Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairman Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) yesterday said that freedom in Taiwan has regressed since “a repressive government” had returned to power.
Su made the remarks at a ceremony in honor of Deng Nan-jung (鄭南榕), the late democracy advocate who set himself on fire 24 years ago and died in defense of “100 percent freedom of expression.”
The event took place at Deng’s tomb in New Taipei City’s (新北市) Jinbaoshan Cemetery in the morning.
Photo: Yu Chao-fu, Taipei Times
Su said it was a hard journey for Taiwanese to win the right of freedom of speech and it was made possible by people like Deng, who sacrificed himself.
Saying that 24 years ago there was no freedom in Taiwan under the then-authoritarian Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) government, Su said people who had suffered from political repression or harassment knew that “certain words are said at home, not outside, or you could disappear or be caught anytime.”
However, Deng did not keep his mouth closed due to fear or threats, instead he spoke out, Su said.
Photo: Yu Chao-fu, Taipei Times
Deng spoke out not only with his mouth, but also by publishing his writings, he said.
He added that although Deng’s magazine Freedom Era Weekly (自由時代週刊) was banned, and permission for publishing the weekly was suspended again and again, he reapplied repeatedly and never gave up his intention in pursue democracy and freedom for the country.
Deng requested the authoritarian government to lift martial law, mark Feb. 28 an official memorial day for the 228 Massacre, and asked for a total freedom of expression, Su said.
He added that the KMT’s seizure, investigation, detention and imprisonment of Deng was intended to challenge his determination.
However, the KMT did not succeed, and it charged him with treason.
“Twenty-four years later, as we enjoy democracy and freedom of expression, we should not forget Deng’s spirit and the difficult road we have traveled,” Su said.
“After we have democracy, people voted for the then-authoritarian governors and allowed them to retain their power,” Su said.
Now they used more delicate and sophisticated ways to oppress freedom and democracy, Su said.
Freedom in Taiwan has been regressing since the KMT returned to power in 2008, and the US-based Freedom House has also said that freedom of the press in Taiwan has regressed, Su said.
Government propaganda is brainwashing people by saying that everything in China is good, while everything Taiwanese is bad, Su said.
Dealing with the situation, “people should appreciate what we own and learn to make right judgements,” Su added.
Born in Taiwan in 1947 to a family from China, Deng on numerous occasions in the 1980s overtly articulated his support for Taiwanese independence, at a time when a charge of sedition was in place to indict proponents of independence.
He established Freedom Era Weekly in 1984.
On April 7, 1989, he set himself on fire as heavily armed police attempted to break into his Taipei office, where he had barracaded himself for 71 days after he was charged with sedition for his magazine’s anti-government stance and for publishing a draft “Republic of Taiwan constitution” in 1988.
The first global hotel Keys Selection by the Michelin Guide includes four hotels in Taiwan, Michelin announced yesterday. All four received the “Michelin One Key,” indicating guests are to experience a “very special stay” at any of the locations as the establishments are “a true gem with personality. Service always goes the extra mile, and the hotel provides much more than others in its price range.” Of the four hotels, three are located in Taipei and one in Taichung. In Taipei, the One Key accolades were awarded to the Capella Taipei, Kimpton Da An Taipei and Mandarin Oriental Taipei. Capella Taipei was described by
The Taichung District Court yesterday confirmed its final ruling that the marriage between teenage heir Lai (賴) and a man surnamed Hsia (夏) was legally invalid, preventing Hsia from inheriting Lai’s NT$500 million (US$16.37 million) estate. The court confirmed that Hsia chose not to appeal the civil judgement after the court handed down its ruling in June, making the decision final. In the June ruling, the court said that Lai, 18, and Hsia, 26, showed “no mutual admiration before the marriage” and that their interactions were “distant and unfamiliar.” The judge concluded that the couple lacked the “true intention of
EVA Airways today confirmed the death of a flight attendant on Saturday upon their return to Taiwan and said an internal investigation has been launched, as criticism mounted over a social media post accusing the airline of failing to offer sufficient employee protections. According to the post, the flight attendant complained of feeling sick on board a flight, but was unable to take sick leave or access medical care. The crew member allegedly did not receive assistance from the chief purser, who failed to heed their requests for medical attention or call an ambulance once the flight landed, the post said. As sick
INDUSTRY: Beijing’s latest export measures go beyond targeting the US and would likely affect any country that uses Chinese rare earths or related tech, an academic said Taiwanese industries could face significant disruption from China’s newly tightened export controls on rare earth elements, as much of Taiwan’s supply indirectly depends on Chinese materials processed in Japan, a local expert said yesterday. Kristy Hsu (徐遵慈), director of the Taiwan ASEAN Studies Center at the Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research, said that China’s latest export measures go far beyond targeting the US and would likely affect any country that uses Chinese rare earths or related technologies. With Japan and Southeast Asian countries among those expected to be hit, Taiwan could feel the impact through its reliance on Japanese-made semi-finished products and
RSS