Kaohsiung borough chief’s billboard criticized for racism against Indians
Kaohsiung borough chief’s billboard criticized for racism against Indians
2026-05-13
A borough chief in Kaohsiung running for city councilor has sparked fierce backlash for his campaign. The billboard for Lee Hung-yi李紘毅, a TPP member running as an independent candidate, has a “no sign” over a man in a turban next to an upside-down flag of India, which he said means that he’s opposed to introducing Indian migrant workers. Indian-born residents in Taiwan decried the brazen racism of the billboard, but Lee refused to take it down. It’s also unlawfully used the DPP’s party emblem, which is protected as a collective mark under the Trademark Act.
Here it is, the controversial billboard for Lee Hung-yi, who’s running for the Kaohsiung City Council.
Chuang Shu-ting
FTV reporter
This billboard is placed here on Shanming Road, in Kaohsiung’s Siaogang District. Indian-born residents in Taiwan say the middle icon makes them uncomfortable.
Voice of Ms. V (anonymized)
Indian-born resident
It’s really unfriendly toward our people. You can’t display such a racist sign in such a public place. I hope they’ll remove the billboard.
Under the “no symbol” is a picture of a man with medium complexion in a turban and with facial hair, as well as an upside-down flag of India. Residents of Indian origin find it offensive. They also say that the turban isn’t quintessentially Indian, but rather particular to adherents of Sikhism. They add it’s wrong to discriminate against a whole group of people, not to mention that the candidate essentially reinforced stigma against migrant workers. It’s also the first time, they say, to see racism advertized so brazenly.
Lee Hung-yi
Kaohsiung City Council candidate
Clearly, it means that I oppose introducing Indian migrant workers. I won’t remove the billboard. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and I respect everyone’s opinion.
Local resident
Disapproving
I think it’s inappropriate to display that in the public.
Amid the backlash, Lee still says he won’t remove the billboard. The racist imagery isn’t the only controversy here. He’s also using the DPP’s emblem, which could confuse voters, and in fact does infringe upon trademark rights of the DPP.
Hwang Wen-yi
Head of DPP Kaohsiung City Chapter
It’s already caused confusion among many people, who’ve called us for clarification. He used our party emblem in his campaign. It’s really unethical. He’s not campaigning his own policy platform, but rather smearing another political party’s policies.
The candidate is currently the chief of Gangming Borough in Xiaogang. He’s running as an independent, despite being a member of the TPP. In addition to infringing upon the rights of the DPP, he may also have to explain himself to the TPP.
For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53
#taiwanpolitics #elections #racism #trademark
高雄里長競選看板"歧視印度移工"、冒用民進黨黨徽挨轟
2026-05-13
高雄一名要參選市議員的里長，掛了競選看板卻被民眾發現，上面不僅公開歧視印度移工，還用了民進黨的黨徽，讓在台印度人看不下去，也讓民進黨不滿，網友也炸鍋。
就是這塊，高雄前鎮小港參選人，李紘毅的競選看板，引發爭議。
[[民視記者 莊舒婷]]
“這面看板就位在高雄小港區的山明路上，也就是中間這個圖示，讓部分在台的印度人覺得不太舒服。”
[[聲源:在台印度人 V小姐(變音處理)]]
“這個對我們這個群體來說很不友善，你不可以因為這個，就是在一個這麼公共的地方，放這種非常非常有種族歧視意味的，希望他們可以把這個看板拿下來。”
紅白色圓圈裡，有個印度人戴頭巾的圖示，旁邊還有放顛倒的印度國旗，畫了一個斜線，表示反對，讓在台印度人很不舒服。也強調圖示中包頭巾的男人，不能代表印度人，頭巾是錫克教的宗教文化象徵，而且在印度的錫克族群，也不是低薪移工的代表，直呼第一次看到這麼明目張膽的歧視宣傳。
[[聲源:高雄市議員參選人 李紘毅]]
“很明顯的就是說我很反對印度籍的勞工，就不撤下來啊要什麼講什麼?反正社會本來就是有很多不同聲音，每個看法我都尊重。”
[[當地民眾]]
“覺得在公開的情況下，這樣放是不太適合的。”
就算民眾都說不妥，這參選人說不撤就是不撤。而看板上方白色文字，〝我們不要搶救〞的右邊，出現一個模糊的民進黨黨徽，就怕這黨徽誤導了支持者，讓民進黨高雄市黨部主委黃文益，簡直快氣炸。
[[民進黨高雄市黨部主委 黃文益]]
“已經造成非常多人的誤會，所以紛紛打電話來詢問，用我們黨徽去來做他的看板宣傳，其實這是很不厚道的，沒有去宣揚自己的一個政見，反倒是利用其他政黨來做政策上的抹黑。”
引發爭議的參選人，是現任小港區港明里里長，雖然用無黨身分參選市議員，但因為本身有民眾黨黨員身分，也讓網友不滿，從個人到政黨，話題擴大延燒。
更多新聞內容，請鎖定：
民視台灣台（152頻道）週一至週五晚上9:30
民視新聞台（53頻道）週二至週六凌晨1:00
Related News
