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Cold war ends, now OK to advocate communism in Taiwan

ROC Central News Agency

2011/05/17 22:06:46

Taipei, May 17 (CNA) A Legislative Yuan committee approved on Monday an amendment that negates the ban on people for advocating communism or the idea of splitting the national territory.

Two provisions in the Civil Associations Act that made it illegal to promote communism and dividing the nation were deleted after a meeting of the Yuan's Internal Administration Committee.

The revision means people will enjoy greater freedom of speech in Taiwan, traditionally a bastion of anti-communism.

The act's article on the limitation of organization and activities states that "organization and activities of civil associations may not advocate communism or claim abruption of the country."

Another article regarding illegal establishment says, "An application for establishment of a civil association that violates the provision of Article 2 [the previous one] or other laws shall be rejected; if the establishment is permitted, such permit shall be abolished."

The Council of Grand Justices had concluded the two articles were unconstitutional and should be done away with.

Gao Jyh-peng, an opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmaker who initiated the discussion, said the government department in charge of civic groups has the authority to screen the contents of their proposals.

Before Monday's amendment, groups that wanted to spread communist ideology or the idea of splitting the country could be denied a permit to operate. Gao said this was "an apparent violation of the rights to the freedom of expression and the freedom of association."

Wu Yu-sheng, a ruling Kuomintang (KMT) legislator who is also a convener of the committee, said they followed the ruling and honored prevailing public opinion that these two provisions should be removed.

The amendments will be of help to a normal development of the country as the new version of the law will serve the interests of the government, political parties, the private sector, society and the media, he said.

Wu noted that further deliberation on this amendment does not need to go through the so-called consultations between the ruling and opposition party caucuses and so the amendment is expected to clear the legislative floor in due time.

Jiang Yi-huah, minister of the interior, said that since 2008, his ministry already asked all local governments not to cite those two provisions in the law in rejecting applications for forming civic or political groups.

The latest changes to the law will give people more freedom to form groups, Jiang said. (By Wen Kui-hsiang and S.C. Chang) enditem/ly