181-W5-1-Student Protesters -Courtesy of The China Post
Taiwan protesters occupy parliament over China trade pact
上次討論過這則新聞的觀察角度：
看這則新聞時要注意學生進去佔領是否是民主的象徵，還是民主的倒退？ 若是違法，是否會有後續的法律起訴？學生是否真的瞭解服貿的內容，還是又成為政客操弄政治下的犧牲品？
今日的新聞已告訴我們答案。希望大家能也能時刻提醒自己：
民主的真意為何？ 如果所有的暴力發聲都是被合理化的,那麼哪來和平發聲的可貴？ 發聲是聲音被聽見，而不代表對方一定要接受我們的意見。民主是在於每個人都有發聲的權力，任何的決策都需立基於的公共利益相對極大值。(greater common good)
If all violent and brutal protests are justified, it would be hard for us to cherish the peaceful /non-violent measures of demonstration. Our voices should be heard but not in a violent or illegal way. To be heard doesn't mean everyone should follow our ideas. Democracy is based on the greater common good.
另外幾個對於國外媒體觀察/思考想法：
1.台灣暴動對於經濟投資、觀光的影響。
Should I withdraw my investments in Taiwan? Would it be safe to travel in Taiwan?
2.政府沒有暴力鎮壓/驅散成為真正民主的象徵，反而讓整個抗議失焦。
Non-violent crack down/dispersion could be the demonstration of real democracy
3.幕後策動者是為了個人利益還是公眾利益。
Did the insurgent start from personnel interests or public interests?
Taiwan protesters occupy parliament over China trade pact
By AFP
March 19, 2014, 2:30 pm TWN
Taipei — Around 200 Taiwanese students and activists were locked in a tense standoff with police Wednesday after they stormed the parliament in a bid to thwart government efforts to ratify a contentious trade agreement with China.
Tearing down signboards and chanting anti-government slogans, protesters unexpectedly broke through security barriers and took over the parliament's main chamber late Tuesday, in the first such occupation of the building in the island's history.
The protesters, mostly young students, have barricaded the entrance with ceiling-high piles of armchairs, blocking hundreds of policemen who attempted vigorously early Wednesday to push their way in to end the occupation.
The protesters are vehemently opposed to what they term illegal moves by the ruling Kuomintang party to pass the trade pact with China, the island's biggest trading partner, and are demanding that it be reviewed clause-by-clause.
"The trade pact must not be approved without careful deliberation and scrutiny in parliament," a student leader said.
The pact -- designed to further open up trade between Taiwan and China, which split 65 years ago after a civil war -- passed the first hurdle in parliament Monday after it was approved by a joint committee despite opposition concerns that it could hurt small service companies and damage the Taiwanese economy.
The committee's approval -- the first of three ratifications needed to pass the bill -- sparked a brawl between rival lawmakers and provoked three opposition Democratic Progressive Party legislators to stage a 70-hour hunger strike.
The China-sceptic DPP has pledged to mobilise supporters when parliament holds a full session on Friday for a second review of the bill.
The pact is one of the follow-up agreements to the sweeping Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement signed in 2010 to reduce trade barriers.
Under the deal, China will open 80 service sectors to Taiwanese companies, while Taiwan will allow Chinese investment in 64 sectors.
Cross-strait ties have improved markedly since President Ma Ying-jeou of the China-friendly Kuomintang came to power in 2008 pledging to strengthen trade and tourism links. He was re-elected in January 2012.
But China still considers Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting reunification -- by force if necessary.
留言列表
172 (6)