Darkest Day for Taiwan's Free Press: NCC Denies CtiTV News License Renewal
News Compiled and Reported by Taiwan Weekly
On November 18, the National Communications Commission (NCC) announced that it has denied the application by Chung Tien Television (CtiTV) News channel for license renewal. As a result, CtiTV News will be prohibited to broadcast news in Cable TV from December 12 on, as its license will be expired on December 11. The head of the NCC, Chairman Chen Yaw-shyang indicated that the seven commissioners unanimously made the decision.
Professor Su Hen of National Chengchi University College of Communication, also former chairman of the NCC, opined that this is an intentional act motivated by party interest, attesting to the rampant abuse of power by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Professor Su reiterated that closing a news channel is tantamount to clamping public opinion and trampling on democracy. Although there are different views on CtiTV News' political position and its way of broadcasting, "a death sentence is not warranted."
Former President Ma Ying-jeou commented on Facebook that since DPP became the ruling party, in order to consolidate its power, it has used various kind of political means to intimidate its opponents and dissidents and restrict freedom of speech via some seemingly gorgeous slogans such as "transitional justice," "national security," and "protection of democracy." Now the DPP has committed an evil act only a totalitarian country is capable of—closing out a television news channel. "The administration of President Tsai Ing-wen has brought forth the darkest day in Taiwan’s free press.” Ma appealed to the public to speak out and criticize this evil act of the Tsai administration, or every media might be the next victim.
Chairman Yu Ying-lung of the Taiwan Public Opinion Foundation also commented on Facebook that this is unfortunate for Taiwan's democracy. It has not only trampled on Taiwan's freedom of speech and freedom of the press, it has also damaged the image Taiwan used to enjoy as a benign democracy. He further emphasized that this is unprecedented, since the establishment of the NCC in 2006, that a television news channel, which enjoys a significant viewership, is not allowed to run on the same channel.
CtiTV News said in its statement that the NCC has accomplished the political mission assigned by President Tsai and Premier Su Tseng-chang. "Today is the darkest day of Taiwan's freedom of the press and freedom of speech in 30 some years since the lifting of martial law." Chairman Tsai Eng-meng of Want Want China, which owns CtiTV, further alleged in his Facebook that the denial of CTI's license renewal is an outright political maneuver.
The revocation of CtiTV News’ license this month, together with the lifting of restrictions on the import of American pork containing ractopamine in August by the Tsai administration, have increased the resentment of the people against the government and combined to trigger waves of civil protests. On the night of November 21, tens of thousands of people had congregated in the Freedom Plaza against the rain to protest on the following theme: "The NCC has killed the freedom of the press." The protesters all shouted "down with President Tsai and Premier Su." On November 22, some 40 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the areas of food safety, free speech, and environmental protection gathered in downtown Taipei to protest the Tsai administration.