Seven pro-DPP groups comprising Taiwan's cultural, academic, legal and medical elite yesterday publicly condemned the local media and PFP Legislator Diane Lee (李慶安) for their conduct in accusing top health official Twu Shiing-jer (涂醒哲) of sexually harassing another man.
The group also urged Twu to sue media organizations which had pronounced him guilty as charged and not to withdraw the suit he has filed against Lee.
"This is not an isolated incident. Things like this happen in Taiwan every day. Twu should seek compensation from the media and from Lee, and establish a foundation [to monitor the media] to improve the current terrible situation," said Cheng Cheng-yu (鄭正煜), secretary-general of the Southern Taiwan Society.
The seven groups were: the Northern Taiwan Society (北社), the Central Taiwan Society (中社), the Eastern Taiwan Society (東社), the Southern Taiwan Society (南社), the Taiwan Association of University Professors (台灣教授協會), the Taiwan Pen Club (台灣筆會), and the Foundation of Medical Professionals Alliance in Taiwan (台灣醫界聯盟基金會).
At yesterday's press conference, the seven groups jointly urged Diane Lee to resign from her position as a legislator. They also said that the Legislative Yuan should establish stricter regulations to prevent legislators from abusing their immunity to judicial proceedings. At the same time, the collective called on the public to boycott media and politicians who abuse their freedom of speech.
Article 73 of the Constitution grants legislators immunity from civil and criminal proceedings for defamation in regard to remarks made during legislative activities. It says, "No member of the Legislative Yuan shall be held responsible outside the Legislative Yuan for opinions expressed or votes cast in the Legislative Yuan."
Constitutional interpretation No. 435 has confirmed that legislators' immunity applies only to remarks made during Legislative Yuan meetings, public hearings and political negotiations.
Lee first made the allegations against Twu at a press conference at the legislature. Later she reiterated them at the branch of Cashbox KTV where the harassment is alleged to have occurred.
Chen I-shen (陳儀深), vice chairman of the Northern Taiwan Society, said that the current regulations on immunity are too lax. He said "serious punishments" should be introduced to prevent legislators from "making reckless accusations and pointing fingers before solid evidence is found."
Lee Min-yung (
"This is partly because of society's failure to adjust to the transition to democracy. Many people only care about legislators' positions on unification and independence, while ignoring whatever mistakes they make," Lee explained.
"This is a crisis for Taiwan, and we have to look into it seriously if we really want to establish a democratic country," he added.
Chong Kun-jing (
Chong said that his organization will launch a campaign to boycott "irresponsible media organizations."
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