The values of freedom and democracy have been embedded in Taiwanese DNA, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said, adding that the nation would continue to stand with the alliance of democracies and be a force for good in the world.
Tsai made the remarks at a memorial commemorating the 35th anniversary of the death of democracy pioneer Deng Nan-jung (鄭南榕) in New Taipei City’s Jinbaoshan Cemetery yesterday.
Deng, who ran several dissident magazines, self-immolated on April 7, 1989 as authorities attempted to arrest him on charges of sedition.
Photo: Lo Pei-de, Taipei Times
In December 2016, the Tsai administration designated April 7 as Freedom of Speech Day to honor Deng’s pursuit of freedom of expression.
Freedom of Speech Day reminds Taiwanese that the nation’s freedom and democracy are the result of blood and tears shed by numerous democratic pioneers, she said yesterday.
On Saturday, president-elect William Lai (賴清德) also paid tribute to Deng by attending the opening of an exhibition about democracy activists at the National 228 Memorial Museum in Taipei.
“After Bi-khim and I take office on May 20, we will have several important tasks,” Lai said, referring to vice president-elect Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴).
“The first is to firmly safeguard Taiwan’s sovereignty,” he said. “Only with democracy can there be freedom, and only with freedom can there be human rights.”
Lai added that his government is committed to upholding freedom, democracy and human rights, while advocating for transitional justice, including restoring the reputation of those who were politically persecuted during Taiwan’s authoritarian era and compensating them accordingly.
“We must not allow the unfortunate history of the past to repeat itself,” Lai added, likely referring to the era in 1945 to 1992, during which people were subject to political persecution and their civil liberties were heavily suppressed.
Apart from publishing politically critical magazines, Deng had been active in several pro-democracy demonstrations in Taiwan until the age of 41.
Although martial law was lifted in 1987, freedom of speech continued to be stifled until Article 100 of the Criminal Code, which permitted the imprisonment of people deemed by the state to be guilty of “anti-state activities,” was amended in 1992.
The exhibition, which runs through July 31, seeks to expose visitors to Deng’s lifelong “fight for 100 percent freedom” in Taiwan, amidst a rapidly changing political environment at home and abroad, the event’s curator Lee Wen-cheng (李文政) said.
In addition to numerous exhibits, among them photographs, illustrations and documents provided by more than a dozen photographers and artists, the original copies of Deng’s magazines are also being showcased, Lee said.
‘DENIAL DEFENSE’: The US would increase its military presence with uncrewed ships, and submarines, while boosting defense in the Indo-Pacific, a Pete Hegseth memo said The US is reorienting its military strategy to focus primarily on deterring a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan, a memo signed by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth showed. The memo also called on Taiwan to increase its defense spending. The document, known as the “Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance,” was distributed this month and detailed the national defense plans of US President Donald Trump’s administration, an article in the Washington Post said on Saturday. It outlines how the US can prepare for a potential war with China and defend itself from threats in the “near abroad,” including Greenland and the Panama
A wild live dugong was found in Taiwan for the first time in 88 years, after it was accidentally caught by a fisher’s net on Tuesday in Yilan County’s Fenniaolin (粉鳥林). This is the first sighting of the species in Taiwan since 1937, having already been considered “extinct” in the country and considered as “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. A fisher surnamed Chen (陳) went to Fenniaolin to collect the fish in his netting, but instead caught a 3m long, 500kg dugong. The fisher released the animal back into the wild, not realizing it was an endangered species at
The High Prosecutors’ Office yesterday withdrew an appeal against the acquittal of a former bank manager 22 years after his death, marking Taiwan’s first instance of prosecutors rendering posthumous justice to a wrongfully convicted defendant. Chu Ching-en (諸慶恩) — formerly a manager at the Taipei branch of BNP Paribas — was in 1999 accused by Weng Mao-chung (翁茂鍾), then-president of Chia Her Industrial Co, of forging a request for a fixed deposit of US$10 million by I-Hwa Industrial Co, a subsidiary of Chia Her, which was used as collateral. Chu was ruled not guilty in the first trial, but was found guilty
DEADLOCK: As the commission is unable to forum a quorum to review license renewal applications, the channel operators are not at fault and can air past their license date The National Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday said that the Public Television Service (PTS) and 36 other television and radio broadcasters could continue airing, despite the commission’s inability to meet a quorum to review their license renewal applications. The licenses of PTS and the other channels are set to expire between this month and June. The National Communications Commission Organization Act (國家通訊傳播委員會組織法) stipulates that the commission must meet the mandated quorum of four to hold a valid meeting. The seven-member commission currently has only three commissioners. “We have informed the channel operators of the progress we have made in reviewing their license renewal applications, and
RSS