Sat, Nov 28, 2020 page1

• KMT caucus throw pig offal at premier

  SKIN, ENTRAILS: Placards also dotted the legislative chamber, with slogans such as ‘Oppose ractopamine pork — not US pork’ and ‘Much ado about nothing’

  • By Chen Yun and Kayleigh Madjar / Staff reporter, with staff writer
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  Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers yesterday pelted Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) with pig skin and entrails as he addressed the Legislative Yuan on pork imports for the first time since the KMT’s boycott began on Sept. 18.

  Opposition lawmakers have been demanding an apology from the government for its decision to lift its ban on the importation of US pork containing residues of the livestock drug ractopamine.

  After Su arrived at 10am for his 13th attempt to deliver a regular policy report, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus moved to change the agenda to accommodate the premier.

  

  Democratic Progressive Party legislators form a protective ring around Premier Su Tseng-chang, below white sign, as the legislature descends into chaos yesterday and thrown pig guts litter the floor.

  Photo: Liu Hsin-de, Taipei Times

  The motion resulted in cries of dissent from across the aisle, as KMT Chairman Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) protested that Legislative Speaker You Si-kun (游錫堃) was rushing to a vote without addressing the KMT’s objection.

  After the motion passed, Su took the podium at 10:20am surrounded by DPP lawmakers. KMT legislators attempted to drown him out with whistles and air horns, dumping buckets of pig skin and offal on the podium and the floor.

  In his five-minute report, Su said that the government would continue its efforts to protect food safety in Taiwan with the same diligence applied to dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and previously with African swine fever.

  

  Taiwan Statebuilding Party Legislator Chen Po-wei, center, wrestles with Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Sra Kacaw on the legislative floor in Taipei yesterday as other lawmakers attempted to pull them apart.

  Photo: Liu Hsin-de, Taipei Times

  There are to be on-site inspections at US meat factories, clear labeling of the products and strict enforcement of the regulations, he said.

  Taiwan must open up to the international community and connect with the global economic network, Su said, adding that the US is Taiwan’s most powerful ally.

  While Su gave his report, scuffles broke out between KMT lawmakers dressed in black shirts that read: “Oppose ractopamine pork, consider health,” and DPP representatives.

  

  Lawmakers throw pork intestines during a scuffle at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei yesterday.

  Photo: Ann Wang, Reuters

  At one point, KMT Legislator Sra Kacaw (鄭天財) was knocked over by Taiwan Statebuilding Party Legislator Chen Po-wei (陳柏惟) when he bent over to grab a garbage bag. KMT caucus whip Lin Wei-chou (林為洲) and others leaped forward to drag Chen away by the neck, causing a scuffle to erupt that was quelled by DPP lawmakers.

  Sra Kacaw later said that he was not shoved over, although Chen should not have pushed him.

  The legislative floor was also dotted with placards from both sides, with slogans such as “Oppose ractopamine pork — not US pork” and “Much ado about nothing.”

  

  Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Wu Ping-jui, top, and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Cheng Cheng-chien wrestle on the legislative floor in Taipei yesterday.

  Photo: Liu Hsin-de, Taipei Times

  Afterward, Lin, Chiang and other KMT lawmakers convened a news conference outside the legislative chamber to apologize for the events of the morning while defending their actions.

  Lin apologized for the KMT caucus’ use of pig entrails, saying that it was meant to emphasize that US offal containing ractopamine would be imported to Taiwan, as the US rarely utilizes these parts.

  At the very least, the caucus is calling for complete factory inspections and clear labeling, he added.

  Chiang said that the day’s proceedings were deeply flawed, from before the start of the session to You’s handling of legislative procedures, adding that Su never should have been allowed to take the podium.

  “President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) keeps claiming that this is for the nation’s benefit, but is public health not in the nation’s interest?” Chiang asked.

  DPP lawmakers convened their own news conference shortly thereafter, accusing the KMT of losing their minds to factionalism.

  The KMT in its calculations is no longer thinking about the country or the functioning of the legislature, DPP caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) said.

  Under Chiang’s stewardship, instead of considering how to question the premier or ministers, the KMT is only concerned with how to destroy the legislative forum, Ker added.

  The DPP called on its counterparts across the aisle to turn around its behavior or risk forever relegating itself to the status of opposition party.

  Additional reporting by Huang Hsin-po and CNA
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