pic.
: "台灣貪污"排名俄羅斯Yandex of Russia
第1 , 測試於
3-12-2020 (英文
版)
pic.
: "台灣貪污"排名Yandex
第2 , 測試於
10-25-2019 (英文
版)
★
"台灣貪污"排名US
Bing第一 , 測試於7-26-2019,
11-28-2018 (英文
版);
No.2 at 3-12-2020
★
美國國務院人權報告 3-11-2020: 台灣這一年不斷有官員貪污的報告 (There
were reports of official corruption
during the year. nine ranking
officials, 72 mid-level, 115 low-level,
and 11 elected people’s deputies had
been indicted for corruption.)。
政商人脈網絡、「家族政治」的壟斷資源、收賄貪腐，都是長期令人詬病的結構問題。在2018年基層選舉以後，全台有12個家族將縣市議長職位傳承給
其親屬，其間若發生金權利益交換，一般民眾根本難以一窺堂奧
(brief 蘋論 8-4-2020 https://tw.appledaily.com/headline/20200804/FH6DI3F3CYJV2SOIIEGKRGDHKQ/
)。自「民主先生」李登輝
引入黑金政治 (
SCMP, 7-30-2020 :
the use of extensive factional networks, regardless of whether they were linked
to local interest groups or underworld figures )，演化至今集體、跨黨、以白手套公關收賄;
同黨立委或雨露均霑、或包庇護短，即使對於他黨政敵，
往往也不擋人財路 (蘋論
8-3-2020 https://tw.appledaily.com/headline/20200803/BQXMSWTYOVERHBPGLUKPXAA5LQ/
) 。
聯合報 8-6-2020 社論指出:
過去類似案件往往一拖逾十年仍以無罪收場， 「一碰到立委，台灣司法果真就是沒完沒了沒真相嗎？」。台灣民主的貪污腐化，無論如何政黨輪替、仍舊醜陋腥臭，積重難返; 「立委收賄的故事似乎
也從未停歇」 (聯合報 8-3-2020)。
中國時報 言論部(8-6-2020)直陳 民進黨只會選舉，沒有治國人才，選舉花錢太多，選後只好多方聚財，因而「濫權成習、貪腐叢生」。今日台灣要選上民代所費不貲
，連低層級的民代選舉動輒也要數千萬到上億元經費，「台灣民主的道路怎會好走？」(經濟日報主筆馬凱教授)。在時代力量黨主席與 民進黨中常委、幾名立委因涉貪遭聲押(8-1-2020)後，民主的形象更是蒙灰 (
for more
Pork Barrel
examples, see TVBS news, 12-10-2019 :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GY6TP7JW398
)中時 (
https://www.chinatimes.com/opinion/20200806005356-262105?chdtv陳朝平
) 評論(8-7-2020)台灣貪腐不斷,「問題就出在李登輝6次修憲，把民主政治中最具關鍵的制衡機制修得不見了」，形成行政院長有責無權，總統有權無責,
陽光法案等於是正當化收賄惡行。
聯合報
1-8-2020
社論: 台灣執政黨『集體分贓』，司法檢調唯唯諾諾不敢調查權貴...
