公視中英文聲明稿Taiwan PTS Statement

財團法人公共電視文化事業基金會聲明

公共電視之設立，乃依循公共電視法所追求之精神，「為健全台灣公共電視發展，建立公眾服務之大眾傳播制度，維護媒體獨立自主經營，並藉以彌補商業電視之不足，維護國民表達自由及知之權利為核心宗旨」。

如今，在公共電視創台十週年之際，九十七年度法定編列捐贈預算九億元，自去年十二月中遭立法院凍結四億五仟萬元，迄今已長達十二個月仍未撥付。期間公共電視透過正常程序不斷向立法院溝通、向新聞局求援，一切努力，從未間斷；同時更已盡最大努力，配合立法院之需求提供一切管理營運計畫與績效報告，以爭取年度法定預算之解凍，但至今不僅仍未獲得立法院正面之回應，立法院亦未明確告知不解凍之理由。對於主管機關新聞局，公共電視在十一月中亦去函要求協助對仍遭凍結的四億五仟萬元預算申請年度保留，但迄今，同樣未獲新聞局正式回覆。

值此年終歲末之際，公共電視依法應編列捐贈之預算仍有四億五仟萬元遭凍結，已嚴重影響公共電視日常營運週轉、節目製播，以及廠商往來付款之正常運作。昨（12/09）日更驚見立法院教育文化委員會與內政委員會分別通過對公共電視台、原住民族電視台、客家電視台、宏觀電視台之九十八年度預算執行施以附加決議，要求各台於執行明年度預算時須逐項報請主管機關核可同意始能動支，更明文要求原住民族委員會、客家委員會、僑務委員會等機關要對所主管之電視台執行節目製播、審核、監督之責。

對此立法院所作出之主決議事項，已嚴重破壞黨政軍退出媒體之社會共識，更已嚴重侵害媒體獨立自主之精神，違反公共電視之創立價值與無線電視事業公股處理條例之立法目的，更是開台灣媒體自由與民主發展之倒車。

公共電視一切營運乃根據公視法所賦予的法定責任，從未踰越，並尊重立法院與全體公民對公共電視之批評與指教，但絕不接受任何可能破壞媒體獨立自主，損害公共媒體價值之不當干預。公共電視更將盡一切力量捍衛媒體自由與台灣得來不易的民主價值，為全國人民保存一塊媒體淨土，並籲請所有珍惜民主價值的國人同胞共同支持。

財團法人公共電視文化事業基金會
董事長　　鄭同僚
總經理　　馮賢賢
執行副總　鍾裕淵
副總經理　林惠英
副總經理　郭至楨
一級經理　徐秋華．丁曉菁．何國華．林樂群‧吳忠山
　　　　　張貞璞．楊家富．吳昌融．李桂芝．賴文惠

中華民國九十七年十二月十日

Public Television Service Foundation Statement

Taiwan Public Television Service (PTS) was founded in the spirit of the Public Television Act to strengthen the development of public television broadcasting in Taiwan. PTS's core mission is to establish a public broadcasting system in service of the public interest, maintain independent and autonomous media operation, and defend freedom of speech and the public's right to know where the corporate media is unable to deliver.

However, at a time when PTS should be celebrating its 10th anniversary, US$14 million – half of the legally appropriated annual budget of US$28 million – has been frozen by the Legislative Yuan for nearly one year. During this time, PTS has made every effort to communicate with the Legislative Yuan through official channels and appealed for assistance from the Government Information Office (GIO).

PTS has further demonstrated ample good faith through the submission of assorted operational plans and performance reports in the effort to justify the resumption of its budget. However, not only have these actions failed to elicit a direct response from the GIO, neither has the Legislative Yuan offered a clear rationale for the continued budget freeze. Similarly, the GIO has also failed to respond to PTS's request for assistance in retaining the suspended US$14 million budget.

The budget suspension has had a dire impact upon PTS, hampering daily operation, program production, and the payment of fees to commissioned production houses and partners. On December 9, 2008, we were shocked to learn that the Education and Culture Committee and Internal Affairs Committee of the Legislative Yuan have each passed the proposition to impose the resolution on Public Television. The proposal states that Public Television Service (PTS), Taiwan Indigenous TV (TITV), Hakka TV, and Macroview TV can only disburse programming and production budgets upon prior item-by-item government approval. The resolution even contains the further provisions that would empower the Council of Indigenous Peoples, Council for Hakka Affairs, and Overseas Compatriot Affairs Commission to exercise censorship and oversight over the programming policy and daily operation of their respective subordinate media agencies.

The proposed legislation seriously violates the social consensus for all political parties to withdraw from media operation. Further, it seriously threatens the independence of public media and violates the intent of The Statute of Disposition of Government-owned Shares in Terrestrial TV Industry. If passed, it would signify the undoing of hard-won freedom of the media and democratic progress in Taiwan.

PTS operates in strict accordance with the legal responsibilities accorded in the Public TV Act. Over the course of its history PTS has never transgressed its designated role and has always respected criticism and suggestions from the legislature and society. However, we will never accept unjustified interference in our independence, and will take whatever steps necessary to protect the freedom of public media and the core democratic values that the people of Taiwan have cultivated at great cost.