DPP accuses Jiang of talking to media to avoid workers

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday accused Premier Jiang Yi-huah (江宜樺) of arranging more than five interviews with media on Wednesday, International Workers’ Day, to avoid meeting with workers protesting over deteriorating working conditions.

The premier preferred talking to reporters than meeting more than 50,000 workers who braved the heavy rain, which showed that “the premier and President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) only want to talk about what they have done and never want to listen to what the people have to say,” DPP spokesperson Wang Min-sheng (王閔生) told a press conference.

DPP concerned over ‘hasty’ trade pact

SERVICE AGREEMENT:DPP lawmakers said the government only stresses the positive aspects of such a trade pact with Beijing, but has not provided studies to back it up
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

The government’s announcement that it will soon sign a service trade agreement with China despite the lack of professional assessments on the potential impact that such a pact would have on the nation’s economy, various industries and employment is a cause for concern, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers said yesterday.

The government’s “hasty negotiations” with China for a service trade agreement — a follow-up talk under the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) — is likely to damage, rather than benefit, the nation’s service sector, DPP Legislator Lee Chun-yi (李俊俋) told a press conference.

DPP reveals China Affairs Committee makeup

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday announced its long-awaited list of China Affairs Committee members, five months after the establishment of the committee that aims to serve as a platform to formulate the party’s cross-strait policies.

The eight members are DPP Chairman Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌), who serves as the convener, former DPP chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), former premier Yu Shyi-kun, DPP legislative caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘), Greater Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu (陳菊), Greater Tainan Mayor William Lai (賴清德), former National Security Council secretary-general Chiu I-jen (邱義仁) and former DPP secretary-general Wu Nai-jen (吳乃仁).

Su unveils DPP membership reforms

TARGETING GANGSTERS:The party chairman said the reforms particularly focus on mass applications by gang members, who could try to influence election outcomes
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairman Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) yesterday outlined a reform of the party’s recruitment policies amid recent controversies surrounding reported cases of mass applications, the involvement of gangsters and the party’s oft criticized nominal member system.

The most significant change relates to DPP members’ eligibility to vote in party elections — the primary reason behind recent mass applications. From this year, eligible voters must be members who have been in the party for at least two years, rather than the previous one-year requirement, Su told a press conference following the party’s weekly Central Standing Committee meeting.

Ker, Lin say they never cooperated with gangsters

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus convener Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) and Lin Yao-wen (林耀文), director of former premier Frank Hsieh’s (謝長廷) office, yesterday denied a media report alleging that they were collaborating with gang members to influence the party’s chairmanship election next year.

The Chinese-language Next Magazine yesterday alleged that Ker had cooperated with the Celestial Alliance criminal organization and Lin had secured support from the Four Seas gang, because the gangs had reportedly sent mass membership applications to the DPP.

Lin Yi-shih guilty on two counts

NOT CORRUPTION:：The Taipei District Court ruled that Lin had not violated the Anti-Corruption Act as a lawmaker, so his relatives could not be guilty of money laundering
By Rich Chang and Chris Wang  /  Staff reporters
Wed, May 01, 2013 - Page 1

Former Executive Yuan secretary-general Lin Yi-shih (林益世) was yesterday sentenced to seven years and four months in prison by the Taipei District Court for accepting about NT$60 million (US$2 million) from a contractor.

The court said Lin had broken the law by using his power to threaten people for money and held property from unidentified sources.

Ma should say sorry for failing workers: DPP

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) should apologize for his failure to improve the salaries of private-sector workers and the general labor environment during his time as president, as more than 9 million workers celebrate International Workers’ Day today, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers said yesterday.

Under Ma’s leadership, wages for private-sector workers have dropped to the level they were at 14 years ago, making Taiwan one of the few countries in which workers’ average salaries decreased between 2007 and last year, DPP Legislator Yeh Yi-jin (葉宜津) told a press conference.

TSU urges protest over WHO listing

NAME CALLING:A WHO H7N9 virus update listing Taiwan as part of China not only slighted the nation’s sovereignty, but may hurt tourism, a TSU official said

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

The Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) yesterday urged the government to immediately lodge a protest with the WHO over its listing of Taiwan as part of China in the health organization’s update of H7N9 avian influenza cases.

“The practice was not surprising, as China has taken every opportunity to squeeze Taiwan’s international space and belittle Taiwan’s sovereignty,” TSU caucus whip Lin Shih-chia (林世嘉) told a press conference.

Lawmakers pass compensation bills

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

The legislature yesterday cleared an amendment extending by four years the period during which the families of 228 Massacre victims can apply for compensation, as well as another amendment making the families of victims of crime in foreign countries eligible for state compensation.

The amendment to the Regulations for Handling of and Compensation for the 228 Incident (二 二 八事件處理及補償條例) was initiated by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) to help compensate all the families of those who perished in the massacre, which took place in 1947 when Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) troops suppressed a popular uprising, leaving tens of thousands dead, missing or imprisoned.

Doctors cancel Lee trip

Former president Lee Teng-hui’s (李登輝) office said yesterday in a press release that his planned trip to Japan this month has been canceled after a regular medical check-up. The office quoted Lee’s medical team as saying that while the 90-year-old was in fairly good health, they recommended that Lee, who has been hospitalized twice this year, avoid taking long trips. Lee was scheduled to deliver speeches in Tokyo and Zama City in Kanagawa Prefecture. The office said a Japan visit in the future would still be possible if Lee’s health permitted. Lee last visited Japan in September 2009.