A lot of friends sent letters to President Chen,expressing their concern over the inhumane treatment of pigs in the "pigs of god" contest. This office's reply is as follows:
Dear Friends:
Thank you for your recent letters addressed to President Chen Shui-bian, expressing your concern over the inhumane treatment of pigs in the "pigs of god" contest in August in Hsinchu, Taiwan.
We admire and share the kindness and humanism shown in your letter. However, this event is part of the tradition and religious practices of the local Hakka community that has existed for decades. It would be difficult for the government to ban this sort of cultural activities abruptly.
But, understanding the brutality of this annual event, the government has taken steps in an attempt to educate and encourage the Hakka community to adopt innovative alternatives in celebrating their traditional festivals. We believe that there are ways to respect our Hakka traditions while protecting the principles of the ethical treatment of animals.
Again, thank you for bringing this matter to our attention.