end. The outcome was unsurprising. Last month’s across-the-board defeats had already dealt a heavy blow to the morale of recall advocates and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), while bolstering the confidence of the KMT and its ally the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP). It seemed a foregone conclusion that recalls would falter, as
The fallout from the mass recalls and the referendum on restarting the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant continues to monopolize the news. The general consensus is that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has been bloodied and found wanting, and is in need of reflection and a course correction if it is to avoid electoral defeat. The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) has not emerged unscathed, either, but has the opportunity of making a relatively clean break. That depends on who the party on Oct. 18 picks to replace outgoing KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫). What is certain is that, with the dust settling
RSS