USERID_33224 www.AsiaRooms.com Ads by Google Taipei Times - archives Wed, Aug 05, 2009 News Editorials 646679124 visits Front Page * Stronger military needed: report * Premier Liu urges public to conserve water * Tropical Storm Morakot to bring rain to Taiwan * Bill Clinton visits N Korea seeking reporters’ release * China disinfects quarantined plague town Taiwan News * Outbreak worse than expected: Yeh * GIO angered by removal of film * Ailing Siew holds meeting * Civic groups wary of legalization of sex-trade fine print * Taipei City criticized over Deaflympics memorabilia * Chen’s son, Huang plead guilty * Ministry tells THSRC to fix problems or be fined * Minister to crack down on false accusations * Residents unhappy with MRT’s new Neihu Line: survey * Too soon to talk about politics with China: MAC * Kaohsiung says Games boosted use of MRT, buses * ‘Arrow-shooting’ boys face attempted murder charges * EPA photo contest celebrates wetlands * Delegation to travel to China to boost Aboriginal economy * Scientists discuss the past and future of astronomy * Taiwan News Quick Take World News * Four held in Sydney attack plot * China forced children’s accusation: Kadeer * Rights group demands Uzbekistan free reporter * US citizen on trial for visiting Suu Kyi hospitalized * Nine years and 2,000km later, Muffy the dog is reunited with her family * Taliban fires nine rockets into Kabul’s diplomatic district * British MPs attack MI5 in report * Russia warns Tbilisi over ‘events’ * NATO overtures to Russia likely to worry members * Sudanese women protest sentence for wearing pants * Niger’s president pushes referendum to cement power * Body probing claim Serbs were murdered for organs * Fatah congress to keep ‘armed’ option * Extremist Shiite group renounces violence * Venezuelan radio stations forced off the air * Zawahiri takes aim at Obama in new jihadist video * Democrat senators seek Republican votes for car rebate * Concern grows about Tamiflu-resistant swine flu * World News Quick Take Editorials * EDITORIAL: The need to defend one’s own * A tall tale of two ideological camps * Prejudice hurts more than choice of wording * To shop or be free? We must choose * Good capitalism turning to the dark side * Two years after the crunch, are we any wiser? * [LETTERS] Sports * Dogged Australia earn battling draw * Piquet blames Briatore after Renault sacks him * Taiwan gearing up for a comeback at Baseball World Cup * Austrian swimmer Rogan injured in Rome nightclub * Thomas, Tigers rally to beat Orioles * Australia coach slams China after brawl * Sharapova stunts Groth in Los Angeles encounter * RFU bans Bath trio for nine months for missing drug tests * Denny Hamlin ends winless skid at Pocono Raceway * Sports Briefs Business * MediaTek upbeat on Q3 sales * Government takes over financially troubled Kuo Hua * AU Optronics targets to quadruple 8.5G capacity * TSMC mulls acquisition in attempt to boost sales * TMC files plan to help restructure DRAM industry * Winbond forecasts improved operations this quarter * ANZ to purchase part of Royal Bank of Scotland’s businesses in Asia * Allianz questions taxing investment-linked policies * Spending power of Chinese visitors rising: Visa survey * [BUSINESS BRIEFS] World Business * UBS posts smaller second-quarter loss * Standard Chartered earnings rise 10% * Global automakers beat forecasts * Google’s Schmidt resigns from the board of Apple * Beijing warns of ‘grave’ situation in employment market * AIG picks former MetLife chief as president, CEO * World Business Quick Take Features * How to be dapper * Baba Day * Taipei X street style * Savory rice cake * The mystery of the spectacle * EXHIBITIONS Bilingual Pages * Now Germans can pre-book holiday sunloungers 德國遊客可預訂日光浴躺椅 * Business English   Photo News   More Editorials   Johnny Neihu     Community Compass   Back Issue    << >>    Full List TaipeiTimes    Subscribe    Advertise    Employment   FAQ    About Us    Contact Us    Copyright Search Most Read Story Most Viewed Photo Enter your search terms Submit search form Taipei Times  Print  Mail  wiki links [LETTERS] Wednesday, Aug 05, 2009, Page 8 Is democracy dying? Taiwan appears to be losing its democratic brand, and believers in democratic values and human rights should look on with grave concern at recent developments. We may be witnessing a fundamental change in Taiwan as democratically elected politicians restrict democratic participation. The latest matter for concern is the Act Governing the Administrative Impartiality of Public Officials (公務人員行政中立法), which denies research fellows at public academic institutions and public servants the basic democratic right to participate in normal political debate. From June 10, public employees were not allowed to openly support political parties, political organizations or candidates. In addition, they are denied the right to hold meetings, initiate rallies or lead petitions. The legislature, which is three-quarters dominated by the pan-blue camp, has passed a resolution to apply the restrictions to all faculty at public universities by next month. If these initiatives are implemented, Taiwan’s young democracy will be in danger and the nation will lose international support. Taiwan has been praised for its democratic achievements and the world continues to support Taiwan largely for that reason. It would be a tragic mistake if pride in out-of-date and mistaken concepts were to undermine the importance of sharing a democratic future and in the process allow authoritarian ideas to resurface. It is a delicate question: At what point would Taiwan cease to be a democracy? Democracy is not only about holding regular elections; it requires open and free conversations and free political debate among all citizens. The Act Governing the Administrative Impartiality of Public Officials and the attendant legislative resolution are dangerous developments. They will not help Taiwanese and risk diminishing support for Taiwan in the community of democratic nations. MICHAEL DANIELSEN Chairman, Taiwan Corner, Copenhagen, Denmark Razzamatazz indeed Michael Fagan claims in his letter that the World Games did not contribute to Taiwan’s international profile, saying the event was ignored in several foreign newspapers (Letters, Aug. 3, page 8). Fagan is obviously wrong, for in Germany reporting on the Games — sometimes quite detailed — was available in many newspapers, including Sueddeutsche Zeitung, Handelsblatt, Focus, Rheinische Post, Rheinzeitung, FAZ and Tagesspiegel. Even the boycott of the Chinese delegation at the opening ceremony was reported. This is not to say that I disagree with Fagan on the tendency of Taiwanese media to exaggerate the international attention the World Games received. Nor do I deny that international trade is much more vital for “a civilized life on this island” than sports events. But I don’t agree with his contention that “Taiwan’s political class and their supporters are willing to tell ... barefaced lies to the public.” I won’t mistake a reader’s sloppy investigative skills for barefaced lies, but here, too, “razzamatazz” may be an appropriate word. MICHAEL SPECKAMP Koenigswinter, Germany This story has been viewed 1073 times. Advertising Copyright © 1999-2010 The Taipei Times. All rights reserved.
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Is democracy dying?