Thousands Gathered on Ketagalan Boulevard, Called for Tax Reform and Celebrated the 30th Anniversary of the Wild Lily Student Movement
2020 is the 30th anniversary of the Wild Lily Student Movement. At the event, young participants, scholars, experts and tax victims held lilies, calling on the fighters of Wild Lily Student Movement, who have now risen to power, not to forget their enthusiasm and original intentions. They should shoulder the responsibility to find solutions of tax cases and help the tax victims who are still suffering under state violence. The event lasted from the afternoon to the evening, attracting more than 100 reports from local and international media and 12 live broadcasts on YouTube.
The Wild Lily Student Movement in 1990 was the first large-scale student protest in Taiwan, which had a considerable impact and influence on Taiwan's democratic politics. Professor Tseng Chien-Yuan was a participant of the Wild Lily Student Movement and currently is an associate professor at National Central University, talked about his own experience as a tax victim. He said that the Lily Movement had moved forward Taiwan into a constitutional state for 30 years. However, the outmoded White-Terror-like authoritarian rule remains, and the outdated system of financially rewarding for both tax officials as well as informants still exists today. It is important that supervisory power and civilian protectors independently discharge their duties and the authority to suspend the controversial or illegal administrative sanctions to protect human rights. He called on his fellow comrades who fought with him 30 years ago and now are legislators not to forget their initial missions. He suggested them be guided by conscience, and demand the Ministry of Finance to abolish the bonus system for tax officers.
Owing a traffic fine of NT$18,000 (US$628.70), Chen Qingxu’s family home where three generations depended for a living was auctioned off. He said that he would never forget the official's face at the time of the handover. "When I pleaded with them, they were quite scornful. This is the first time in my life I have seen officials treat the people harshly." The Administrative Enforcement Agency sent falsely messages to the media and falsely accused Mr. Chen on the Internet of drunk driving, owed his health insurance premiums, etc. Is this the "love and care" of the Enforcement Agency’s declaration?
Dr. Lukas Lien, a professor at Osnabrück University in Germany, pointed out that Taxpayer Rights Protection Act and taxation systems are social welfare and life-saving systems in civilized countries. However, in Taiwan, they are not functioned as they are supposed to do, such as the cases of Chen Qingxu or Mr. Lai who forgot to pay a tax of NT$38,000 (USD1327.26), and his house more than 20 million was to auction. Officials who were to protect the people have turned into villainous officials who punish tax debtors and extend to their families, said Prof. Lien.
Huang Kun-guang, the former auditor of the National Taxation Bureau, vilified that there is no democratic country in the world that illegally levies taxes and not return it to the people! The unjust Tai Ji Men case should have been resolved 10 years ago. Why has it been delayed until now? How can it be corrected to zero in five of six years and leave one other year to tax? It is now clear that the money was a gift from disciples to the Shifu(Master). However, the National Tax Bureau has illegally turned tax-exempt income into taxable income, which obviously violates taxation legalism. Since the taxation is illegal, it should be revoked, and the original judgment in 1992 of the case should be abolished.
Lee Yen-hsiu, deputy secretary-general of the Kuomintang, pointed out that the biggest constitutional crisis facing the country is the inherited authoritarian system. If the country cannot communicate even the most basic human rights, "freedom of speech and tax reform," the country will only move toward authoritarianism, or even black terror. The voice and will of the people will grow. It depends on the awakening of all citizens, fighting together, and awakening the conscience of the government.
According to Wei Si-Tsong, an assistant professor in the Department of Business Administration of Fu Jen Catholic University, Taiwan has 226 laws and regulations with total of 16,153 articles. There are only 122 articles about penalizing civil servants, but 1,299 articles about penalizing ordinary people. Professor Wei calls on legislators to amend the law as soon as possible and set penalties for civil servants who abuse their power and illegal practice the law.
Kuo Cheng-Deng, a former physician of the Department of Education and Research of Taipei Veterans General Hospital, pointed out that it is corrupt of civil servants' illegal use state money. So, they legalized it by law; however, taking public power to steal money from the people is more serious than corruption. The people must have the right of initiatives and referendum, and reclaim our rights. It is recommended that the people exercise the right of referendum to abolish the bonuses.
Source: Global People Daily News
- 567 reads
