Activist groups commenced a new series of “Bluebird movement” activities in Taoyuan on Monday night, beginning nationwide public forums and recall drives aiming to oust Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators who “rammed through three amendments to destroy Taiwan’s democracy.”
At a parking lot behind Taoyuan Railway Station, Economic Democracy Union (EDU) convener Lai Chung-chiang (賴中強) criticized “those power-abusive KMT legislators” and told the audience that “we must hold them accountable for their actions in the legislature... We cannot allow them to deprive us of our democratic rights and to steal Taiwan’s democracy.”
Lai called on those present to join a civil disobedience and resistance campaign to fight what he called the “extremist group” in the KMT led by caucus whip Fu Kun-chi (傅?萁).
Photo: Lin Min-chen, Taipei Times
“This Fu extremist group has carried out so many political maneuvers that the result is a serious crisis facing society and the government. It is not like the old days when the KMT regime imposed martial law and it had total control of the Legislative Yuan. It is time for the democracy movement to rise up again,” Lai said.
He concluded his address by getting the audience, estimated at more than 800, to shout out the slogans: “Defend Taiwanese democracy” and: “Oust KMT legislators,” before outlining a series of “Bluebird movement” activities in cities and counties nationwide.
After launching recall drives against KMT legislators elected in Taoyuan, events are also scheduled in New Taipei City on Thursday next week, in Taichung on Jan. 8, and in Hsinchu and Miaoli counties on Jan. 15, Lai said, adding that there are also plans for activities in Hualien and Taitung counties, but the dates are still under consideration.
EDU and Taiwan Citizen Front officials said they are working to organize three main activities — launching recall drives, civil disobedience and holding KMT legislators accountable at public events.
Minister of Sports Lee Yang (李洋) today said the Chinese Taipei Basketball Association (CTBA) has been urged not to undermine Taiwan’s credibility in international competitions, after a Taiwanese team advanced to the semi-finals of the 45th William Jones Cup over the Philippines last week due to a controversial new rule guaranteeing a semi-final place to the host team. The Republic of China Blue team advanced to the semi-finals after winning just one game in the group round due to a “host guarantee” spot, overtaking the Philippines, who held a 5-1 record ahead of the semi-finals. The Blue team finished the tournament
A sea warning for Typhoon Saudel, which has shifted to a more northerly track as it nears Taiwan, is expected early tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said today. As of this morning, Saudel was about 650km east-northeast of Taipei, moving west-northwest at 12kph with maximum sustained winds of 162kph, CWA data showed. Although Saudel remains a moderate typhoon, it has weakened and is expected to weaken further as it nears Taiwan due to unfavorable atmospheric and ocean conditions, CWA forecaster Lin Po-tung (林伯東) said. The storm is forecast to make its closest approach to Taiwan tomorrow and on Friday, Lin added. According to
SEA WARNING EXPECTED: As atmospheric conditions are unfavorable for its development, the storm’s intensity is continuing to weaken, a CWA official said Typhoon Saudel is continuing to weaken and shift its path northward, with a sea warning expected to be issued this evening, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency did not rule out issuing a land warning for outlying Lienchiang County (Matsu) tomorrow morning, although all storm warnings could be lifted by Friday night. Saudel is expected to be closest to Taiwan from tomorrow night to Friday, bringing localized heavy rain to northern and southern Taiwan, as well as central mountainous areas, the agency said. As of 2pm yesterday, the center of moderate Typhoon Saudel was about 890km east-northeast
MODERATE TYPHOON: Localized heavy rain is forecast to hit central and southern Taiwan, the CWA said, adding that the storm would likely move away on Saturday A sea warning for Typhoon Saudel, which shifted to a more northerly track as it approached Taiwan, is likely early today, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. As of 2pm yesterday, the center of typhoon was about 630km northeast of Taipei, moving west-northwest at 14kph with maximum wind gusts of up to 162kph, CWA data showed. Saudel is a moderate typhoon and is expected to weaken as it nears Taiwan due to atmospheric and ocean conditions, CWA forecaster Lin Po-tung (林伯東) said. A sea warning indicates hazardous typhoon conditions in waters surrounding Taiwan within 24 hours, Lin said. The storm is forecast to
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