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Wang defends response to fighting in the legislature

Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) yesterday defended his decision to not call in legislative security officers to maintain order during Tuesday's legislative sitting.

While the legislative speaker is not authorized by any of the legislature's internal rules to exercise such a power, Wang said that it is the responsibility of all lawmakers to help maintain order on the legislative floor.

"I will call a cross-party meeting to seek opinions from all caucus leaders on whether to give the legislative speaker the right to call in security officers at the right time and if the situation needs it, if they file a formal request," Wang said. "Once a consensus is made, all lawmakers will have to bear the consequences instead of leaving the legislative speaker to solely take the blame."

Wang made the remarks yesterday in response to criticism lodged by the People First Party (PFP) caucus earlier yesterday morning.

PFP caucus whip Hwang Yih-jiau (黃義交) said Wang had indulged the legislative disorder on Tuesday, adding that the way he handled the matter was flawed.

Tuesday's legislative sitting was marked by fisticuffs and shouting matches. Reluctant to call in legislative security officers to settle the mayhem, Wang ordered a recess and let the pan-blue and pan-green camps continue to air their grievances.

Wang later said that his decision was based on the belief that calling in security was the last resort and might worsen the situation. He, however, condemned the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) for seizing the wrecking the speaker's desk and microphone before adjourning the fruitless meeting.

DPP Legislator Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘), who also serves as the director of the DPP's Policy Committee, later offered a personal apology to Wang and a compensation for damage, according to Wang.

The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus has pledged to file a motion during tomorrow's plenary session to send DPP lawmakers who sequestered the speaker's desk to the legislature's Discipline Committee for punishment.

Hwang yesterday said that the use of security forces is not aimed at beating up lawmakers but at driving out violent inciters, and safeguarding the dignity of both the legislature and the legislative speaker.
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