Teachers at Taiwan kindergarten accused of drugging children
英國衛報
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Parents of toddlers in Taiwan have accused teachers at a preschool of
drugging their children, in a scandal that threatens to dent the opposition
party’s chances at the upcoming presidential election.
Teachers at Baoren kindergarten, a private preschool in New Taipei City, have
been accused of sedating children with addictive cough syrups. Police
launched an investigation this month after parents raised concerns about
children showing unusual symptoms such as mood swings and cramps. Eight
pupils reportedly tested positive for trace amounts of the psychoactive drugs
phenobarbital and benzodiazepines.
The children’s symptoms are thought to be withdrawal symptoms from the
highly addictive drugs. Phenobarbital is used in the treatment of epilepsy,
while benzodiazepines are a strong type of sleeping drug. It is not clear why
the drugs, which are not easily available, were given to the children,
although it is thought to have been because of their sedative properties. One
teacher is also accused of using corporal punishment on the preschoolers.
The principal of Baoren kindergarten, and five teachers, have been arrested
pending a criminal investigation. The school was ordered to close and pay a
fine of 150,000 Taiwanese dollars (￡3,793). When the Guardian visited the
preschool on Wednesday the office was still open, but staff declined to
comment on the situation.
A spokesperson for Baoren said by telephone: “I have nothing to say.”
In a statement to parents, Jidibao Education Group, the parent company of
Baoren, apologised and said, “the truth has yet to be clarified”, but
acknowledged that families were “deeply affected” by the incident. The
group said it would work with the education bureau to help transfer children
to alternative preschools.
Parents have complained that the authorities were slow to react to their
initial complaints in April and May.
On Sunday, hundreds of people protested outside government buildings in New
Taipei City, criticising the mayor, Hou You-yi, for his administration’s
handling of the scandal. In particular, parents are angry that children were
not tested until 22 days after concerns were first raised. Taipei City
hospital is offering free blood tests to preschool children, according to the
BBC, but many parents fear it is too late to check if their children were
affected by the alleged drugging.
New Taipei City’s mayor, Hou You-yi, is the presidential candidate for
opposition KMT party in next year’s election.
New Taipei City’s mayor, Hou You-yi, is the presidential candidate for the
opposition KMT party in next year’s election. Photograph: Chiang Ying-ying/AP
Hou is the presidential candidate for the KMT, the main opposition party, in
next year’s election. On 9 June, legislators from the ruling DPP accused Hou
of focusing on his campaign rather than the drugging scandal, calling him a “
part-time mayor”. Hou saidthe incident should not be made into a “political
issue”.
A poll by the Taiwan Public Opinion Foundation on 17 June found more than
half of people were not satisfied with Hou’s handling of the scandal. The
anger cut across social groups such as gender, age, class and party
affiliation.
A spokesperson from the New Taipei City government said: “The New Taipei
City government urges the public not to use the kindergarten incident for
political gain.” It said that the municipal authorities launched an
investigation “immediately” after receiving reports and accused DPP
politicians of spreading “false rumours”.
The Education Bureau issued a statement saying that although medical tests
for the children weren’t arranged until 6 June, investigators were sent to
the kindergarten on the same day that they were notified of complaints on 15
May.
One commenter on a Facebook group set up as a “victims’ alliance” wrote
that the government’s response was “ridiculous” and that the city was “
not well managed”.
The kindergarten’s Google listing has also been the subject of negative
reviews. One commenter wrote: “This is the kindergarten where they drug
toddlers … the New Taipei City government has been dragging its feet for a
month without addressing the case … the drug feeding incident will not be
forgotten by the people.”
台灣下毒又登上國際了阿
世界又看到台灣了
台灣真棒 台灣NO.1~~~~~~~~~
側翼們你們確定還要這樣對待台灣嗎?
我國外朋友傳這篇給我看耶
說台灣小朋友在幼稚園可能會被餵毒來睡覺
說這個已經違反國際兒童公約