The Alliance of Fairness and Justice (AFJ) was established yesterday in a bid to form a "third force" in next year's presidential campaign.
The alliance, made up of minority groups, aims to put forward welfare policies and push for the establishment of a social security network.
The alliance's convener, ex-DPP legislator Chien Hsi-chieh, said the alliance is a new social movement pursuing fairness and justice.
PHOTO: SEAN CHAO, TAIPEI TIMES
The alliance, nicknamed the Pan-Purple Alliance, with purple representing minorities, has come up with the slogan: "Goodbye to shortsightedness and immediate benefit. Pursue fairness and justice."
Chen denied media reports that the alliance had contacted old-guard DPP politician Lin I-hsiung (
Chen said actions taken by the alliance require the consent of its board, and that the board has not discussed the issue of nominating a presidential candidate.
He did not exclude the possibility of a nomination, however, or the possibility of the alliance becoming a political party in the future.
In terms of policy, the alliance made welfare proposals yesterday based on a socialist model.
"We are asking the government to increase taxes on rich people and corporations," said Wang Jung-chang (王榮璋), secretary-general of the Alliance for Handicapped People (殘障聯盟) and the AFJ spokesman.
"Instead of increasing stipends for old people and low-income families, the government should push for elderly citizens' welfare. Furthermore, the welfare systems for old people and the handicapped should be integrated and strengthened," Wang said.
The alliance also asked the government for clear policies on immigrants and to create a special department in charge of related affairs such as protecting the work and education rights of foreign brides and their children.
Chien said the formation of the alliance was partly due to minority groups' disappointment with the DPP's performance over the past three years. He added he didn't have any hope the KMT would understand the needs of minority groups.
Participating groups in the alliance include Chien's own Peacetime Foundation of Taiwan (台灣和平促進文教基金會), the Alliance for Handicapped People (殘障聯盟), the National Teachers' Association (全國教師會), the Alliance for Old People's Welfare Promotion (老人福利推動聯盟), the Parents' Association for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (智障者家長總會), Awakening Foundation (婦女新知), Eden Social Welfare Foundation (伊甸社會福利基金會), Taiwan Labor Front (台灣勞工陣線) and The National Federation of Banks' Employees Union (銀行員工會全國聯合會).
Also See Story:
Bid ups stock of Chien Hsi-chieh
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) yesterday said it expected to issue a sea warning for Typhoon Fung-Wong tomorrow, which it said would possibly make landfall near central Taiwan. As of 2am yesterday, Fung-Wong was about 1,760km southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, moving west-northwest at 26kph. It is forecast to reach Luzon in the northern Philippines by tomorrow, the CWA said. After entering the South China Sea, Typhoon Fung-Wong is likely to turn northward toward Taiwan, CWA forecaster Chang Chun-yao (張峻堯) said, adding that it would likely make landfall near central Taiwan. The CWA expects to issue a land
Taiwan’s exports soared to an all-time high of US$61.8 billion last month, surging 49.7 percent from a year earlier, as the global frenzy for artificial intelligence (AI) applications and new consumer electronics powered shipments of high-tech goods, the Ministry of Finance said yesterday. It was the first time exports had exceeded the US$60 billion mark, fueled by the global boom in AI development that has significantly boosted Taiwanese companies across the international supply chain, Department of Statistics Director-General Beatrice Tsai (蔡美娜) told a media briefing. “There is a consensus among major AI players that the upcycle is still in its early stage,”
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) yesterday said it is expected to issue a sea warning for Typhoon Fung-wong this afternoon and a land warning tomorrow. As of 1pm, the storm was about 1,070km southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, and was moving west-northwest at 28 to 32kph, according to CWA data. The storm had a radius of 250km, with maximum sustained winds of 173kph and gusts reaching 209kph, the CWA added. The storm is forecast to pass near Luzon in the Philippines before entering the South China Sea and potentially turning northward toward Taiwan, the CWA said. CWA forecaster Chang Chun-yao (張峻堯) said
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi yesterday said that China using armed force against Taiwan could constitute a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan, allowing the country to mobilize the Japanese armed forces under its security laws. Takaichi made the remarks during a parliamentary session while responding to a question about whether a "Taiwan contingency" involving a Chinese naval blockade would qualify as a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan, according to a report by Japan’s Asahi Shimbun. "If warships are used and other armed actions are involved, I believe this could constitute a survival-threatening situation," Takaichi was quoted as saying in the report. Under Japan’s security legislation,
RSS