Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) said yesterday that lawmakers across party lines had reached a consensus to establish an invitation-only zone within the committee rooms at the legislature to prevent the media and people who were not invited to attend committee meetings from approaching.
The consensus came in the wake of brawl between Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers on Wednesday at an Education and Culture Committee meeting over two proposed bills. Lawmakers suspect that, amid the chaos, some legislative aides and people from outside the legislature also participated in the conflict, Wang said.
“After the line is drawn, no one but legislators and government officials invited to attend a meeting can cross the line,” he said.
KMT Legislator Lo Shu-lei (羅淑蕾), however, questioned whether the measure was appropriate.
“It is as if we are establishing a special zone for brawling on the legislative floor,” Lo said.
On Wednesday, lawmakers scuffled as members of the DPP caucus tried to stop KMT Legislator Chao Li-yun (趙麗雲), who serves as head of the committee, from approaching the convener’s podium to announce that day’s agenda.
The committee was scheduled to review controversial bills that would allow schools in Taiwan to recruit students from China and would give recognition to Chinese credentials. The KMT government wants to recruit students from China starting this September, a proposal opposed by the DPP.
Chao surprised many when she fainted during the brawl. She was rushed to National Taiwan University Hospital, while the KMT and DPP caucuses disagreed as to whether the two bills had passed the committee review process.
Minister of Education Wu Ching-chi (吳清基) said he clearly heard Chao announce the passage of the proposal — a necessary procedure before a bill is put to a second reading. KMT caucus secretary-general Lin Hung-chih (林鴻池) also said Chao had completed due procedure.
The DPP caucus disagreed, however, with DPP Legislator Lee Chun-yee (李俊毅) saying that, based on the caucus’ understanding, the review was never completed and that Wednesday’s meeting remained unfinished.
The DPP caucus yesterday also said Chao staged fainting, citing video footage released yesterday that showed KMT Legislator Lin Tsang-min (林滄敏) standing beside Chao, saying: “You can fall down.”
The allegations were denied by Lin, with KMT Policy Committee Director Lin Yi-shih (林益世) adding that Chao suffered multiple bruises, was weak and had to stay in hospital.
The DPP also angrily fought back against accusations by President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) during a visit to Chao in hospital on Wednesday that the DPP had resorted to violence. He also urged DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) not to condone her party’s disruption of legislative proceedings.
DPP Spokesman Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌) said it was “regrettable” that the president unilaterally continued to blame the DPP without investigating or understanding the causes behind Wednesday’s brawl.
The DPP also said it would continue its opposition to the bills, adding that they contravened public opinion and would negatively impact Taiwan’s educational sector.
Wang yesterday convened two cross-party negotiation sessions on the matter, but the parties failed to see eye to eye.
Wang said he hoped members of the legislature would act rationally and review the bills in accordance with legislative procedures.
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