About 100,000 Taiwanese launched the “Bluebird movement” to protect freedoms and national development. The theme of the movement coincides with that of Belgian author Maurice Maeterlinck’s fantasy play The Blue Bird.
Taiwan has been free from the shackles of martial law for more than 30 years, but the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) remain stuck in the past.
To seize political power and benefits, they have pushed amendments that would unlawfully expand the power of the legislature and muck up the government in the name of “legislative reform,” harming human and civil rights. They are dragging the nation back toward the Martial Law era.
This game by the opposition parties has led civic groups, academics, industry and people from all walks of life to call out the inappropriate bills in unison, demanding that the Legislative Yuan recall the proposals for proper procedural reviews.
The Bluebird movement is a spontaneous civil action, galvanizing and amalgamating the public’s spirit. The overtures and refrains of human history rise like clockwork. Taiwan is being compelled to backtrack to an era of authoritarianism, forcing Taiwanese to relaunch the same civil rights movements from more than 60 years ago.
The thought of having to return to fighting to win back rights we already have is maddening and absurd. The proposals of the blue and white camps to “reform the legislature” would give the opposition practically free rein to do whatever it wants, as the amendments lack clarity and transparency. They would allow parties to abuse the investigative and interpellative powers, which could be used to summon members of the public for questioning, thus harming Taiwanese human and civil rights.
Through the “crime” of “contempt of the legislature,” the opposition parties could oppose the government’s National Health Insurance and social welfare policies with a swagger to their goose-step, broadly slashing away at policies that benefit Taiwan’s national defense, foreign affairs and economic health, as well as allow them to stringently review laws concerning cross-strait ties.
If the Anti-infiltration Act (反滲透法) is “reformed,” it would damage Taiwan’s national security, hollowing out the administrative powers of President William Lai’s (賴清德) administration. This would heavily affect national development and civil rights.
At a key time of uncertainty over Taiwan’s possible capitulation, sticking up for the nation’s survival and development, and protecting a free life and the right to freedom of expression — in addition to being able to rebuke opposition policies, and the words and deeds of KMT and TPP politicians — should not be cause for opposition lawmakers to conduct investigations, or to force those summoned for questioning to provide personal information or industrial secrets, and threatening them with steep penalties or imprisonment if they resist.
Industries throughout the nation must come together in solidarity and make persistent efforts to coordinate with the Executive Yuan to call for the governing Democratic Progressive Party caucus’ petition for a constitutional interpretation of the proposed expansion of legislative powers.
As debate and demonstrations continue across the nation, the public will gain a clear understanding of the harm the expansion of legislative powers would have on civil rights.
Through promotion of recall motions, the opposition parties’ proposals would be nullified, sending them back for review. By pursuing the Bluebird movement’s happiness and dreams, the public could spread its wings and soar.
Michael Lin is a retired diplomat who was stationed in the US.
Translated by Tim Smith
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