President Chen Shui-bian (
The officials announced their resignation from high-ranking media posts to comply with the order issued by Chen, also the party's chairman, that all DPP members holding positions in the media must resign by Friday.
Those who resigned include DPP lawmakers Trong Chai (蔡同榮) of Formosa TV, Chang Chun-hung (張俊宏) of Global TV, Ho Shui-sheng (侯水勝) of the Tsengwen River broadcasting company in Tainan and Chou Ching-yu (周清玉) of the Kan-huai broadcasting company in Changhua County.
"This is an inspirational moment that keeps up our work in the journey of reform," Chen said yesterday at the party's Central Executive Committee. "We give the utmost respect for the efforts paid by the comrades who helped realize the party's goal.
"Freeing the media from political influence is one of the basic approaches of media reform. The withdrawal of our party members from media operations is a small step, yet a crucial one toward media reform," he said.
Thanking party loyalists for forsaking their media posts, Chen said they have helped develop a free media environment in the country by toppling the former KMT regime's control over the press by establishing private media corporations.
Chen yesterday reiterated the importance of passing the three media bills -- the Cable Television Law (
Meanwhile, DPP Legislator Lawrence Gao (
"The KMT should stop this about-face trick. The party has said that since the bills requiring the removal of political forces in the media haven't been passed, it doesn't have to comply with the requirement. Yet it has also asked its lawmakers to block passage of these laws," Gao said.
"Public officials still occupying media posts, including [independent lawmaker] Sisy Chen, should not find any more excuses to dodge this responsibility," he said.
Chen Shui-bian also said yesterday that China's ignorance of and procrastination on tackling human smuggling have resulted in growing numbers of illegal Chinese immigrants, causing social and security problems in the country.
He urged the Chinese government to face the seriousness of the issue.
"We disagree with Beijing's ignorance and dodging of its responsibility. We hope both sides can resume talks as soon as possible to work for the welfare of the people across the Taiwan Strait and crack down on criminal practices," Chen said.
Nearly 5 million people have signed up to receive the government’s NT$10,000 (US$322) universal cash handout since registration opened on Wednesday last week, with deposits expected to begin tomorrow, the Ministry of Finance said yesterday. After a staggered sign-up last week — based on the final digit of the applicant’s national ID or Alien Resident Certificate number — online registration is open to all eligible Taiwanese nationals, foreign permanent residents and spouses of Taiwanese nationals. Banks are expected to start issuing deposits from 6pm today, the ministry said. Those who completed registration by yesterday are expected to receive their NT$10,000 tomorrow, National Treasury
PROMOTION: Travelers who want a free stopover must book their flights with designated travel agents, such as Lion Travel, Holiday Tours, Cola Tour and Life Tours Air Canada yesterday said it is offering Taiwanese travelers who are headed to North America free stopovers if they transit though airports in Japan and South Korea. The promotion was launched in response to a potential rise in demand for flights to North America in June and July next year, when the US, Canada and Mexico are scheduled to jointly host the FIFA World Cup, Air Canada said. Air Canada offers services to 13 of the 16 host cities of the tournament’s soccer games, including Toronto and Vancouver; Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey in Mexico; Atlanta, Georgia; Boston; Dallas; Houston;
The US approved the possible sale to Taiwan of fighter jet spare and repair parts for US$330 million, the Pentagon said late yesterday, marking the first such potential transaction since US President Donald Trump took office in January. "The proposed sale will improve the recipient's capability to meet current and future threats by maintaining the operational readiness of the recipient's fleet of F-16, C-130," and other aircraft, the Pentagon said in a statement. Trump previously said that Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) has told him he would not invade Taiwan while the Republican leader is in office. The announcement of the possible arms
Fung-wong has been downgraded to a tropical storm from a typhoon as it approaches Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said today. The storm has weakened, but would still pose a major threat to Taiwan and its surrounding waters as it comes closer, CWA forecaster Chu Mei-lin (朱美霖) told reporters. As of 9am, the center of Tropical Storm Fung-wong was 360km southwest of Cape Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan's southernmost point, and moving north-northeast to northeast at 12kph. It was carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 108kph and gusts of 137kph, compared with 119kph and 155kph respectively recorded at about 7am
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