(brief)
蘋果日報
7-10-2020
社論:
民進黨創黨精神不再掛嘴上，清廉好像退了流行
、包庇自己
民進黨黨政高層的視若無睹，青壯世代的異常緘默，監委濃烈黨派背景，政風、司法體系的不動如山，許多人對台灣未來不禁更憂心忡忡
( brief :
https://tw.appledaily.com/headline/20200710/662HH2WBZ4WBUVCWNWG6FJEYLY/
)。
聯合報
7-10-2020 社論:
比貪婪吃相更難看的，是政府酬庸包庇。
Transparency International
2020年公布的2019年台灣貪腐指數是65/100分，
較前一年63分稍高。Transparency International 1-29-2019:
台灣貪腐不像南韓有所進展
(Taiwan
has stagnated in the Corruption Perspective Index rankings since 2011 with its
score 61~63 (dropped 2 spots this year), in contrast, South Korea improved by 3
points in 2017.)。
Transparency International (Taiwan)
1-8-2020: 台灣最高層(總統 行政院長)應強力宣示反貪與肅貪決心，落實機關透明程序，讓司法體系感受高層決心
((brief)
apple daily, 曹耀鈞)。
美國國務院人權報告 3-11-2020: 台灣這一年不斷有官員貪污的報告 (There
were reports of official corruption
during the year. nine ranking
officials, 72 mid-level, 115 low-level,
and 11 elected people’s deputies had
been indicted for corruption.)。
Transparency International
2020年公布的2019年台灣貪腐指數是65/100分，
較前一年63分稍高。
Transparency International 1-29-2019:
台灣貪腐不像南韓有所進展
(Taiwan
has stagnated in the Corruption Perspective Index rankings since 2011 with its
score 61~63 (dropped 2 spots this year), in contrast, South Korea improved by 3
points in 2017.)Transparency
International (Taiwan) 1-8-2020:
台灣最高層(總統 行政院長)應強力宣示反貪與肅貪決心，落實機關透明程序，讓司法體系感受高層決心
((brief)
apple daily, 曹耀鈞)
蘋果日報 (7-25-2019, forum) :
市議員批評國安局走私菸，揭穿了集體貪腐的文化，亟需制度改革...
聯合報(8-25-2018): Transparency
International 前主席 Jose Ugaz
指出新形態貪污是Grand
Corruption(權貴貪污犯罪)，須司法與人民一起合擊。據聯合國反貪腐公約國家報告，五位國際審查委員建議台灣更加限制日益嚴重之公司之政治獻金，並修公司法防濫用洗錢機制。
2019年公布的台灣CPI ( 2018
Transparency International 貪污指數
Corruption Perceptions Index)
分數63分(滿分100)，退步二名。
2016 ~
2018年公布之美國國務院公布人權報告( USA Country
Reports on Human Rights practices) 一再指出台灣主要人權問題之一是官員貪污。2015年
台灣高官貪污人數幾乎是前一年的一倍。2016年，官員貪污
仍然是主要人權問題。
★
美國國務院公布人權報告
USA
Country Reports on Human Rights practices, 4.20.2018
台灣主要人權問題之一是貪污。 司法單位不夠獨立因此不易對付政客 (the justice
ministry was insufficiently independent and conducted politically motivated
investigations of politicians. )。
★
蘋果日報
Apple Daily,
5-12-2018, Focus comments (https://tw.appledaily.com/forum/daily/20180512/38011358
林達)
翻轉貪腐無罪王國
速訂餽贈罪- 台灣高院判課員索2億抽佣四千萬無罪 , 台需要
Gratuity Law 法如美國之 US 18 U.S.C. &
201(c) .
●●
★
蘋果日報
Apple Daily,
5-15-2018, Focus comments
對價關係
(“quid
pro quo",
"Consideration relationship")
是貪污犯逃生門
.
●
★
美國國務院公布人權報告
USA
Country Reports on Human Rights practices, 3.3.2017
2017年月公布之美國國務院公布人權報告( USA Country
Reports on Human Rights practices)指出台灣主要人權問題之一是官員貪污。
201 名官員 包括23名高官貪污 charges. 中正大學研究(National Chung Cheng University)
76%受訪者不滿意政府反貪不足。外籍
移工人權遭仲介剝削、是官員貪污的受害者。
國際透明組織(Transparency
International)近日公布「2016貪腐印象指數(Corruption Perceptions Index
2016)」，台灣清廉度以61分排名第31，較去年退步1分。 紐西蘭與丹麥同以90分並列第1。芬蘭、瑞典、瑞士分居3到5名。
亞洲國家中Singapore最高 score 84 ranking No.7, Hong Kong at No.15 with 77 points,
日本 No.20 with 72 points。 國際民粹興起恐使貪腐惡化。
★
★
美國國務院公布人權報告
USA
Country Reports on Human Rights practices, 4.13.2016
◎ 2016年，官員貪污
仍然是台灣主要人權問題。
台灣司法界因貪污受創，雖努力過試圖對付貪污與政治審判(政治影響司法)，問題仍舊存在，Authorities
indicted 285 officials, including 22 high-ranking officials, on corruption
charges during the year.
