Members of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in Changhua County yesterday filed a defamation lawsuit against radio host Tung Chih-sen (董智森) for allegedly insulting the DPP during a broadcast on Tuesday last week.
Tung made the remarks as he endorsed Sun Yat-sen School president Chang Ya-chung’s (張亞中) bid in the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairperson election.
During the conversation with Chang, who was Tung’s studio guest, he said that “keeping peace is the key to cross-strait development and opportunities.”
Photo: Chen Kuan-pei, Taipei Times
However, he said that the DPP is afraid of approaching the issue and is hindering others from pursuing a “cross-strait peace agreement,” which was proposed by Chang during an earlier televised debate with other chairperson candidates.
Tung said that the DPP has “no shame” and was threatening him over the issue, calling the party “utterly rotten.”
“We need not concern about this trash party, only low life-forms will join the DPP,” Tung said.
Tung’s comments were met with criticism online and from members of the DPP.
Director of DPP's Changhua County chapter Chiu Chien-fu (邱建富) yesterday led a group of party members in filing the lawsuit against Tung.
Tung insulted party members personally, and his remarks are aimed at deepening the division in Taiwanese society, Chiu said at the Changhua District Prosecutors’ Office.
“DPP members are outraged by Tung’s words. We must stand up to defend our honor and personal dignity,” Chiu said.
Refering to the term “lower life-forms” being used to describe animals, member’s of Chiu’s group, who had a goose and a dog with them, said: “Animals are innocent, Tung must apologize.”
Chiu said they are seeking financial compensation of NT$1 million (US$35,995) for each of the plaintiffs.
In the early history of the DPP, members have lost their lives while upholding the party’s ideals, Chiu said, adding: “Only because of them, Taiwan has a free and democratic society.”
Tung and other pro-China figures have not condemned China’s ban on Taiwanese fruit imports or Beijing’s military jets intruding into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone, he said.
The lawsuit came after DPP spokeswoman Hsieh Pei-fen (謝佩芬) last week said: “Tung has abused the freedom of speech we have in Taiwan, and he should apologize to the public.”
“Broadcast media ... should not be used as tools to humiliate others,” Hsieh said.
Meanwhile, DPP members in Tainan and Keelung also filed judicial complaints, saying that Tung’s comments were discriminatory.
Taiwan is to receive the first batch of Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 jets from the US late this month, a defense official said yesterday, after a year-long delay due to a logjam in US arms deliveries. Completing the NT$247.2 billion (US$7.69 billion) arms deal for 66 jets would make Taiwan the third nation in the world to receive factory-fresh advanced fighter jets of the same make and model, following Bahrain and Slovakia, the official said on condition of anonymity. F-16 Block 70/72 are newly manufactured F-16 jets built by Lockheed Martin to the standards of the F-16V upgrade package. Republic of China
Taiwan-Japan Travel Passes are available for use on public transit networks in the two countries, Taoyuan Metro Corp said yesterday, adding that discounts of up to 7 percent are available. Taoyuan Metro, the Taipei MRT and Japan’s Keisei Electric Railway teamed up to develop the pass. Taoyuan Metro operates the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport MRT Line, while Keisei Electric Railway offers express services between Tokyo’s Narita Airport, and the Keisei Ueno and Nippori stations in the Japanese capital, as well as between Narita and Haneda airports. The basic package comprises one one-way ticket on the Taoyuan MRT Line and one Skyliner ticket on
Starlux Airlines, Taiwan’s newest international carrier, has announced it would apply to join the Oneworld global airline alliance before the end of next year. In an investor conference on Monday, Starlux Airlines chief executive officer Glenn Chai (翟健華) said joining the alliance would help it access Taiwan. Chai said that if accepted, Starlux would work with other airlines in the alliance on flight schedules, passenger transits and frequent flyer programs. The Oneworld alliance has 13 members, including American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Qantas, and serves more than 900 destinations in 170 territories. Joining Oneworld would also help boost
A new tropical storm formed late yesterday near Guam and is to approach closest to Taiwan on Thursday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Tropical Storm Pulasan became the 14th named storm of the year at 9:25pm yesterday, the agency said. As of 8am today, it was near Guam traveling northwest at 21kph, it said. The storm’s structure is relatively loose and conditions for strengthening are limited, WeatherRisk analyst Wu Sheng-yu (吳聖宇) said on Facebook. Its path is likely to be similar to Typhoon Bebinca, which passed north of Taiwan over Japan’s Ryukyu Islands and made landfall in Shanghai this morning, he said. However, it