Taiwan has “zero tolerance for domestic violence,” Minister of Health and Welfare Hsueh Jui-yuan (薛瑞元) said yesterday in response to a former health official saying that people beat their family members because they cannot hit the president and premier.
Former department of health minister Yaung Chih-liang (楊志良) made the comment at an event organized for Hon Hai Precision Industry Co founder Terry Gou (郭台銘) in Hsinchu City on Sunday.
When speaking about domestic violence, Yaung said that it exists “because the public is unable to beat up President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and Premier Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁), as they have security escorts for protection. So people instead hit people who are weaker than them, by beating up their wives and children.”
Photo: Wang Yi-sung, Taipei Times
Late on Sunday evening, Presidential Office spokesperson Olivia Lin (林聿禪) asked Yaung to apologize.
“We strongly condemn those talking about domestic violence for derision purposes, using it to attack others, and Yaung should publicly apologize,” she said.
Hsueh said that Yaung was using partisan politics “to find excuses for domestic violence,” adding that “it is complete nonsense.”
“Although in the past people believed that ‘legal authority cannot apply inside family homes,’ it took a lot of work and quite a long time to change the public’s thinking [on domestic violence]. There can be no excuse for domestic abuse,” he said.
In response to media queries, Yaung yesterday questioned why he should apologize.
“I can speak out as a member of the public... Are we not in a democratic country?” he said.
“I don’t want to apologize. What can they do to me? Would the Presidential Office send people over to arrest me and throw me in jail?” he added.
Regarding the connection between domestic violence and Tsai, he said: “Right now Taiwanese are living under terrible conditions. Is this caused by me, or by that person in the Presidential Office? Those rotten eggs inside the Presidential Office are the ones responsible.”
On reports that advisers for Gou, who yesterday announced his intention to run as an independent in next year’s presidential election, want Yaung to apologize, he said “that is their business, not mine.”
“I believe what I said was correct. You cannot say it was a gaffe, just because the words are not pleasant for people to hear,” he said.
Meanwhile, health authorities urged the public to call the 113 hotline if they are in a domestic violence or abusive situation. They can also seek help at local government’s centers for prevention of domestic violence and sexual assault.
Additional reporting by Jason Pan
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