Mistake of ‘little grasses’
Ma Ying-jeou Foundation director Hsiao Hsu-tsen (蕭旭岑) was a mysterious and esteemed guest at a recent gathering held by the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), leaving the public wondering whether Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) supports corruption.
Under the presumption of innocence, we cannot determine that TPP Chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) is guilty; on the other hand, we also cannot prove that he is completely innocent, especially considering that we need to hold political leaders to a higher standard. However, the TPP has continuously claimed that Ko is absolutely innocent and that the judicial system is unjust. Is this not a presumption of the judiciary’s guilt? Given that a trial has yet to be held, we should allow prosecutors the space to handle the case instead of being so misguided and chaotic.
For that same reason, Ko was detained. This was a decision made by an unbiased judge, and clearly for good reason. However, Hsiao used his title as the director of the foundation to publicly and fervently express support for Ko: Does this mean Ma also supports Ko despite the allegations of corruption? Ko’s followers — the “little grasses” — and Ma should not hold up a “the judicial system is unfair” picket sign.
If one asserts that Ko being suspected of crimes does not definitively prove his guilt, then should not the same logic be applied to former vice premier Cheng Wen-tsan (鄭文燦)? Cheng was detained in the same fashion, but the “little grasses” and Ma did not respond accordingly. They support Ko, but not Cheng. Frankly speaking, supporters of the Democratic Progressive Party are more rational. At the very least, they did not take to the streets in chaotic demonstrations of blind support or attempt to meddle with the judicial process.
I was born and raised in Taoyuan. When Cheng served as the mayor of Taoyuan, he was adored by its residents, as reflected by his high approval ratings in opinion polls. However, following suspicions of corruption, he was investigated and detained — all was carried out according to the law. This is the fundamental value in a society ruled by law. So, to all of the “little grasses” who have taken to the streets pretending to be political experts: The chaotic source sabotaging our judicial system is actually you.
Liao Kuan-hu
Taoyuan
The gutting of Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia (RFA) by US President Donald Trump’s administration poses a serious threat to the global voice of freedom, particularly for those living under authoritarian regimes such as China. The US — hailed as the model of liberal democracy — has the moral responsibility to uphold the values it champions. In undermining these institutions, the US risks diminishing its “soft power,” a pivotal pillar of its global influence. VOA Tibetan and RFA Tibetan played an enormous role in promoting the strong image of the US in and outside Tibet. On VOA Tibetan,
Sung Chien-liang (宋建樑), the leader of the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) efforts to recall Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Lee Kun-cheng (李坤城), caused a national outrage and drew diplomatic condemnation on Tuesday after he arrived at the New Taipei City District Prosecutors’ Office dressed in a Nazi uniform. Sung performed a Nazi salute and carried a copy of Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf as he arrived to be questioned over allegations of signature forgery in the recall petition. The KMT’s response to the incident has shown a striking lack of contrition and decency. Rather than apologizing and distancing itself from Sung’s actions,
US President Trump weighed into the state of America’s semiconductor manufacturing when he declared, “They [Taiwan] stole it from us. They took it from us, and I don’t blame them. I give them credit.” At a prior White House event President Trump hosted TSMC chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家), head of the world’s largest and most advanced chip manufacturer, to announce a commitment to invest US$100 billion in America. The president then shifted his previously critical rhetoric on Taiwan and put off tariffs on its chips. Now we learn that the Trump Administration is conducting a “trade investigation” on semiconductors which
By now, most of Taiwan has heard Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an’s (蔣萬安) threats to initiate a vote of no confidence against the Cabinet. His rationale is that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)-led government’s investigation into alleged signature forgery in the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) recall campaign constitutes “political persecution.” I sincerely hope he goes through with it. The opposition currently holds a majority in the Legislative Yuan, so the initiation of a no-confidence motion and its passage should be entirely within reach. If Chiang truly believes that the government is overreaching, abusing its power and targeting political opponents — then
RSS