DPP lawmakers bitter over co-op reform turnaround

DPP lawmakers were bitter yesterday over the government's about-turn on its reform plans for credit units of farmers' and fishermen's associations.

They said the move will harm the party's reformist image.

Their TSU allies appeared more sympathetic and made another appeal to farmers and fishermen to call off a mass protest slated for Saturday, saying the government has granted their wishes on the matter.

Meanwhile, opposition legislators continued blasting the government for being inconsistent in key policy making.

DPP Legislator Chiu Chuang-chin (邱創進) said he found it deplorable for the government to slam the brakes on the risk-control measures.

"Introduced on August 20, those measures helped bring down non-performing loans incurred by those institutions by over NT$20 billion as of the end of October," Chiu said during a general session session of the legislature. "The figures lent credence to the merits of the reform policy."

Seeking to resolve grassroots resistance to the reform measures, the government has said it will return control of 36 credit departments to their respective associations.

DPP Legislator Lee Ming-hsien (李明憲) echoed the need for reform, saying that over the years, many farmers' and fishermen's associations have come under the influence of political factions and organized crime.

"Today, few officials at these institutions are committed to promoting the welfare of the two groups," he said. "Most of their customers are not genuine farmers or fishermen, though the rules require them to be so."

Tuan Yi-kang (段宜康), another DPP lawmaker, said the government, by failing to abide by its reform agenda, has shown signs of decadence.

He said policymakers should stand firm to defend their beliefs in the face of protests rather than back down and compromise.

But the TSU caucus lauded the government for its willingness to admit mistakes and make amends in a prompt manner.

"I see nothing shameful for policymakers to put a quick stop to a wrong decision," TSU Legislator Chien-lin Whei-chun (錢林慧君) said. "It is much worse to carry on with a mistake."

Fellow colleague Lo Chih-ming (羅志明) agreed and asked farmers and fishermen to cancel the march in Taipei this weekend.

But KMT lawmaker Sun Kauo-hwa (孫國華) said the latest policy reversal proved once again the DPP administration lacked prudence in steering the country.