Editorials
Monday, May 19, 1997THE kidnapping, torture and murder of a teen-age girl and two other murders of prominent people have shocked and enraged Taiwan residents, resulting in a political crisis that threatens the government of President Lee Teng-hui. People are disgusted with what they perceive as official indifference and lack of effective action. Taipei regime is target
of angry protestersThe crisis erupted after Pai Hsiao-yen, 17, the daughter of a television entertainer, was abducted on April 14. Her bruised, naked body was found in a drainage ditch two weeks later. Last December Peng Wang-ru, an official of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party, was murdered by a cab driver. Earlier the magistrate of Taoyuan County was killed in a gangster-style execution.
On May 4 50,000 citizens demonstrated on the streets of Taipei. They called on the president to replace the cabinet and demanded the resignation of Vice President and Premier Lien Chan, who has been the focus of public anger. Lien refused to resign immediately but said he would step down once an ongoing revision of the constitution is completed, probably in July. Another huge demonstration was held yesterday.
Last week the Taiwan legislature rejected three times motions urging the president to fire Lien. After the last defeat on Friday, the Democratic Progressives said they would temporarily halt their efforts, citing their concerns that social stability might be damaged.
The developments have caused a sharp dip in the popularity of the government just a year after Lee won a landslide victory in Taiwan's first direct presidential election. The leadership was caught off guard by the sudden outcry against crime and government corruption, but is now taking it very seriously.
It was Lee who led the way in making Taiwan more democratic. Now his administration is the target of the demonstrators' wrath. Unlike the old days of authoritarian rule, the protesters now are tolerated by the police. Under a democratic system, people aren't always happy with conditions, but if they aren't they are free to shout their complaints. Unfortunately for Lee, they are in no mood to give him any credit.
IS University of Hawaii quarterback Tim Carey, who pleaded no contest to misdemeanor gambling charges last week, a distant cousin of comedian Jim Carrey? There must be some relation, since the aftermath in the athlete's case is turning into a laugh riot. Especially hilarious is the curious reaction of Rainbow Coach Fred vonAppen to media follow-up. Quarterback fumble
The arrest and no-contest plea for gambling by someone who might be the first-string quarterback for the UH Rainbows certainly is a big deal. UH athletic director Hugh Yoshida should acknowledge that by suspending Carey for at least a few games and sentencing him to several somber hours of community service.
IT was an appalling violation of medical ethics and human rights. Sixty-five years later, the United States has belatedly apologized. In 1932 a syphilis study was started in Tuskegee, Ala., with 400 black men as the subjects. No treatment was provided for them -- not even penicillin after it was declared a cure in 1947 -- nor was their permission requested for the withholding of treatment. They weren't even told what was going on. Tuskegee study
America must ensure that Tuskegee never happens again -- to anyone, regardless of race or religion.
Rupert E. Phillips, CEO
John M. Flanagan, Editor & Publisher
David Shapiro, Managing Editor
Diane Yukihiro Chang, Senior Editor & Editorial Page Editor
Frank Bridgewater & Michael Rovner, Assistant Managing Editors
A.A. Smyser, Contributing Editor
