Rigging the system to save its lawmakers' seats. Shameless.
But then, one expects little better from a dictatorial Leninist party steeped in the undemocratic habits of 38 years of martial law:
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) yesterday said that a controversial proposal to increase the documents required by petitioners during recalls of elected representatives is intended to “reduce possible abuses in the process.”
[…]
The party’s move has raised doubts, as it comes during a public campaign for recalling legislators that was launched after the cross-strait service trade act row. Many of the officials under fire are KMT members.
…the KMT-proposed amendment…would require petitioners to provide photocopies of identity cards and affidavits — in addition to the existing requirements for name, address and national identification number… [emphasis added]
What, no notorized copies of the petitioners' last proctological exam?
Goodbye, predictable Rule of Law. Welcome, capricious Rule of Man.
Congratulations, KMT. You have officially turned Taiwan into a legal laughingstock.
(The majesty of Taiwanese law. Image from Foreign Policy)
UPDATE (May 13/2014): The Taipei Times points out something that I've considered of late:
When activists take to the streets [and engage in civil disobedience]…the government and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers condemn such acts, urging the dissidents to express their opinions within the democratic system in a lawful way.
However, when activists want to play by the rules [by utilizing Taiwan's electoral recall laws], KMT legislators seem to suddenly decide that the law is not so sacred after all and seek to change the rules.
[…]
“If the people cannot vent their anger within the system, they will certainly start their resistance outside of the system,” [attorney and rights activist Huang Di-ying (黃帝穎)] said.
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Nice report.
However, citation needed for attributing KMT’s fascist authoritarian tendencies to Leninism.
[Google is your friend. The Party’s organizational structure (not its economic policy) was designed along Leninist Party lines in the 1920s. –The Foreigner]
Some factions involved in the original impetus for the social unrest were/are in fact anti-capitalist.
[Maybe so. But defending one’s industries from domination by Communist Party princelings is about as pro-capitalist as you can get. –The Foreigner]
Given that the attempted obscured passing of legislation is a hallmark strategy of the neoliberal ubercapitalists of the new century,
[Free trade between democracies is quite different from Taiwan trading “freely” with a Sino-fascist empire bent upon its destruction. –The Foreigner]
Praytell, when have the elites ever been subject to Rule of Law?
[The scent of troll is strong with this one! –The Foreigner]
Nothing short of a global armed uprising will stop these thieves, but please remember my fellow humans- whosoever lives by the sword shall die by the sword.
[♪ Nee-nee-noo-nee ♪ Nee-nee-noo-nee ♪ Nee-nee-noo-nee ♪…]
With love. Be safe.
But hit ’em where it hurts.
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I came to unite not divide. I suspect there are resonances between our perspectives. Maybe we disagree about some details, but genuinely I condone and support your post.
However a little rhetorical banter every now and then is probably pretty healthy.
Thank you for leaving my comments up, that’s very gracious and principled.
[Oh, let me assure you, when it comes to trolls I’m neither. Trolls get cut off at the knees without a second thought. –The Foreigner]
Google is in fact not anyone’s friend. It exists to maximize it’s shareholders profits. If anyone has friends like that, maybe it’s time to re-examine some relationships.
Yes, I am aware of history of the KMT, but you still haven’t cited any support for your opinion.
[Word games, must we? Google is your friend in the sense that it facilitates the efforts of those who seek information from it. Google “KMT” and “Leninist party” – there’s more citations than you can shake a stick at. –The Foreigner]
Hmm. Communist princelings who’ve run their enterprises since Deng Xiaoping like how?
Oh that’s right – capitalist.
[Capitalist, huh? I guess that’s ONE way of describing Communist Party princeling Bo Xilai making millions off the harvested body parts of Falun Gong practitioners…–The Foreigner]
Also here I am just reporting what I observed during the Sunflower days of action.
Free trade between democracies: No argument from me here. I will comment tho that on a macroscopic level humanity has seen very little if any genuinely free trade or democracy for a while now. At least since the dollar was pegged to petroleum.
[Ah. So apparently neither Free Trade nor Democracy nor the Rule of Law exist. I do believe you’re wasting my time. –The Foreigner]
Trolls, eh? If only I could deserve such good company. It would be regrettable if you felt personally antagonized. I assure you there is no malice here, Any snark you may have detected is only meant in good humour.
Although I must admit the humour of the sound effect is lost upon me. I’ll take it jokingly and you can chalk a point – if you’re counting.
[“You unlock this door with the key of imagination. Beyond it is another dimension: a dimension of sound, a dimension of sight, a dimension of mind…”]
Anyway if the KMT and/or China continue to make the policies they want without facing resistance, the situation is pretty dour for most of us on the island. That much we should agree on, right?
[And yet you previously suggested the situation wasn’t “dour” at all, when you tried to persuade me that Communist Party princelings will run businesses in Taiwan just as morally and ethically as Taiwanese small business owners. –The Foreigner]
Cheerio.
[And best of luck to you in your modest quest to initiate a global armed uprising to restore true Democracy, true Rule of Law and true Free Trade to this benighted world. Do let me know how that works out for ya.–The Foreigner]
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So if I understand your position: Google capitalists bad, Communist princeling capitalists good.
Elsewhere in the news:
China’s attacks on Google intensify
Coincidence?