A controversial draft bill that would enhance the powers of the National Security Bureau’s Special Service Center (SSC) appears unlikely to clear the legislature before it goes into recess on Wednesday.
The recess date would also informally mark the end of the seventh legislature, with the statutory end date set for Dec. 31, because the legislature will only convene after lawmakers for the eighth term are elected in the Jan. 14 polls.
Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) yesterday called an inter-party negotiation to determine the agenda for the last plenary session from Monday through Wednesday. The security bill was not on the agenda.
Since the Democratic Progressive Party and Non-Partisan Solidarity Union’s caucus whips have said they would not endorse the bill, the proposal would have to be put to a vote for it to proceed to its second and third reading on the floor.
If passed, the bill — initiated and supported by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus — would grant the SSC the power to direct the military and civilian police and the Ministry of Justice’s Investigation Bureau in judicial investigations.
The Taiwan Association for Human Rights has opposed the bill, which it says violates civil rights and would represent a step in the wrong direction for human rights.
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