Legislators pass bill to protect seafarers from acts of piracy
By Hsieh Chun-lin, Chien Hui-jui and Jonathan Chin / Staff reporters, with staff writer
The Legislative Yuan yesterday passed amendments to the Seafarers Act (船員法) that would require the owner of a vessel to obtain the crew’s written consent before a ship not protected by armed contractors sets sail in waters threatened by piracy or other unlawful forces.
Article 87 of the act stated that the owner of a vessel must obtain the written consent of the crew to operate the ship in a war zone. The amendment expands that requirement to waters threatened by piracy and illegal armed forces.
DPP suspends lawmakers over vote on pork imports
PARTY DISCIPLINE: The three lawmakers were suspended for one year, which might be extended by another three years if they defy orders again
By Jonathan Chin / Staff writer, with CNA
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday suspended the memberships of three lawmakers who bucked the party line by abstaining from a floor vote on allowing imports of pork containing traces of ractopamine in December last year.
The DPP Central Review Committee imposed one-year membership suspensions on Lin Shu-fen (林淑芬), Chiang Yung-chang (江永昌) and Liu Chien-kuo (劉建國), and fined them NT$30,000 each.
If any of the three again defies orders to vote along the party line, they would be suspended for another three years, which would disqualify them from party primaries for the duration of the suspension.
Taipei, Feb. 25 (CNA) The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) voted on Thursday to suspend three of its lawmakers who defied the party last December by abstaining from a series of votes regarding the lifting of restrictions on imports of pork containing the controversial feed additive ractopamine.
2020/12/30 19:00 From left to right: Lin Shu-fen, Chiang Yung-chang and Liu Chien-kuo. From left to right: Lin Shu-fen, Chiang Yung-chang and Liu Chien-kuo. (CNA photo) The legislative caucus of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) on Wednesday (Dec. 30) voted to fine and suspend three lawmakers who defied the party last week by abstaining on a series of votes.
The votes were mainly in regard to the lifting of restrictions on imports of pork containing the controversial animal feed additive ractopamine.
DPP legislators Lin Shu-fen (林淑芬), Chiang Yung-chang (江永昌) and Liu Chien-kuo (劉建國) were fined NT$30,000 (US$1,067.43) each and suspended from running for committee membership or party leadership positions for a period of three years as a result of their breach of party discipline during the Dec. 24 voting, DPP legislative caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) told reporters.