Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators today announced a proposed referendum on implementing corporal punishment for sexual assault, child abuse and large-scale scams.
The move would not be emotionally motivated, but rather used to respond to public demands for better protection, KMT Legislator Hung Meng-kai (洪孟楷) told a news conference.
Polls show that up to 70 percent of the public would be willing to introduce corporal punishment for sexual assault, child abuse and fraud cases, he said.
Photo: Chen Yi-kuan, Taipei Times
A referendum would allow the public to debate the issue and assess for themselves which is more important: the human rights of the perpetrator or the safety and well-being of the public, he added.
Cases of child abuse, sexual abuse and fraud are becoming increasingly severe, complex and organized, he said.
The nation should evaluate whether more stringent punishments are required to deter such crimes and achieve procedural justice, he added.
In a Facebook post in October, Hung suggested public caning to deter crimes such as fraud and drunk driving.
The proposal drew criticism from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), with DPP Legislator Chuang Jui-hsiung (莊瑞雄) calling it a “step backward” for human rights.
Hung at the time cited a Straits Times report as saying that the Singaporean government was considering expanding the use of caning to punish scammers and scam mules, asking if Taiwan should follow suit.
In November, he raised the proposal at the Judiciary and Organic Laws Committee, with the Ministry of Justice saying it was evaluating the issue.
Today, Hung was joined by KMT caucus secretary-general Lin Pei-hsiang (林沛祥) and five other legislators to propose a referendum on the issue.
The referendum would not overstep the Legislative Yuan’s right to draft laws, and sentences would still be issued by the courts with due process, Hung said.
However, the Referendum Act (公民投票法) states that large policy shifts may be determined by the public, he added.
KMT Legislator Lo Chih-chiang (羅智強) called on the DPP to respect public opinion and not vote against the proposal.
If the legislature passes the proposal, the Central Election Commission should hold a referendum in accordance with the law, he added.
The proposal is not about denying human rights, but restoring victims’ dignity and safeguarding offenders’ rights, Lin said
The issue is difficult and controversial, but the public should be allowed to voice their opinion, he added.
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