★
★ 美國傳統基金會(<Heritage
Foundation> ) 02-02-
2016
美國智庫傳統基金會與華爾街日報發布《2016經濟自由度指數》（2016 Index of Economic
Freedom），政治與財團仍糾纏，並特別點出黑心油問題，可能有食用油業者與政客關係密切而逃過檢查；報告另認為，勞工自由和公眾財政管理需要關注。
★
美國國務院公布人權報告
USA
Country Reports on Human Rights practices, 6.26.2015
● 台灣主要人權問題是官員貪污與外籍與本地勞工之被剝削(Principal
human rights problems / labor exploitation of migrant workers by fishing
companies, exploitation of domestic workers by brokerage agencies, and official
corruption.)
● 687官員(69
高階官員)貪污Some legal scholars and politicians alleged that the Ministry of
Justice was not sufficiently independent, claiming that ministry authorities
conducted politically motivated investigations of politicians. authorities
indicted 687 officials, including 69 high-ranking officials, on corruption
charges during the year. There were no reports of impunity.
... 台灣政商勾結在台灣仍是一個問題，相對而言相當高度的貪污情況依然存在。("2015 Index of Economic Freedom" : a relatively high level of perceived corruption
and a rigid labor market still restrain Taiwan’s overall economic freedom.)
★
美國國務院公布的2013年人權報告 The US Country Reports on Human Rights Practices
for 2013, released at 2.27.2014.
(2)司法貪瀆 及政治審判問題 : the judicial system suffered
from corruption, and that the impartiality of judges and prosecutors involved in
high-profile and politically sensitive cases had been questioned.
★
PERC’s 2015 Report on
Corruption in Asia,
Asian Intelligence Reports Index 4-1-2015
http://www.asiarisk.com/subscribe/exsum1.pdf
台灣貪污是個敏感題目， 柯市長廣受歡迎因他減少公務員貪污機會...corruption within Taiwan remains a very sensitive issue that could be
politicized more the closer the time comes to the next elections. The new mayor
of Taipei, a political independent, has been very popular because of his
initiatives to reduce the opportuntiies for corruption at the municipal level.
He is focusing on shortcomings that both major political parties have tended to
gloss over, and this could cause these issues to get a lot more attention in the
future, especially if he makes changes that produce positive results ? or are
seen to do so.
Ranking and scores in Asia:
Singapore 1.33, Japan 1.55, Australia 2.61, Hong Kong 3.17, Macao
4.58, USA 4.59, Malaysia 4.96, Taiwan 5.00
★ <Transparency International>,
12.2.2014
Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2014:
台灣分數 61 ，分數與前二年相同
(2014, 2013, 2012), 其他亞太國家分數: New Zealand 91, Singapore 84 Australia 80, Hong Kong 74, Japan 76, Bhutan 65,
etc.
★ 《美國傳統基金會》和《華爾街日報》
「2014全球經濟自由度指數」（Index of Economic Freedom）報告,
1.13.2014
1. 台灣廉潔度不及格。
2. 台灣退步指標包括下列:
Freedom From Corruption (
59.7 declined); Business Freedom (93.9);
Monetary Freedom(81.7);
Labor Freedom(53.1);Government
Spending(84.7);Fiscal
Freedom(80.3)
3.
台灣有兩項指標低於60分、處於不及格狀態，包括免於貪腐、勞動自由，分數分別為59.7分以及53.1分；
管中閔表示，免於貪腐方面，確實還有很大的進步空間。
4. Index of Economic Freedom，台灣進步3名。
★
PERC’s 2014 Report on
Corruption in Asia,
Asian Intelligence Reports Index
3.19. 2014 by <政經風險顧問公司>
(POLITICAL & ECONOMIC RISK CONSULTANCY LTD (HK based))
★
美國國務院公布的二○一二年人權報告 The US Country Reports on Human Rights Practices
for 2012, released at April 19, 2013.
