Activists are to hold a rally today at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei to protest three controversial amendments they said would shield legislators convicted of corruption, protect ill-gotten party assets and reinstate a television network’s operating license.
Concerned citizens are invited to join the rally, which would include marathon-style events and five news conferences throughout the day starting at 10am at the south side of the Legislative Yuan building, Economic Democracy Union convener Lai Chung-chiang (賴中強) said yesterday, adding that the three “reprehensible” amendments would be explained.
People are already angry at the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) for using their majority to boycott this year’s general budget and block the NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.9 billion) special defense budget, both of which are vital for the country’s economic development and national security, Lai said.
Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times
The opposition plans to bypass proper procedures, circumventing the review and debate process at legislative committees by making an impromptu motion to change the agenda and bring on a sudden vote to catch the ruling party legislators unprepared, as they have done to ram through many previous bills, he said.
Opposition parties reportedly plan to review amendments to the Organic Law of the Legislative Yuan (立法院組織法), the Satellite Broadcasting Act (衛星廣播電視法) and the Act Governing the Settlement of Ill-gotten Properties by Political Parties and Their Affiliates (政黨及其附隨組織不當取得財產處理條例), Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus chief executive Chung Chia-pin (鍾佳濱) said.
The amendment to the first bill focuses on changing the term for the wages of legislators’ aides and office assistants to “state subsidy to the legislator,” so the funds could be allocated at lawmakers’ discretion, Chung said, adding that it would effectively decriminalize corruption.
He accused the opposition parties of trying to shield KMT Legislator Yen Kuan-heng (顏寬恒) and others who have been convicted of corruption charges for pocketing their employees’ wages, or for using family members or fabricating fake employees to work in legislative offices so they could take money from the central government.
Lai said the opposition parties are also colluding to lay the path for CTi TV to regain its operating license, after the National Communications Commission in 2020 refused to renew its license following numerous violations of media broadcasting regulations.
Most of the public are aware of CTi TV’s pro-China stance and its biased, negative reporting on the ruling DPP administration, he added.
Chung said that amending the law regarding ill-gotten assets aims to protect the properties and possessions of KMT-affiliated organizations from government seizure, adding that the resources would be beneficial for its party coffers and help the campaigns of its candidates for November’s nine-in-one elections.
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