President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday lauded political activist Kuo Yu-hsin (郭雨新) as a "father of Taiwan's democracy," saying that those who refuse to learn from history will suffer the consequences.
"Freedom and democracy do not fall from the sky nor are they favors bestowed upon us by dictators," Chen said. "They are hard earned by our ancestors who were willing to sacrifice their life, youth, blood and sweat for us."
Chen said he has seen some people refuse to face or accept history, while some make strenuous efforts to protect the privileges enjoyed by former tyrants or boycott the establishment of the National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall.
"Experience tells us that those who refuse to face history and learn a lesson from it are doomed to be forsaken by history," he said.
Chen made the remarks while addressing an exhibition held in commemoration of Kuo's 100th birthday at the National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall yesterday morning.
Describing Kuo as a "father of Taiwan's democracy," Chen said that Kuo campaigned aggressively for democratic reform about 50 years ago. His initiatives included the formation of an opposition party, direct presidential elections, nationalization of the armed forces, clear separation of the state and party coffers and the establishment of a new national title.
Outlining Taiwan's democratic achievements over the past seven years, Chen said that he was glad that the country had the first transfer of power in 2000.
In 2002, he declared that there was one country on either side of the Taiwan Strait.
The Referendum Law (
This year, the government launched first attempt to join the WHO and UN under the name "Taiwan."
To further deepen Taiwan's democracy, Chen said that the administration hoped to hold the nation's second national referendum concurrently with next year's elections with the aim of making referendums a normal part of everyday life and a democratic system.
Kuo inspired many younger activists to participate in the democracy movement, Chen said, and although many paid a high price for their beliefs, they never regretted or lost faith because they believed winter would eventually pass and spring would come.
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
‘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
Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) yesterday appealed to the authorities to release former Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) from pretrial detention amid conflicting reports about his health. The TPP at a news conference on Thursday said that Ko should be released to a hospital for treatment, adding that he has blood in his urine and had spells of pain and nausea followed by vomiting over the past three months. Hsieh Yen-yau (謝炎堯), a retired professor of internal medicine and Ko’s former teacher, said that Ko’s symptoms aligned with gallstones, kidney inflammation and potentially dangerous heart conditions. Ko, charged with
RSS