icon
kmt logo block 正體中文 | 日本語
block
new icon  
img
title img
about kmt KMT Introduction Chairman's Biography Organization History Charter block
block
img
block block block KMT News block General News block Editorials block Survey block Opinions block block
header image

Healing the Wounds by Starting with Improving the Anti-Infiltration Act

icon2020/01/20
iconBrowse:640

 Healing the Wounds by Starting with Improving the Anti-Infiltration Act

 

China Times Editorial (Taipei, Taiwan)

 

January 17, 2020


 Translation of an Excerpt

 

 

The “Anti-Infiltration Act” has been promulgated; President Tsai, in a specially called press conference, reiterated that the “Anti-Infiltration Act” was not against cross-Strait exchanges, and that the requirements for constituting a violation of the law were very stringent, adding that people who did not receive the Chinese government’s "instructions, entrusting a mission or financial assistance" would not be affected. However, the so-called "instructions, entrusting a mission or financial assistance" are not phraseologies in the Criminal Code; thus, room for expanded interpretation is enormous, and it would be difficult to verify the fountainhead for the offence, and it would be very easy to create harassment and threats to the people, thereby undermining freedom of thought and speech.

 

First, the Legislative Yuan should ask for judicial review on the constitutionality of the law; we believe that the Council of Grand Justices will issue an interpretation ensuring the right to free speech. Second, before the completion of the judicial review, the Tsai government must exercise self-restraint; President Tsai must govern the country from the perspective of the whole picture of the country, conscientiously forestalling officials wielding power from acting with expediency, even abusing their power or authority. Third, the ad hoc group under the Cabinet needs to communicate with all circles, including law, government, academia, media, Taiwan businessmen on the Mainland; after reaching a consensus with those circles, it must fully formulate a set of implementing regulations based on democratic principles, not infringing on people's freedom of speech and right to participation in politics, with clear-cut requirements that constitute violation of the law. Fourth, the "Control Yuan National Human Rights Committee Organic Act" has already been passed in the third reading by the Legislative Yuan; we expect that the Control Yuan will hang out the shingle and start operations, and list the “Anti-Infiltration Act” as a major point of observation, so as to let intelligence, security, and prosecutorial agencies know how to behave, avoiding the repetition of abuse of power or authority. Legislators, especially those of the opposition party, must exercise oversight conscientiously, not afraid to expose transgressions.

 

Now that President Tsai has won re-election, becoming the nation’s leader in the next four years, she should look for an outlet for Taiwan's future with a higher and wider vista. A chaotic and torn Taiwan will only spin its wheels in place; in a society trembling like a chilling cicada under the "Anti-Infiltration Act", the pluralistic, open space for thought and speech will shrink as a result. The torn and suppressed Taiwan will lose its bustling vitality to move forward. Taiwan internally is riddled with wounds; now that President Tsai is the winner, the most important thing is to heal the wounds, allowing Taiwan society to enjoy a rest and convalescence, so as to find anew a shared mission for all.

iconAttachment : none 


Copyright©2024 Kuomintang Address: No.232~234, Sec. 2, BaDe Rd., Zhongshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan (ROC)  
image