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DPP decries controversial bills, backs Executive Yuan

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday said it will back the Executive Yuan in pushing the opposition-controlled legislature to reconsider two controversial bills that cleared the legislative floor last Friday.

DPP Chairman Yu Shyi-kun said the party's Central Standing Committee passed a resolution at its weekly meeting on Wednesday to throw support behind the Executive Yuan's plan to ask the legislature to reconsider amendments to the Farmers' Association Law (農會法) and the Fishermen's Association Law (漁會法), which critics said would pave the way for "a return of black-gold politics."

The amendments initiated by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the People First Party would cancel the three-term caps for secretaries-general in the associations and lower requirements for them to renew their employment.

The revised laws also stipulate that association staff standing trial would not be relieved of their jobs until a final verdict is delivered in their cases.

Under the existing laws, indicted staff members from the associations would be fired from their posts following conviction in the second part of a criminal trial.

Yu said the revisions are an attempt by the pan-blue alliance to cement ties with the associations.

With the amendments, Yu said, that 95 percent of the current secretaries-general -- whose loyalty traditionally lies with the KMT -- would be able to dominate their organizations indefinitely, despite the fact many have criminal records.

Yu said that more than 20 executives or staff members of the associations have been convicted of criminal activity as of this month.
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