The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislative caucus yesterday threw its support behind threatened strikes by Chunghwa Telecom Co's (
"Demonstrating is a normal operation in a democracy," DPP caucus whip William Lai (
Lai made the remark in response to a threat by the People First Party (PFP) caucus yesterday morning. The caucus threatened to "inflict vengeance on" the government if it continues to ignore a legislative resolution banning the sale of shares of Chunghwa Telecom, the nation's largest telephone operator.
Lai said that if the opposition parties think the company's privatization scheme runs counter to the public's interest, they should use rational debate rather than adopting such an emotional approach.
Lai also called on the opposition parties to request a constitutional interpretation from the Council of Grand Justices on whether the legislative resolution applied to the current share-sale plan.
The legislature already passed the budgets earmarking funds for the state-owned company's release of shares in 2000 and 2001, while the legislature's resolution to block the share-sale was made when it passed the annual budget for the Ministry of Transportation and Communications in 2002, Lai said.
The company is scheduled to auction off a 3 percent stake to domestic investors today and the ministry has proposed selling a 14 percent stake in the US this week, through an American Depository Receipts issuance.
The company's union on Sunday threatened to stage its largest strike ever after refusing to sign a deal offered by the company regarding employee rights during the company's privatization process.
PFP caucus whip Sun Ta-chien (
He also threatened to get "revenge," through measures such as adopting "high standards" while screening the government's budgets and bills.
"I'm sure that it is not something Premier Frank Hsieh (
Another PFP caucus whip, Lin Hui-kuan (
Chin Hui-chu (秦慧珠), director of the PFP caucus office and a former lawmaker, called on the premier to reshuffle the Cabinet before the legislature meets next month in order to replace defiant government officials with those who are more capable and obedient.
"The premier is facing not only the water shortage problem in Taoyuan County, but also a leadership problem," she said, singling out Chunghwa Telecom chairman Hochen Tan (
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