Upset at the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus’ decision to withdraw its support for bill against media monopolization proposed by the Democratic Progressive Party caucus, about 30 members from the Youth Alliance Against Media Monsters yesterday staged a surprise demonstration at the Legislative Yuan, asking to meet with KMT legislators to discuss the issue and later clashing with police.
The students showed up around noon outside the legislature in Taipei, quickly ran through the back gate and rallied outside the back entrance to the General Assembly Hall.
Wearing headbands that read “Keep your word” and holding up banners with slogans against media monopolies, the students called on KMT lawmakers to meet them and explain their overnight change of attitude toward the bill.
Photo: Wang Yi-sung, Taipei Times
Police guarding the legislature failed to stop them, as there was only one officer guarding the back gate and there were not enough officers in the compound to force them out.
The students were later invited by KMT caucus whip Wu Yu-sheng (吳育昇) to a meeting, in which the students asked Wu to apologize for breaking his promise and to make a renewed promise to support the DPP proposal.
“I have done nothing that I should feel sorry about to the public,” Wu responded. “I will not apologize.”
As for his stance on media monopoly, Wu said that he is against monopolization of media outlets, “but we need more time to come up with a better draft law, instead of expediting its passage.”
Wu left not long after he made the remarks. Unsatisfied, the students started a sit-in protest, blocking the front entrance of the Legislative Yuan for more than an hour.
Scuffles broke out when the students tried to force their way back into the Legislative Yuan, but were pushed out by police. Some students were injured.
“We will come back,” Lin Fei-fan (林飛帆), a student leader told the crowd. “We will come back to remind lawmakers to keep their word.”
“It’s obvious that big business and capitalists have been working hard at lobbying the KMT, which is why it has changed its stance overnight. That is what we’re fighting against,” he added.
BAIL APPEALS: The former vice premier was ordered to be held incommunicado despite twice being granted bail and paying a total of NT$12 million in bond The Taoyuan District Court yesterday ordered the detention of former vice premier Cheng Wen-tsan (鄭文燦), who is being investigated for alleged corruption while serving as Taoyuan mayor from December 2014 to December 2022, and that he be held incommunicado. The court made the ruling during a bail hearing after prosecutors appealed its bail ruling twice. Cheng on Saturday was released after posting bail of NT$5 million (US$153,818). However, after prosecutors lodged an appeal, the High Court on Monday revoked the original ruling and ordered the Taoyuan District Court to hold another bail hearing. On Tuesday, the district court granted bail to Cheng a second
The Thai government on Friday announced that Taiwanese would be allowed to stay in the country for up to 60 days per entry, under the Southeast Asian country’s visa-free program starting from today. Taiwan is among 93 countries included in the Thai visa-waiver program, which has been expanded from 57 countries, with the visa-exempt entry extended from 30 to 60 days. After taking office last year, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has vowed to grant more visa waivers to foreign travelers as part of efforts to stimulate tourism. The expanded visa-waiver program was on Friday signed by Thai Minister of the Interior Anutin
PEACE AND SECURITY: China’s military ambitions present ‘the greatest strategic challenge to Japan and the world, Japan’s annual defense white paper said yesterday Japan yesterday warned that China risked escalating tensions with Taiwan with an increase in military exercises that appeared aimed in part at readying Beijing’s forces for a possible invasion. Japan’s annual assessment of security threats, including those posed by China, North Korea and Russia, comes as Taiwan closely monitors Chinese People’s Liberation Army air and sea exercises, including one with the Shandong aircraft carrier in the Pacific Ocean. The drills are the latest in a series including maneuvers in the Taiwan Strait last year that a senior US general said would be key to any invasion. “Because of that increase in military activity,
HAN KUANG: The exercises, which are to run from July 22 to 26, will feature unscripted war games and a decentralized command and control structure, military officers said The armed forces would for the first time test new rules of engagement (ROE) at this month’s annual Han Kuang exercises, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said yesterday. The exercises, which are to run from July 22 to 26, will feature unscripted war games, and a decentralized command and control structure, military officers told a news conference in Taipei. ROE cards would be issued to select combat troops to test their ability to function without tight control, they said. The most recent edition of the rules was published last year, they said. One of the cards’ two templates identifies enemy targets that soldiers