Wed, Oct 12, 2005 - Page 1 News List

NCC bill sparks violence in legislature

BLOOD SPORT A move by a KMT lawmaker to skip a general discussion of the bill prompted a confrontation that ended with two legislators being taken to hospital

BY KO SHU-LING  /  STAFF REPORTER

"Even if they are the majority in the legislature, they should respect other caucuses' right to speak," he said.

He also painted Chang, PFP Legislator George Hsieh (謝國樑) and KMT Legislator Pai Tien-chih (白添枝) as the "hit men" of the pan-blue alliance. Lai said they should be held responsible for causing yesterday's violence.

KMT Legislator Huang Chao-shun (黃昭順) blamed the DPP caucus, saying it was the "mastermind" behind the violence, and called the DPP's ally, the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU), its "accomplice."

PFP caucus whip Hwang Yih-jiau (黃義交) threatened to put off the review of next year's government budget as a retaliatory measure.

The legislature is scheduled to discuss the timetable for the review of next year's government budget today.

KMT caucus whip Pan Wei-kang (潘維剛), however, said her caucus would like to push the government budget through to committee for review so it can be closely scrutinized.

Responding to KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou's (馬英九) call to send in legislative security officers to settle yesterday's mayhem, Wang said that Ma should stop poking his nose into the legislature.

"It sounds good and easy, but it is not something that he can tell us to do," he said.

The afternoon session, which began at 4:15pm, was just as turbulent. Pan-green lawmakers became agitated again shortly after KMT Legislator Ting Shou-chung (丁守中) began to speak on the NCC bill.

The uproar escalated when Wang ordered a vote on article 1 of the bill in response to a request filed by KMT Legislator Joanna Lei (雷倩).

DPP lawmakers Lee Chen-nan (李鎮楠) and Lin Kuo-ching (林國慶) tried to climb up to the speaker's desk, but independent lawmaker Yen Chin-piao (顏清標) managed to stop them. Lawmakers voted 111 to 2 in favor of Lei's proposal. The session ended at 4:37pm.

Ma yesterday condemned the violence and urged the authorities in the Legislative Yuan to exercise their right to prevent such incidents from happening.

"This attack was obviously planned. The KMT denounces all forms of violence and we regret the incident," Ma said after visiting Chang.

"If violence erupts again during the legislative procedure, police should be called in to restore order and prevent further injuries," Ma said.

Additional reporting by Mo Yan-chih and Jewel Huang

This story has been viewed 5790 times.
TOP top