A wire fence being installed atop the wall surrounding the Legislative Yuan compound is to prevent trees from growing askew, the Legislative Yuan said today, after facing criticism that its alternative purpose may be to block citizens from entering.
The wire fence is meant to prevent trees within the Legislative Yuan from growing outward, which could compromise the wall’s structure and potentially endanger pedestrians, General Affairs Department Director Liao Chiung-chih (廖炯志) said.
As some sections of the wire fence have deteriorated over time, repairs have been carried out gradually since last year, Liao said, emphasizing that this is not a new measure.
Photo: Lee Wen-hsin, Taipei Times
The height of the wire fence has been reduced compared to the past, he said, adding that the wire is C-shaped steel, which is not intended to block or hurt people.
While the current wire fence is being installed along Qingdao E Road, the wall on the Jinan Road side has already been pushed out of alignment by tree growth, and the department is considering flattening the wall in the future, Liao said.
Earlier, Democratic Progressive Party caucus chief executive Rosalia Wu (吳思瑤) accused the leadership of the legislature of turning the chamber into an “undemocratic hell” that suppresses minority parties’ voices.
The legislature should be a temple for democracy, but by raising the height of the wall, it makes legislators exercise their power as if from inside a prison, Wu said.
The excuse of “preventing tree growth” would only fool a three-year-old, Wu said.
The General Affairs Department had been instructed to complete the wire fence by Friday, calling into question what kind of legislation has the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) so worried about public backlash, she said.
If the KMT is afraid of public opinion, it should follow proper democratic procedures and complete the necessary discussions to amend the law, she added.
Additional reporting by Lee Wen-hsin
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