By Jonathan Chin / Staff writer, with CNA
Taipei officials yesterday defended their decision to ask Our Theatre (阮劇團) to remove stickers supporting Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator and Taipei mayoral candidate Puma Shen (沈柏楊) from a public bulletin at Taipei’s Wellspring Theater, sparking controversy over freedom of speech.
The Chiayi-based troupe is using the city-run venue to perform the play Louder! (噪音風暴).
Our Theatre said it contacted Taipei Department of Cultural Affairs Commissioner Tsai Shih-ping (蔡詩萍) after the venue’s managers requested that the stickers be removed.
A message wall for the Noise Storm theater festival is pictured at Wellspring Theater in Taipei yesterday.
Photo courtesy of Our Theatre
Removing the stickers would be inappropriate, the group told Tsai, who they said voiced concern to protect the troupe from political strife.
“We understand the position of the department and appreciate the commissioner’s concern for and protection of the troupe,” Our Theater said.
“From the troupe’s perspective, the bulletin is a free space for the audience to exchange their opinions, and we respect each audience member’s right to express their views,” it added.
Shen yesterday said the incident is a replay of a previous controversy in which officials asked street vendors to refrain from displaying political messages or slogans at their stands.
“Administrative neutrality applies only to civil servants and public venues, not vendors or theater groups,” he said, adding that the city “may have misinterpreted the law.”
Tsai defended the venue managers’ decision at a news conference, saying that partisan messages are forbidden in publicly owned venues, per municipal regulations.
“Administrative neutrality applies not only to civil servants, but also to public venues and groups utilizing the venues to keep cultural spaces pure and professional,” he said, adding that the department “does not attack freedom of speech.”
The department would have handled the incident exactly the same had the campaign stickers voiced support for Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安), Tsai said.
“Taipei’s municipal venues have followed the same rules governing neutrality for many years and I remind Shen that he should learn about these rules and have some knowledge in civics, as a citizen and politician should,” Tsai added.