Taiwan Tati Cultural and Educational Foundation

Cause for concern over press index

Taipei Times

The latest Worldwide Press Freedom Index released on Tuesday by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) saw Taiwan’s ranking plummet to 59th place from last year’s 36th. While the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus was quick to dismiss the significance of the report — with some KMT lawmakers questioning whether it harbored a “certain ideology” (without elaborating) — Taiwan’s poor showing this year should serve as a wake-up call on government interference with the Fourth Estate.

Letter to Time on “Reshooting History in a New China.”

Yi-Chang (Leo) Wang

Dear Mr. Abdoolcarim:

Thank you for the informing and interesting article on the October 19^th Asia edition of Time magazine, “Reshooting History in a New China.” However, I write to voice, on the behalf of Tati Foundation, that the Chinese leadership’s thinking has not changed at all since the founding of this totalitarian and Communist regime. As you have mentioned, injustices and corruption are rampant in China today. For an average Chinese citizen, life remains tough. Just like the widespread turmoil and ceaseless revolution in first half of CCP’s sixty years. Just like the pre-revolutionary KMT regime, riddled with corruption and brutality. In short, just like the same old days.

Anti-corruption is no carte blanche

Chen Chun-kai 陳君愷

As many people expected, former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) received a heavy sentence — life in jail — after being found guilty in a graft case against him. After receiving the sentence, Chen’s appeal to be released from detention was, like many also expected, unsuccessful, and he remains in detention.

To no one’s surprise, pan-blue media commentators applauded the decisions and continued hurling attacks at the “corrupt family.” While anti-corruption efforts should be acknowledged and supported, it is very hard to understand how “anti-corruption” has taken precedence over the principles of having competent judges, due process and basic human rights, such as a fair defense for the accused and the presumption of innocence.

Columbus Day is not an occasion to be proud

Chi Chun-chieh 紀駿傑

Oct. 12 is Columbus Day in the US, a national holiday. On that day and the preceding couple of days, celebrations are held across the country to commemorate white Europeans’ “discovery” of the New World, which actually means occupation and colonization.

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