Shih Ming-teh (施明德), a former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairman who has since severed ties with the party, yesterday filed a defamation lawsuit against political commentator Nan Fang Shuo (南方朔) for comparing him to German dictator Adolf Hitler for asking DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) to clarify her sexual orientation.
Shih insisted that the DPP’s presidential candidate, Tsai, who is single, should be under public scrutiny for her sexual orientation among other things, and accused Nan Fang Shuo of abusing freedom of speech with his column in April.
“Presidential candidates should be under public scrutiny before the election, and Ms Tsai should not avoid such examination … Mr Nan Fang Shuo abused his privilege as a columnist and described me as Hitler and a Brown Shirt member. I have no choice but to fight him in court,” Shih told a press conference yesterday.
Photo: CNA
Slamming the commentator, saying he had damaged his reputation as a life-long political dissident who fought against dictatorships, Shih demanded he publicly apologize in advertisements in four major Taiwanese newspapers, and asked for compensation of NT$2.3 million (US$79,000).
In a press gathering on April 14, Shih called on Tsai to clarify her sexual orientation, saying voters deserved a clear answer before voting for her. His comments drew criticism from politicians across party lines and civil groups alike.
In his column in the Chinese-language China Times on April 19, Nan Fang Shuo accused Shih of demonizing single women, and said that by forcing Tsai to make public her sexual orientation, Shih was like Hitler and the Brown Shirts.
Tsai has refused to respond to Shih’s question, and said she would use the opportunity presented by the furor to promote awareness about discrimination, suggesting that an individual’s right to privacy concerning their sexual orientation was a human rights issue.
While saying that Tsai should not hide behind feminism and gender discrimination issues to avoid the question, Shih yesterday said local media outlets had distorted his comments, because he had also asked Tsai to clarify her stance on various issues including the construction of nuclear plants.
When asked whether President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), who is seeking a re-election as the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate, should also clarify his sexual orientation, Shih said Ma has been under public scrutiny for the past three years as the national leader, dismissing concerns about having double standards for the two candidates.
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