DPP lawmakers, seeking to underscore the party's reform image, have proposed anew the formation of an anti-corruption agency.
The draft bill, sponsored by DPP Legislator You Ching (尤清), suggests the Cabinet set up a 13-member commission to coordinate the nation's anti-corruption efforts which critics say are divided.
"Public policies, statutes and orders concerning the execution and promotion of clean politics should all fall under the jurisdiction of the anti-corruption commission," the draft states.
"Many other countries have a similar institute at the ministerial level to pursue this goal," the draft states.
The draft legislation prohibits all commission members, who will be recommended by political parties and serve four-year terms, from taking part in any political activities. It adds that the state public prosecutor general and the minister of justice should be commission members.
Anti-corruption has been on the top of the DPP agenda since it came to power in May 2000. As next year's presidential elections draw near, the government has stressed its commitment to the cause to set it apart from the opposition challengers who have built their campaign around the economy.
To avoid conflicts of interest, the proposal would bar commission members from probing cases involving their family or relatives. If realized, the anti-corruption body would meet once a week and may call extraordinary meetings, whenever necessary.
Minister of Justice Chen Ding-nan (
The effort came to a standstill after critics called its merits into question. They voiced reservations about potential violations of human rights by anti-corruption officials who would have the powers of search, seizure and arrest in the absence of proper checks and balances.
You's bill has the backing of 32 other DPP lawmakers. The legislature is slated to take up the issue next Tuesday if opposition lawmakers don't protest the measure.
GOOD DIPLOMACY: The KMT has maintained close contact with representative offices in Taiwan and had extended an invitation to Russia as well, the KMT said The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) would “appropriately handle” the fallout from an invitation it had extended to Russia’s representative to Taipei to attend its international banquet last month, KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) said yesterday. US and EU representatives in Taiwan boycotted the event, and only later agreed to attend after the KMT rescinded its invitation to the Russian representative. The KMT has maintained long-term close contact with all representative offices and embassies in Taiwan, and had extended the invitation as a practice of good diplomacy, Chu said. “Some EU countries have expressed their opinions of Russia, and the KMT respects that,” he
An increase in Taiwanese boats using China-made automatic identification systems (AIS) could confuse coast guards patrolling waters off Taiwan’s southwest coast and become a loophole in the national security system, sources familiar with the matter said yesterday. Taiwan ADIZ, a Facebook page created by enthusiasts who monitor Chinese military activities in airspace and waters off Taiwan’s southwest coast, on Saturday identified what seemed to be a Chinese cargo container ship near Penghu County. The Coast Guard Administration went to the location after receiving the tip and found that it was a Taiwanese yacht, which had a Chinese AIS installed. Similar instances had also
CHANGES: After-school tutoring periods, extracurricular activities during vacations or after-school study periods must not be used to teach new material, the ministry said The Ministry of Education yesterday announced new rules that would ban giving tests to most elementary and junior-high school students during morning study and afternoon rest periods. The amendments to regulations governing public education at elementary schools and junior high schools are to be implemented on Aug. 1. The revised rules stipulate that schools are forbidden to use after-school tutoring periods, extracurricular activities during summer or winter vacation or after-school study periods to teach new course material. In addition, schools would be prohibited from giving tests or exams to students in grades one to eight during morning study and afternoon break periods, the
AMENDMENT: Contact with certain individuals in China, Hong Kong and Macau must be reported, and failure to comply could result in a prison sentence, the proposal stated The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) yesterday voted against a proposed bill by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers that would require elected officials to seek approval before visiting China. DPP Legislator Puma Shen’s (沈伯洋) proposed amendments to the Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area (臺灣地區與大陸地區人民關係條例), stipulate that contact with certain individuals in China, Hong Kong and Macau should be reported, while failure to comply would be punishable by prison sentences of up to three years, alongside a fine of NT$10 million (US$309,041). Fifty-six voted with the TPP in opposition