Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Lo Shu-lei (羅淑蕾) is a woman with enemies. That is clear regardless of whether one believes her claims that she has received threats from anonymous individuals for criticizing her own party.
The most recent manifestation of this was a proposal submitted to her party’s Central Advisory Council on Sunday that unmistakeably targeted her. The proposal called for “unsuitable” legislators-at-large to resign or face scrutiny by the KMT’s Disciplinary Committee.
It is not clear what, if anything, will come of this proposal. It may be meant as a warning to Lo, who has made enemies within the KMT because of her very public criticism of some of her party’s policies and the administration of President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九).
Lo’s sharp tongue makes her a more credible voice than other KMT figures. Unlike most criticism within the party, Lo’s positions present themselves as more issue-based and less a matter of internal rivalry and manipulation.
In one of her more remarkable assessments of late, Lo said the Control Yuan should take action against Ma if he had broken the law while mayor of Taipei. Lo was referring to Ma’s permitting the construction of a 23-story building close to the presidential residence despite potential security risks. (That remark, however, did highlight a poor understanding of the law on Lo’s part, as the Control Yuan cannot censure the president.)
Earlier this month, Lo also said that costly, portable satellite equipment that should be used during typhoon season had not been deployed this summer because of a lack of trained operators. That compelled Minister of the Interior Jiang Yi-huah (江宜樺) to rebut the claims, which had hit a sore spot after outrage over the mishandling of Morakot relief efforts forced a Cabinet reshuffle.
The proposal targeting Lo submitted on Sunday followed a signature drive launched by KMT youth delegates calling on her to resign over her open criticism of the government. The delegates said Lo should not go public with opinions that make the Ma administration or the party look bad. The message is, essentially: Fight behind closed doors and present a united front to the public.
But these delegates are overlooking the value of public debate, which could put pressure on the administration to answer criticism it could otherwise ignore. Lo’s arguments may also appeal to voters unhappy with the policies of the Ma administration but not opposed to the party on all matters. Considering the consistently low public support ratings for this administration, the KMT stands to benefit from showing a plurality of opinion.
As members aspiring to join the next generation of KMT leadership, the attitude of these youth delegates is discouraging. They do not indicate a growing appreciation for open debate within the KMT’s younger ranks, and that is cause for concern.
“Is the party going to control freedom of speech?” Lo asked on Sunday.
In the case of a critical voice like Lo’s, it may want to. But the KMT should also be aware that shooting down critics within the party will project not an image of unity, but of intolerance. That would strengthen the concerns of the KMT’s critics outside the party, who warn that its professed support for democracy is a charade.
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