Hundreds of protesters yesterday started a sit-in outside the legislature, fueled by mounting anger over the government’s cross-strait policies and the expected passage of a controversial trade agreement with China later this week.
Waving green Taiwanese independence flags and signs emblazoned with the slogan “the Chinese Nationalist Party [KMT] is selling out Taiwan,” a dozen organizations filled the streets around the legislature, calling on lawmakers to reflect popular opinion and protect the nation’s sovereignty.
KMT lawmakers and the administration of President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) have failed to stand up for Taiwanese interests in the face of growing Chinese pressure, both economically and politically, demonstrators said.
“We don’t believe Ma’s remarks that only good things will come out of our interactions with China,” protester Chen Shu-chiong (陳淑瓊) said. “Taiwan will have to pay a price for these policies, sooner or later.”
The protest, organized by the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) and pro-independence groups, mostly targeted the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA), which will be reviewed in an extraordinary legislative session starting today.
The KMT caucus said in a press conference yesterday it expected to pass the ECFA through a legislative vote tomorrow, setting the stage for the tariff-reducing agreement to come into effect early next year.
For the seventh time yesterday, the legislature voted down a Democratic Progressive Party sponsored bill that would have subjected the ECFA to a nationwide vote. Opposition parties have cited polls showing support for a referendum on the ECFA at more than 60 percent.
“This is an important national policy that will have an impact on employment and salaries, with political and economic implications. Why can’t we hold a referendum?” TSU Chairman Huang Kun-huei (黃昆輝) asked. “By pretending not to be hearing the voice of the people, the government is taking the path to authoritarianism.”
Volunteers and staff from the TSU handed out petitions for a third attempt to hold an ECFA referendum. Two previous efforts were rejected by the Referendum Review Committee.
Shih Ya-fang (施雅芳), head of the Taiwan United Nations Alliance’s Tokyo chapter, said she was disappointed at the government’s decision to forsake a formal UN bid this year in favor of “meaningful” participation in its specialized agencies, adding that this was “belittling” to Taiwan.
Organizers said about 2,000 protesters were at the rally.
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old