The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT)-dominated legislature’s Procedure Committee yesterday accepted a proposal by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) that could call on the legislature to urge Beijing to admit it was wrong in launching a military crackdown on civilians in Tiananmen Square 20 years ago.
The resolution, if passed during a plenary session next Tuesday, would also call on Beijing to “reverse the injustice done to victims of the June 4 massacre” and to establish a “harmonious society” as a prerequisite for cross-strait interaction.
Next Thursday is the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre.
The committee also agreed to another proposal by the DPP that would urge the military junta in Myanmar to immediately release opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
It would also call on the junta to release some 2,000 Burmese dissidents who are under arrest.
The proposal says the Taiwanese government should play an active role in supporting Aung San Suu Kyi and the Burmese public’s desire for democracy.
“We hereby urge the Taiwanese government to take the human rights violations committed by the government in Myanmar seriously ... and consider imposing effective economic sanctions on Myanmar until the human rights condition in Myanmar improve and Myanmar becomes a democracy,” the proposal said.
The committee blocked another proposal by the DPP calling on the legislature to adopt a resolution that highlights the need for the nation to gain full membership at the WHO.
The proposal would urge the government to submit a formal protest to the WHO against the memorandum of understanding signed by the WHO and China in 2005.
KMT caucus secretary-general Yang Chiung-ying (楊瓊瓔) said the caucus did not block the proposals on the Tiananmen Square Massacre and Aung San Suu Kyi to show the caucus’ support for human rights.
Meanwhile, the committee voted in favor of a motion by the KMT caucus to include a proposed amendment to the Assembly and Parade Act (集會遊行法) in next Tuesday’s plenary session.
The DPP has threatened to paralyze the legislature whenever the proposed amendment is included in the plenary agenda.
DPP Legislator Wang Sing-nan (王幸男) said the DPP would once again occupy the speaker’s podium to block the bill.
In related news, lawmakers passed an amendment to the Electronic Game Regulation Act (電子遊戲場業管理條例) yesterday barring children under the age of 15 from entering and lingering at game rooms or Internet cafes during school hours or after 10pm.
At a press conference earlier yesterday, Yang said the current act only bans children from “entering” the venues during school hours or after 10pm, which makes it difficult for law enforcement authorities to clamp down on those who enter game rooms or Internet cafes after school and hang around.
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