Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2017-11-19
President Tsai Ing-wen marked the passing of life-long farmer’s rights activist Tai Chen-
Farmer’s rights advocate and former vice chairman of the Council of Agriculture, Tai Chen-yao (left), is seen here with President Tsai Ing-wen in this photo from President Tsai’s Facebook page. (CNA)
yao, who died of pancreatic cancer early on Sunday morning at the age of 70.
Tai, a native of Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan, served as vice chairman of the government’s Council of Agriculture, and for several terms as legislator. Before that he served a three-year prison sentence for his role in the pro-democracy protests of 1979, which would later become known as the Kaohsiung Incident.
But Tai is perhaps best known for pushing agricultural reform, and speaking out for the rights of Taiwanese farmers.
President Tsai awarded Tai with one of the nation’s highest honors – the Order of the Brilliant Star – in late September of this year. That was for his contributions to Taiwan’s agricultural development. [FULL STORY]