More than 90 percent of farmers nationwide support the Cabinet's proposal to free farmers' associations from the grips of gangsters and local factions, according to a poll released yesterday by the DPP's Taipei office.
The Cabinet's draft amendments to the Farmers' Association Law and Fishermen's Association Law would add tougher restrictions on who may be elected to represent the organizations. The goal is to prevent gangsters and faction members from getting into power and controlling the associations.
But KMT lawmakers oppose the proposed amendments, fearing the changes would undermine the party's support at the local level. Many of the grassroots organizations are controlled by local KMT forces and are seen a crucial part of the party's election apparatus.
The amendments were submitted to the Legislative Yuan on Sept. 19. Although the DPP has urged passage of the changes, they are still not on the agenda for this legislative session due to KMT opposition.
The poll released by the DPP yesterday suggested that 48.6 percent of 1,001 farmers interviewed believe that poor operation of farmers' associations is a result of control by gangsters and local factions. When told of amendments intended to keep gangsters and factions out of association elections -- so-called "`black gold' exclusion clauses" (
In the black gold exclusion clauses, a variety of restrictions are placed on candidates. For example, according to the draft, someone who has been convicted of kidnapping, burglary, robbery, forgery, bribery or other crimes cannot run for the position of a representative of an association for five years after completing their sentence.
In addition, someone who has, within the past three years, had a non-performing loan or has served as a guarantor for an overdue loan at a financial institution cannot run for the positions of representative, board member, or supervisor, or become the executive general of an association.
The proposed regulations aim to reverse the current situation, whereby the cooperative departments of the associations are often used as the private treasuries of gangsters, politicians and factions.
Chairman of the Council of Agriculture Chen Hsi-huang (陳希煌) said in the legislature on Thursday that of the country's 287 farmers' cooperatives, 82 have bad loan ratios higher than 20 percent.
He also said 37 percent of farmers' associations have serious operational problems.
The draft also aims to prevent families from monopolizing the associations by imposing limitations on the relationships between candidates. For example, if a candidate runs for the position of board member or supervisor of an association, then his family members can not run for similar posts.
It is estimated that more than 40 percent of current officials would not meet these standards if the amendments become law.
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