台灣主要的問題在貪腐和對婦女與兒童的暴力。貪腐 :
“Although the authorities made efforts to eliminate
corruption and diminish political influence in the
judiciary, some residual problems remained,”...“During the
year, judicial reform advocates pressed for greater
public accountability, reforms of the personnel
system and other procedural reforms,”.
“Although the
authorities made efforts to eliminate corruption and diminish
political influence in the
judiciary, some residual problems remained,” the report
said.
政治評論與學界公開質疑檢察官與法官的公正性The report also said that political commentators and academics
had publicly questioned the impartiality of judges and
prosecutors involved in high-profile and politically
sensitive cases.
台灣最貪污的單位:
(1)
The came-out worst corruption institution: the 立法院Legislative Yuan( 75 % of
respondents feeling the institution was affected by
corruption)
(2) 政黨the political parties
(74%)
(3) 媒體Taiwan's media (62%)
(4) 司法judiciary (57%)
(5) 軍警公僕police, the military, public officials and civil
servants all finishing at 56 percent
(6) non-governmental organizations (31%)
◆
Percentage(%) of respondents who
felt these institutions were corrupt/extremely corrupt in this
country/territory 多少比例受訪者認為台灣這些單位是一般甚至極端貪污?
立法院75% of respondents in Taiwan who felt that
parliament/legislature( the
Legislative Yuan)
were corrupt/extremely corrupt ;
政黨74% political parties; 媒體 62% media; 司法
57% judiciary;
警方 56% police; 軍方 56% military; 公僕
56% public officials and servants;
醫療 47% medical and health services; 教育 45% educational systems;
44% business; 33% religious bodies; 非營利 31%
NGOs( non-governmental organizations)
(2)
◆To
what extent do you think corruption is a
problem in the public sector in this
country/territory?貪污多嚴重?
7%: not really a problem;
27%: a slight problem;
35%: it's a problem; 31%: serious
problem
(3)
◆
Have you or anyone in your
household paid a bribe to one of these 8 services in the last 12 months?
家庭成員曾賄賂那些機構?
35% judiciary; 21% medical and health services;
16% educational systems; 16% police;
15% tax revenue; 15% registry & permit
services; 17% utility; 11%
land service;
(4)
◆over
the past 2 years how has the level of corruption in the
country/territory changed?23%
decrease a lot; 48% decrease a little;
17% stayed the same; 9% increase a little;
3% increase a lot
(5)
◆How
effect your government actions are in the fight against corruption?
政府打擊貪污有效?
very ineffective: 14%; ineffective: 32%, etc
(6)
◆
Institutions perceived by
respondents to be among the most affected by corruption?political
party: Taiwan is one among 51 countries of 107 perceived political party
to be among the institutions most affected by corruption.
parliament & legislature: Taiwan is one among 7 countries of 107
perceived parliament & legislature to be among the institutions most
affected by corruption.
(7)
◆To
what extent do you agree that ordinary people can make a difference in
the fight against corruption? 平民百姓能打擊貪污
51% agree; 28% disagree; 8% strong disagree; 13%
strong agree
ps: 2013 Corruption Perception index TW rank 36 score 61 same as that in
2012 (Singapore 5, HK 15, Japan 18)
台灣清廉指數排名37，比2011年排名32退步5位
(Reuters) - In Transparency
International's 2012 Corruption
Perceptions Index, 在全球176國家中，丹麥、芬蘭、紐西蘭共同排名第一，瑞典與新加坡排名第四與五。
(CNA台灣之中央社) Taiwan was ranked 37th among 176
nations and regions in an annual global
index on the perception of corruption in
the public sector, dropping five spots
from last year, In 2011, Taiwan was
ranked 32nd among 183 nations and
territories. China remained in
80th place with a score of 39 - which
means Failure.
