Regarding a student-led demonstration outside the Executive Yuan demanding that the government conduct a stringent review of an upcoming mega media merger, the Executive Yuan today said it will uphold free speech as guaranteed under the Constitution but declines to express opinions nor influence decisions on individual cases.
Protestors with the Youth Alliance Against Media Monsters maintains Want Want China Times Group's acquisition of four of Next Media Group's news outlets will spell a major setback for Taiwan's media freedom. Regarding the group's claim, the Executive Yuan said it understands all demands by the protestors from the start of the gathering yesterday.
In addition to closely following developments, the Executive Yuan had arranged for officials from the Financial Supervisory Commission, National Communications Commission, Fair Trade Commission, and various departments within the Executive Yuan to be on standby since 2 p.m. yesterday to receive demonstrators. On four separate occasions, officials were dispatched into the crowd inviting protestor representatives into the Executive Yuan to express their grievances or present a petition, but were declined at all four times that afternoon.
The Executive Yuan emphasized that freedom of speech is the cornerstone of a modern democracy, and the Executive Yuan is duty-bound to uphold free speech as guaranteed under the Constitution. Further, because Taiwan is a democracy that respects the rule of law, the government will review the media merger in accordance with legal procedures and will not intervene on account of political interests. Finally, the Executive Yuan will neither express opinions nor influence decisions on individual cases, but will respect the result of lawful reviews conducted by independent agencies.