Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) yesterday launched an electronic book chronicling the life and times of democracy pioneer Lei Chen (雷震), who was accused of sedition and sentenced to 10 years in prison for publishing a pro-democracy magazine in 1960.
Hsieh said Taiwan had paid a high price for the mistakes made by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) authoritarian regime during its 50-year rule.
"Lei saw clearly that the KMT's campaign to reclaim China was futile and realized that democratization and `Taiwanization' were inseparable," Hsieh said at a forum organized by the Lei Chen Democracy and Human Rights Fund to mark the launching of the e-book, titled Documentary Collection on the Lei Chen Case.
treason
Lei, a founder and publisher of the Free China journal, was arrested on Sept. 4, 1960, on treason charges and sentenced to 10 years in prison at the behest of late dictator Chiang Kai-shek (
Declassified documents show that the Taiwan Garrison Command proposed drastic measures to stop the publication of the journal. Six hours before the verdict was handed down, Chiang issued an order that Lei's sentence should not be less than 10 years, and that no appeal should be allowed.
During his 10 years in jail, Lei wrote a 4-million-word memoir chronicling his life and thoughts on democracy. However, the memoir and most government documents regarding the "Lei Chen incident" have either disappeared or been destroyed.
Chen Yi-shen (
His proposal received harsh criticism from Chiang Kai-shek and his son Chiang Ching-kuo (蔣經國).
warning
Lei was warned by the Garrison Command after publishing an editorial in the Free China journal criticizing the government for setting traps to catch corrupt officials.
Chinese dissident Ruan Ming (阮銘) said that although Lei and Chiang Ching-kuo were both against communism, Lei insisted that democracy and freedom were the best alternative while Chiang Ching-kuo contended that dictatorship was the answer.
Lei suggested changing the Republic of China's (ROC) title to the "Democratic State of Chinese Taiwan." He proposed that the country could be independent of the People's Republic of China under a "two Chinas" model.
The Chiangs, however, flatly rejected Lei's proposal. The US government severed diplomatic ties with the ROC and withdrew its forces from the country in 1979.
Although Lei did not live to see the democratization of Taiwan, Ruan said Chiang Ching-kuo had put Lei's will into practice and helped to transform the country into a more democratic state.
Lee Shiao-feng (
CHANGING LANDSCAPE: Many of the part-time programs for educators were no longer needed, as many teachers obtain a graduate degree before joining the workforce, experts said Taiwanese universities this year canceled 86 programs, Ministry of Education data showed, with educators attributing the closures to the nation’s low birthrate as well as shifting trends. Fifty-three of the shuttered programs were part-time postgraduate degree programs, about 62 percent of the total, the most in the past five years, the data showed. National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) discontinued the most part-time master’s programs, at 16: chemistry, life science, earth science, physics, fine arts, music, special education, health promotion and health education, educational psychology and counseling, education, design, Chinese as a second language, library and information sciences, mechatronics engineering, history, physical education
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
Taiwan-based publisher Li Yanhe (李延賀) has been sentenced to three years in prison, fined 50,000 yuan (US$6,890) in personal assets and deprived political rights for one year for “inciting secession” in China, China's Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman Chen Binhua (陳斌華) said today. The Shanghai First Intermediate People’s Court announced the verdict on Feb. 17, Chen said. The trial was conducted lawfully, and in an open and fair manner, he said, adding that the verdict has since come into legal effect. The defendant reportedly admitted guilt and would appeal within the statutory appeal period, he said, adding that the defendant and his family have