★
<國際特赦組織> 英國 倫敦 (Amnesty International, London, UK),
annual report The State of the
World's Human Rights 2012, May 24, 2012
★
<美國國務院人權報告
USA Country Reports on Human Rights practices>,
May 24, 2012
高層官員貪污it
highlighted the problem of corruption in
Taiwan, saying more than 400 officials were
indicted on corruption charges in the past
year, including 54 high-ranking officials.
司法體系貪污In addition, it said the judicial system
in Taiwan “suffered from some corruption.”
政治與學術評論質疑檢察官與法官
之公正性The impartiality of judges and
prosecutors involved in high-profile and
politically sensitive cases was being
questioned by some political commentators
and academics, the report said.
★<Taiwan News>,
台灣人不大相信司法，
according to
"2012 Taiwan Human Rights Indicator Survey",
about 53.5 percent of the
respondents gave the protection of judicial human rights a
negative rating, compared with 21.4 percent who rated it
positively.
<
2011年全球行賄指數>評比，台灣較2008年退步5名。 ◎
台灣在 TI's 2011 “Bribe Payers" index排名
(19th) 後段, 總共 28 國家接受調查 (surveyed)
◎ Taiwan fell
from 14th place in the index released in
2008, when 22 countries were
scrutinized.
◎ 柏林(The
Berlin-based organization)總部訪查 3,016
business executives（共 30 國家）, 問題是： how often companies in the
countries polled engaged in bribery.
台灣獲得分數為 6.1 [滿分 10] ， 亞太國家分數
: New Zealand 9.5, Singapore 9.2 , Hong Kong 8.2, Japan 8.0等。
要繼續改善台灣排名, 政府必須進行長期的教育計畫以提昇公民對於清廉政治(clean politics and governance)的價值觀念，
此外，政府與立法院( legislature) 必須對處理相關政府官員( government
officials') special allowance funds的事務更為謹慎, 等等。
★
<國際特赦組織> 英國 倫敦 (Amnesty International, London, UK),
annual report The State of the
World's Human Rights 2011, May 13, 2011
Taiwan was criticized over issues to
do with the death
penalty, freedom of expression,
justice ( also voiced concerns over
the slow progress to enact a judges' act
to address corruption scandals involving
high court judges
法官涉集體收賄醜聞 and over the working
conditions of migrant workers.) and migrants' rights.
★
<美國傳統基金會>&<華爾街日報>共同發布 (
A joint project of The Heritage
Foundation and The Wall Street Journal. ),
2011年1月12日
台灣"避免貪污 Freedom from Corruption"
分數 56 ( 為 2007年以來最差
)
World Corruption Index:
Singapore No.1, Australia No.8 (score
8.7), HK No.13 (8.4), Japan No. 17
(7.8), Qatar No.19 (7.7), US No.22
(7.1), Taiwan No.33 (5.8)
台灣人認為過去三年台灣貪污腐化:
一樣(stayed the same) 35%, 更壞(increased)
42%, 轉好( decreased) 23%。
ps: <自由時報>:
貪腐惡化與沒有改善的合計高達七成七 ...... 突凸顯貪腐仍然嚴重。
★
英國
<經濟學人>（The
Economist）
2010年7月22日
「台灣的腐敗—確認司法體系中最不堪的質疑」（Corruption
in Taiwan--Confirming the worst
suspicions）為題，報導了令台灣蒙羞的醜聞 :
前立委何智輝涉嫌行賄法官，導致一名檢察官與四名司法官收押案，這件長達十年以上的最大司法貪污醜聞讓台灣司法界的貪污謠傳獲得了證實，也讓人民的憤怒達到了沸點。
文中質疑「廉政署」非直屬於總統而是法務部，並沒有像星、港的獨立調查功能。
three
high-court judges and a
prosecutor had been detained
amid allegations that they took
bribes to fix the outcome of a
high-profile case, has brought
public outrage to boiling point.
