President Chen Shui-bian (
"Although there are people who disagree with this rhetoric, I will stand firm on this stance," Chen told a delegation headed by International Federation of Journalists president Christopher Warren at the Presidential Office yesterday afternoon.
Chen said that Taiwan, having progressed from the oppression of the Martial Law era to consolidating its democracy and freedom, wouldn't be the way it is today without the media's efforts and its vision for democracy.
Chen told his guests that the "media is the greatest helper" in the implementation of the universal values of democracy and freedom in Taiwan.
"Although there are times where media reports run counter to the truth and appear absurd to the individuals involved, we still need to give [the media] our respect ... The media is a politician's best mirror and the government's best antiseptic," Chen said.
"Many might have criticized Taiwan's press freedom now as being overly lax, but, given that Taiwan was under martial law for 38 years during which there was no room for freedom of expression, my stance toward defending press freedom is that I would rather it be too lax than not enough," he said.
Citing his experience as a defense lawyer for Formosa magazine -- which offered a forum for people opposed to the former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) government in the late 1970s -- Chen said that experience had strengthened his determination to fight for freedom of expression.
The freedom of press, which ensures the people's right to know and strengthens the media's function of supervising the government, is an indispensable link in the formation and development of democracy, Chen said, noting that the government is pushing a second phase of constitutional reform.
"We look hope defense of an absolute press freedom will be included in the Constitution," he said.
He noted that China, on the other hand, is the world's leading jail for journalists.
According to a report issued by the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists' in May, China was the leading jailer of journalists for the sixth consecutive year, with 42 imprisoned at the end of last year.
Cuba ranked second with 23 members of the media behind bars.
Tropical depression TD22, which was over waters south of the Ryukyu Islands, is likely to develop into a tropical storm by this morning and pose a significant threat to Taiwan next week, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The depression is likely to strengthen into a tropical storm named Krathon as it moves south and then veers north toward waters off Taiwan’s eastern coast, CWA forecaster Hsu Chung-yi (徐仲毅) said. Given the favorable environmental conditions for its development, TD22’s intensity would reach at least typhoon levels, Hsu said. As of 2pm yesterday, the tropical depression was about 610km east-southeast of Taiwan proper’s
Four factors led to the declaration of a typhoon day and the cancelation of classes yesterday, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said. Work and classes were canceled across Taiwan yesterday as Typhoon Krathon was forecast to make landfall in the southern part of the country. However, northern Taiwan had only heavy winds during the day and rain in the evening, leading some to criticize the cancelation. Speaking at a Taipei City Council meeting yesterday, Chiang said the decision was made due to the possibility of landslides and other problems in mountainous areas, the need to avoid a potentially dangerous commute for those
RESTRICTIONS: All food items imported from the five prefectures must be accompanied by radiation and origin certificates, and undergo batch-by-batch inspection The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Wednesday announced that almost all produce from five Japanese prefectures affected by the 2011 Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant disaster would now be allowed into Taiwan. The five are Fukushima, Gunma, Chiba, Ibaraki and Tochigi. The only items that would still be blocked from being imported into the nation are those that are still banned from being circulated in Japan, the FDA added. With the removal of the ban, items including mushrooms, the meat of wild birds and other wild animals, and koshiabura” (foraged vegetables) would now be permitted to enter Taiwan, along with the other
A new tropical storm is expected to form by early tomorrow morning, potentially developing into a medium-strength typhoon that is to affect Taiwan through Wednesday next week, the Central Weather Administration said today. There are currently two tropical systems circulating to the east of Taiwan, agency forecaster Hsu Chung-yi (徐仲毅) said. The one currently north of Guam developed into Tropical Storm Gebi this afternoon and is expected to veer toward Japan without affecting Taiwan, Hsu said. Another tropical depression is 600km from the east coast and is likely to develp into the named storm Krathon either late tonight or early tomorrow, he said. This
RSS