China News Service, Beijing, February 22: Cover-up will only raise more questions and Taiwan must explain the truth about the fishing boat incident

　　China News Service reporter Rong Haisheng

　　Recently, more details of the Taiwanese side's rough treatment of a mainland fishing boat that resulted in the death of two fishermen have been made public. The Taiwanese side's rough behavior in the incident and the DPP authorities' deliberate concealment of the truth are shocking and outrageous.

Human lives are at stake, and Taiwan owes the families of the victims and compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait the truth and explanation.

　　The fishing boat incident on February 14 was very sad. Whether it was for humanitarian reasons or as a matter of routine, Taiwan should have released the video data of the incident as soon as possible to restore the truth and assist the families of the victims to properly handle the aftermath.

However, what the DPP authorities did was not like this.

　　In order to cover up the violence during the incident, the DPP authorities took great pains.

First, immediately after the incident, they claimed that the mainland fishing boat refused inspection and capsized accidentally, implying that it was an "accident."

Then the person in charge of the relevant Taiwan authorities emphasized that the coast guard personnel did not act inappropriately during the incident.

Regarding the request to release the live video, it said that because the investigation is not open to the public, everything is under investigation by the prosecutor.

　　But in the end, paper could not contain the fire.

According to information released by the Kinmen District Prosecutor’s Office on the 20th, a collision occurred during the incident, and there was no on-site video record.

The fishermen who survived the incident also confirmed in an interview with reporters that it was a Taiwan Strait Patrol ship that rushed over and knocked over the fishing boat.

In this regard, the Taiwan Coast Guard can only admit that "the ship's hull came into contact multiple times." As for the on-site video recording, it argued that the time was too short and could not be recorded in time.

　　Such inconsistent words and deeds can only make people question his deliberate concealment of the truth.

It was clearly a collision that caused the mainland fishing boat to capsize and cause casualties, but it only mentioned that it "refuses inspection to snake and accidentally capsized."

According to Taiwan's relevant regulations, the entire process should have been recorded, but in the end, "the incident happened suddenly and there was no time to record it."

By covering up the truth and blatantly distorting and lying, the words and deeds of the DPP authorities not only failed to calm public opinion, but instead aroused more doubts and anger.

　　This fishing boat capsizing incident is not an isolated incident.

Since the Democratic Progressive Party came to power in May 2016, Taiwan has treated mainland fishermen roughly, and incidents of arbitrary arrests of mainland fishing boats and fishermen have occurred frequently.

According to statistics from Taiwan, in the past eight years, it has driven away more than 9,100 fishing boats from the mainland, detained nearly 400 of them, and confiscated more than 80 boats.

　　The DPP authorities have been treating mainland fishermen in a rough and dangerous manner, seriously damaging the interests of mainland fishermen and hurting the feelings of mainland compatriots.

This is also the main reason for this vicious incident.

In this incident, he blindly shirked responsibility and covered up, which further highlighted his lack of humanity.

　　A family member of the victim mentioned during an interview that the deceased fisherman was the backbone of the family. There were old people and young people in the family, and he was needed to maintain their livelihood.

Now that people are gone, a family is left wondering what to do.

He hopes that Taiwan will find out the truth of the matter and provide justice.

　　It is clear that the families of the victims and compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait need an explanation.

The DPP authorities should announce the truth as soon as possible, severely punish those responsible, and let the dead rest in peace and the living comfort.

(over)