Under a call for unity, former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator Tuan Yi-kang (段宜康), who had previously declared his intention to run in the legislative election, announced yesterday that he would not join the party primary.
Before the announcement, the field for Taipei City’s second district, which is comprised of Shilin (士林) and Datong (大同), was crowded with four hopefuls vying for the party’s nominations — namely Tuan, former legislators Luo Wen-chia (羅文嘉) and Julian Kuo (郭正亮) and former Government Information Office minister Pasuya Yao (姚文智).
UNITED FRONT
Photo: Chien Jung-fong, Taipei Times
In a bid to consolidate and form a united front, the DPP Legislatorial District Nomination Committee invited the four candidates to negotiate a solution.
While Kuo did not show up, Tuan said he would back out of the primary and the committee had accepted his decision.
Following his announcement, Tuan, accompanied by DPP Taipei City councilors Wu Su-yao (吳思瑤), Hsu Shu-hua (許淑華) and Liang Wen-chieh (梁文傑), apologized to all his supporters.
“I have felt the expectations of the voters, but I hope the DPP spirit of ‘giving for the sake of unity’ is preserved,” Tuan said, adding that he made his decision because he did not want to see the voters torn by difficult choices in the primary.
STICK TOGETHER
Tuan said he believes the remaining three candidates for the Shihlin-Datong constituency would abide by the outcome of the party primary and win the elections “by sticking together.”
Tuan added he would not consider running in another constituency.
When asked for response to Tuan’s decision to back out, Yao said he had no comment, while Luo said he would work harder. Kuo said it was Tuan’s personal judgement of the situation.
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
RSS