Film directors and culture industry figures joined with Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers yesterday to condemn proposed motions by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) to slash the budget of the Ministry of Culture, Public Television Service (PTS) and other government bodies.
Prominent film directors Chen Shih-chieh (陳世杰) and Wang Shau-di (王小棣) were among the figures who delivered remarks at a news conference, along with DPP legislators Wu Pei-yi (吳沛憶), Jean Kuo (郭昱晴), Fan Yun (范雲), Lin I-chin (林宜瑾) and Chen Pei-yu (陳培瑜).
The speakers said they would defend Taiwan’s culture and entertainment industries, and fight against political interference by the KMT and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP).
Photo: Tien Yu-hua, Taipei Times
Wu denounced KMT Legislator Jessica Chen (陳玉珍), who a day earlier had sponsored motions to slash NT$5 billion (US$151.86 million) from the government’s budget for the culture and entertainment industries, including cutting PTS’s entire budget of NT$2.309 billion.
Lin Hwai-min (林懷民), choreographer and founder of Cloud Gate Dance Theater, Golden Horse award-winning documentary filmmaker Yang Li-chou (楊力州), film directors Chen Yu-hsun (陳玉勳) and Yang Ya-che (楊雅喆), and other leading cultural figures announced a nationwide petition to protest the planned cuts.
A second petition was initiated by professionals and academics affiliated with Taiwan’s media and culture industries, led by Lee Chin-chuan (李金銓), a professor at the National Chengchi University.
The petition said that KMT legislators would be abusing their power if they slashed the budget of the Ministry of Culture and other institutions.
“PTS exists for the benefit of the public and to serve all of our citizens. It must not be compromised by political and commercial considerations,” it said.
Following the backlash against the proposal earlier this week to slash the entirety of the PTS’ budget, KMT Legislator Wang Hung-wei (王鴻薇) yesterday said that the lawmakers have agreed to reduce this year’s budget for the PTS by just 1 percent
Wang said that the proposal in question was only put forward by Jessica Chen, and that other KMT legislators, including herself, Lo Chih-chiang (羅智強), Ko Chih-en (柯志恩) and Wan Mei-ling (萬美玲), had submitted their own proposals.
Following negotiations with the Education and Culture Committee yesterday, lawmakers decided on a cut of NT$23 million, or 1 percent, Wang said.
Additional reporting by CNA
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