The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is speaking out against a self-proclaimed citizen journalist’s insulting of an elderly veteran.
The citizen journalist, Hong Su-chu, has come under fire for using hate speech in a video she posted on Facebook on Thursday. The video was shot in a Kaohsiung park and shows Hong shouting at the Chinese-born veteran, telling him to “go back to China.”
DPP spokesman Ruan Jhao-syong said on Friday that the DPP condemns the irresponsible behavior. He said that Hong was deliberately trying to use hate speech to trigger animosity between different communities.
Ruan said Taiwan is a democracy and that no citizen should be subjected to discrimination on the basis of their political beliefs or country of origin.
“[We think] Ms. Hong’s hate speech and her despicable act of disseminating the video go beyond the scope of freedom of speech. The DPP is calling on government agencies to take the initiative in conducting an investigation in order to stop uncivilized things like that from happening again," said Ruan.
Ruan also called on the public to say no to hate speech.
Meanwhile, Kaohsiung City Government Spokesman Ernesto Ting also condemned Hong’s actions. Ting said that Hong is a radical, not a journalist, and that the city government will take steps to address the issue if she is found guilty of harassing other citizens.