The case is Taiwan’s
biggest
judicial-corruption scandal in
over a decade.
“The
significance of this case is
that it makes all the rumours a
reality,”
The country’s president, announced the
formation of a
new commission to
battle corruption and
vote-buying.
Such talk is ...
drawing comparisons to
Singapore’s Corrupt Practices
Investigation Bureau and Hong
Kong’s Independent Commission
Against Corruption. But, unlike
those bodies, the Taiwanese
commission will
not report
directly to the president, but
only to the justice ministry,
where tangled
bureaucracy and
civil servants who are
deferential to their political
bosses could limit action.
In any case, complains the
opposition Democratic
Progressive Party (DPP), and
various experts, such a
commission will be toothless as
long as it is nearly impossible
to sack bad judges and
prosecutors. An act calling for
such a mechanism has long been
stalled in parliament.
★
<美國人權報告>（USA
Country Reports on Human Rights
practices）
2010年3月11日 www.state.gov
四項主要人權缺失之一 : 台灣官員貪污 One out of 4 major problems :
Taiwan corruption by officials
★
英國
<The Economist> Jan 22nd
2009"Political
corruption in Taiwan"
台灣 的選擇性辦案 Taiwan expert at Monash University in Australia, points
out that recent corruption
investigations have mainly been aimed at
opposition politicians; prosecutors seem
far less interested in investigating KMT
figures.
★
時代雜誌 <TIME> USA, 2009
Chen (former president of ROC Taiwan) insists his case is one of political
persecutions by the new Kuomintang administration, which has been forging closer
ties with China since coming into power ......
In some ways, Chen's trial is a positive sign that the justice system
is alive ...
★
< Political and Economic Risk Consultancy Ltd. (PERC) >
World Media viewpointson
Former President of Taiwan Goes on Trial for Corruption
★
華盛頓郵報 <Washington
Post>, <Newsweek> USA
台灣的民主與髒錢 Democracy and Dirty Money in Taiwan
August
18, 2008
You have to love what's happening in Taiwan. Yeah,
..... the former President of Taiwan, Chen Shui-bian, has just been banned from leaving the
island and the Swiss are investigating a bank
account that contains $20 million.
Chen, the first opposition candidate to become
president of Taiwan, came into office promising to
clean up what is known on that island as the culture
of "hei qian" or dirty money. Hmmm.
...... The Taiwan story is remarkable, however, not just
because it involves the fall of failed president but
because it is happening at all.
It underscores the
fact that Taiwan's democracy, while still plagued by
corruption, is trying to keep it house clean. As
such it's good news for Taiwan and, who knows,
perhaps good news for the many Chinese on mainland
China who look to Taiwan and its political system
with some hope and maybe a little admiration. Could
this happen in China, too? (John Pomfret
)
★
紐約時報 <New York Times> USA
Former President of Taiwan Is Detained in
a Corruption Inquiry November 11, 2008
The former president paused briefly before television
cameras, raised his arms and defiantly shouted, “Long
live Taiwan!” and “Political persecution!”
Mr. Chen, one of Taiwan’s most controversial
political figures, ...
Mr. Chen has suggested that prosecutors are focusing
on him to win favor from Beijing..... (By
DAVID BARBOZA)
★ 紐約時報
<New York Times> USA
Taiwan’s Former President Goes on Trial for Corruption
March 26, 2009
But Mr. Chen .... has maintained the charges are a plot
by Taiwan’s current president,
Ma Ying-jeou, to win favor with China’s government.
...“In order to win favors and protection from Beijing,
the KMT”......
Although the evidence against Mr. Chen is strong,
some analysts say the government’s handling of the case
has been less than deft. Prosecutors were criticized
after they participated in
a skit before Justice Ministry officials that
clearly mocked Mr. Chen. Mr. Chen has won sympathy by
claiming that his detention without bail — and, at
first, without any contact with his family — has been
unjustly harsh.
“The prosecutors have been going a bit wild, and how
this trial is conducted will be critical,”...... “This is an important
landmark in Taiwan’s whole process of democratization.”
