Taiwan Tati Cultural and Educational Foundation

Coalition concerned over referendum changes

Taipei Times

From left, Animal Protection Administration Oversight Committee convener Wang Wei-chi, Taiwan Alliance for Animal Rights Policy executive director Ho Tsung-hsun, Aletheia University associate professor of law Wu Ching-chin and Negative Vote Association president Sam Chang express concerns over proposed changes to the Referendum Act at a news conference in Taipei yesterday.
Photo: Chu Pei-hsiung, Taipei Times

A coalition of civil groups yesterday expressed concern that the Central Election Commission’s proposed changes to the Referendum Act (公民投票法) could restrict people’s rights and result in “a step backward for democracy.”

NTU president Kuan should resign

Taipei Times Editorial

Not long after Kuan Chung-ming (管中閔) took office as National Taiwan University (NTU) president, the Control Yuan on Tuesday decided to impeach him. This was just the latest development in a hugely controversial selection process for the top job in the nation’s most prestigious university.

The reason for impeaching Kuan was his undertaking to supply from 2010 to 2016 opinion pieces, published anonymously, to Chinese-language Next Magazine, for which he received NT$650,000 per year, on an understanding that he would be paid NT$50,000 per month, with an additional NT$25,000 every June and December.

Control Yuan votes to impeach Kuan

Taipei Times

Control Yuan members, left to right, Tsai Chung-yi, Chen Shih-meng and Wang Yu-ling talk to the media after the Control Yuan passed a motion to impeach National Taiwan University president Kuan Chung-ming yesterday.
Photo: CNA

The Control Yuan yesterday voted seven to four to impeach National Taiwan University (NTU) president Kuan Chung-ming (管中閔) for allegedly breaching the Civil Servant Work Act (公務員服務法) by writing opinion pieces for the Chinese-language Next Magazine (壹週刊) while serving as minister without portfolio.

Tsai must back words with actions

Taipei Times Editorial

The main difference between political pundits and elected officials is that pundits can at most drive national conversation and help shape public opinion, whereas officials have been given the authority to turn words into actions. Many wonder what actions the Democratic Progressive Party government will take to back up President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) tough talk following Chinese President Xi Jinping’s (習近平) remarks on Jan. 2.

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