Taiwanese singer and activist Panai Kusui on Saturday said that China’s censorship of her remarks about the Tiananmen Square Massacre at the Golden Melody Awards underscores the importance of Taiwan’s freedom.
Beijing’s “actions further underscore the precious freedom in Taiwan,” Panai’s agent quoted the singer as saying after the ceremony.
“The value of freedom can be felt at this moment,” Panai said. “I hope everyone will cherish what we have.”
Photo courtesy of the Taiwan Television Enterprise
The indigenous singer won Best Taiwanese Album at the nation’s most prestigious music awards for Ia-Po (夜婆).
During her acceptance speech, she urged people not to forget China’s 1989 crackdown on democracy protesters in Beijing, in which hundreds and perhaps more than 1,000 people were killed.
Noting that the awards were celebrating their 35th anniversary this year, Panai said that this year “also marked the 35th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square incident. Let’s not forget.”
Her remarks, works and discussions about her were removed from the Internet in China shortly after the event.
President William Lai (賴清德), referencing Panai’s comments, praised the freedom artists have in Taiwan.
“Music is life, and music is also unfettered freedom. We will continue to protect and defend the freedom of all musicians to create,” he wrote on Facebook.
Minister of Culture Lee Yuan (李遠) thanked Panai on Facebook for showing confidence and demonstrating freedom through her music.
No Chinese singers attended this year’s awards, despite several high-profile nominations, including Xu Jun (許鈞) winning Best Composer.
Another Chinese singer, Jude Chiu (裘德), traveled to Taiwan, but returned to China before the awards, citing health reasons.
Taiwanese indie rock band No Party For Cao Dong (草東沒有派對) emerged as the biggest winner of this year’s awards, winning some of the night’s top prizes, including Album of the Year, Best Mandarin Album and Best Band for their sophomore album The Clod (瓦合).
The quartet took the nation’s music scene by storm in 2017 when they won Best New Artist, Best Band and Song of the Year.
Other major winners included MC HotDog (姚中仁), who took home Best Male Mandarin Singer for his album Disgusted Artist (髒藝術家), and Shi Shi (孫盛希), who was named Best Female Mandarin Singer for her album Boomerang.
Justin Su (蘇明淵) clinched Best Male Taiwanese Singer for his album Empty Side of the Heart (心內烏空), while Huang Fei (黃妃) won her third Best Female Taiwanese Singer award, this time for her album Eighteen Martial Arts (十八般武藝).
Chiu Shu-chan’s (邱淑蟬) Shape of Life (繭的形狀) won Best Hakka Album, while Zoomie (陳彥竹) took home Best Hakka Singer for her album Zhin Moi (鎮妹).
Usay Kawlu was named Best Indigenous Language Singer for her album Harateng no Pangcah (The Beauty of Pangcah) (美感).
Makav, a member of the Bunun community, won Best New Artist for her album Treasure (寶藏), which also won Best Indigenous Language Album.
Taiwanese indie rock band Accusefive (告五人) took home Song of the Year for We Will Be Fine (又到天黑) off last year’s album of the same name.
Additional reporting by Reuters
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