“Bluebird movement” groups yesterday tried but failed several times to break into the Legislative Yuan as they sought to disrupt opposition legislators’ attempt to pass amendments to laws governing the recalling of elected officials, the Constitutional Court and government revenue.
Smaller protests were also held in Taichung and Kaohsiung against the proposed amendments to the Public Officials Election and Recall Act (公職人員選舉罷免法), the Constitutional Court Procedure Act (憲法訴訟法) and the Act Governing the Allocation of Government Revenues and Expenditures (財政收支劃分法).
Speeches began at the protests in the morning, with organizers saying more than 15,000 people were at the Taipei rally by evening.
Photo: Chen Yi-kuan, Taipei Times
Protesters removed metal barricades in clashes with police at about 11:30am as they tried to access the Legislative Yuan from a side entrance on Jinan Road, a move reminiscent of the Sunflower movement 10 years ago.
After 4pm, groups at the front entrance on Zhongshan S Road attempted to get inside, but were repelled by police.
Among the protesters was independence advocate Rishen Wu (吳日昇), who said that strong coordinated efforts are needed like when Sunflower movement protesters in 2014 climbed over the gates to occupy the main legislative chamber to stop the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) “from dismantling Taiwan’s democracy.”
Photo: CNA
It was the third day of protests against the attempts to pass the three amendments.
Dubbed the “Bluebird wintertime action,” the protests were organized by Taiwan Citizen Front and the Economic Democracy Union, with other groups, independence advocates and members of small political parties, including the New Power Party (NPP), the Taiwan Statebuilding Party, the Green Party and the Taiwan Obasang Political Equality Party attending.
“We have seen violent conduct and violation of proper procedures by the KMT, led by caucus whip Fu Kun-chi (傅?萁),” Economic Democracy Union convener Lai Chung-chiang (賴中強) told reporters in the afternoon. “Ramming through votes on third readings is Fu’s way, which he copies from the Chinese Communist Party.”
Photo: Chen Yi-kuan, Taipei Times
“We want to thank all Democratic Progressive Party [DPP] legislators for laying their bodies in harm’s way to try and stop the voting,” Lai added. “While the three bills will likely pass their third readings, we must fight on to defend Taiwan’s freedom and democracy. So I urge the DPP to appeal for legal injunctions and file for constitutional interpretations on these three bills.”
NPP Chairwoman Claire Wang (王婉諭) on social media called on protesters to stay overnight at the legislature “to show people’s anger about such abuse of power.”
Cabinet spokeswoman Michelle Lee (李慧芝) said that Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) appreciates that people took to the streets to safeguard democracy and hopes that Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) could put aside controversial bills that make people anxious.
More than 100 people gathered at Taichung Railway Station holding placards saying: “We are here to protect Taiwan,” “Down with the KMT bill to undermine the Constitutional Court” and “against the expenditure bill for disbursing funds locally to win elections.”
Dozens assembled at a park in Kaohsiung, carrying placards accusing the KMT of using “martial law tactics.”
Three batches of banana sauce imported from the Philippines were intercepted at the border after they were found to contain the banned industrial dye Orange G, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said yesterday. From today through Sept. 2 next year, all seasoning sauces from the Philippines are to be subject to the FDA’s strictest border inspection, meaning 100 percent testing for illegal dyes before entry is allowed, it said in a statement. Orange G is an industrial coloring agent that is not permitted for food use in Taiwan or internationally, said Cheng Wei-chih (鄭維智), head of the FDA’s Northern Center for
LOOKING NORTH: The base would enhance the military’s awareness of activities in the Bashi Channel, which China Coast Guard ships have been frequenting, an expert said The Philippine Navy on Thursday last week inaugurated a forward operating base in the country’s northern most province of Batanes, which at 185km from Taiwan would be strategically important in a military conflict in the Taiwan Strait. The Philippine Daily Inquirer quoted Northern Luzon Command Commander Lieutenant General Fernyl Buca as saying that the base in Mahatao would bolster the country’s northern defenses and response capabilities. The base is also a response to the “irregular presence this month of armed” of China Coast Guard vessels frequenting the Bashi Channel in the Luzon Strait just south of Taiwan, the paper reported, citing a
UNDER PRESSURE: The report cited numerous events that have happened this year to show increased coercion from China, such as military drills and legal threats The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) aims to reinforce its “one China” principle and the idea that Taiwan belongs to the People’s Republic of China by hosting celebratory events this year for the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, the “retrocession” of Taiwan and the establishment of the UN, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said in its latest report to the Legislative Yuan. Taking advantage of the significant anniversaries, Chinese officials are attempting to assert China’s sovereignty over Taiwan through interviews with international news media and cross-strait exchange events, the report said. Beijing intends to reinforce its “one China” principle
A total lunar eclipse, an astronomical event often referred to as a “blood moon,” would be visible to sky watchers in Taiwan starting just before midnight on Sunday night, the Taipei Astronomical Museum said. The phenomenon is also called “blood moon” due to the reddish-orange hue it takes on as the Earth passes directly between the sun and the moon, completely blocking direct sunlight from reaching the lunar surface. The only light is refracted by the Earth’s atmosphere, and its red wavelengths are bent toward the moon, illuminating it in a dramatic crimson light. Describing the event as the most important astronomical phenomenon
RSS