(
By
MICHAEL WINES )
★
英國 泰晤士時報 < The Times> UK
★
<New York Times> USA Sept.
11, 2009
...... Mr. Chen blasted the proceedings as a "tool
for political suppression and persecution" by his
successor......
Mr. Chen was the first politician outside the
Kuomintang to become president of Taiwan, after he
helped lead a pro-democracy movement that opposed
martial law and other strict measures put in place
by the Kuomintang. Martial law was not lifted until
1987, and the island's first multi-party elections
held in 1996. Mr. Chen had strongly campaigned
against the corruption that many Taiwanese saw as
widespread within the Kuomintang, which retreated to
Taiwan after losing the Chinese civil war to the
Communists in 1949.
(Michael Wines)
★
時代雜誌 <TIME> USA, 2009
Chen (former president of ROC Taiwan) insists his case is one of political
persecutions by the new Kuomintang administration, which has been forging closer
ties with China since coming into power ......
In some ways, Chen's trial is a positive sign that the justice system
is alive ...
★
英國
<BBC> UK
Taiwan court rejects
Chen Shui-bian corruption appeal
11
June 2010
... He denies the charges and has said he is
being punished by the pro-Beijing government for
his independence views ...
His supporters say the current Taiwanese
government - which favours closer relations with
China - is persecuting the former president for
upsetting Beijing by pushing for formal
independence while he was in office.
... The government has insisted Chen's case is
being dealt with according to the law, says our
correspondent.
Taiwan has been ruled separately from China
since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949,
...... But Beijing sees the island as a breakaway
province which should be reunified with the
mainland, by force if necessary.
★
<New York Times> USA
Corruption Scandal at Top Tests Taiwan's Democracy
November
25, 2006
At times, Taiwanese politics is a blend of opera and
blood sport, and this is one of those times. Scandal and
outrage, lying and humiliation -- all of it messy and
delivered in a loud, public fashion -- are consuming
political life here, as a virtual death watch has
settled over the second term of President Chen Shui-bian.
''In 10 years, when we look back, this could be a
turning point for Taiwan's democracy to become mature,''
...... ''Right now, it is a disgrace, and
it is quite humiliating. But once we get past this, I
think Taiwan's politics will get a lot cleaner.''
Politically, Taiwan's symbolic power has always been
as a democratic counterpoint to China. But democracy in
Taiwan remains a work in progress that has been
repeatedly challenged during Mr. Chen's tenure. The
pivotal recent event occurred Nov. 3 when a prosecutor
in Taipei, the capital, indicted the first lady and also
announced that Mr. Chen, immune from prosecution as
president, could face charges after he left office. For
a judicial branch regarded as a weak constitutional
pillar, it was a historic moment.
''This is very hard evidence that at last we have a
fair and independent-minded judicial branch,'' ...... ''The
principle of separation of power has taken root in
Taiwan.''
★
<The China
Post> Taiwan
Problem with corruption is scarring Taiwan's
democracy August 9, 2010
A former president
jailed for graft, a retired head of military police
indicted for embezzlement, three top judges accused of
taking bribes — the list goes on. Taiwan has a problem
with corruption.
"Social values are distorted to the extent that being
clean has come to count as a plus for a civil servant
rather than a basic requirement," said George Tsai, a
political scientist at Chinese Culture University in
Taipei.
“It takes time to eradicate corruption but people's
patience is limited and they are demanding quick
results.
“Corruption in Taiwan is at a critical junction and
the government and people have to do more,”
“Otherwise, politically how can Taiwan say to the
world that its democracy should be followed by others,
especially China,” he said.
“Has Taiwan democracy solved
the corruption problem? No, and
Chen Shui-bian is the best proof
of that,”....
“But if we look at
Singapore
and Hong Kong, they prove that
even without western-style
democracy Asian regimes can
establish good governance.”
(By Peter Harmsen, AFP)
PS: All above are abstractions/excerpts from original articles in int'l media.
