TAIPEI (Taiwan News) –  Protesters gathered once again outside Taiwan’s legislature on Friday (May 24) to protest proposed legal amendments that would increase powers of investigation.

By late afternoon organizers said over 20,000 people gathered outside the Legislative Yuan as lawmakers deliberated the controversial bill inside. 

In a sign the protests are spreading protesters also gathered outside Tainan’s National Museum of Taiwan Literature to oppose the law.

Protesters are taking aim at the scope of a bill issued by the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), as well as the way in which it has been progressed through parliament. The bill would grant investigative powers to the legislature that could be used to summon individuals and organizations to present requested information, and impose financial penalties on those who fail to do so.

The Taiwan Economic Democracy Union (TEDU, 經濟民主連合) held a press conference on Friday morning and said that these powers may be abused by legislators for personal gain, possibly impacting the rights of individuals, enterprises, and civil society. TEDU also worried the investigative powers could become a political tool for domestic and foreign forces to target opponents through the legislature.

In addition to the content of the bill, the ire of protesters has been equally focused on the KMT’s decision to skip the review and consultation stages of the legislative process. By midday, a group of more than 50 civil society organizations released a statement calling on “lawmakers to abandon this legislation and resume proper parliamentary process and debate.”

The bill would also require Taiwan’s president to address the lawmaking body and respond to questions from legislators. President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) has already agreed to address the legislature, though the requirement to take questions has been described as unconstitutional by protesters and experts.  

Li Ya-wen, a mother from New Taipei, attended the protest with her children to show her opposition to the bill. Speaking to Taiwan News, she said the content of the bill was not clear, and even though the KMT and TPP have the majority of legislative seats, passing the bill under these circumstance is not in keeping with legislative standards.    

“We need to stand up, and show legislators that we are opposed to the way they have acted,” Li said.

A man from Tainan surnamed Chiang (江) said Friday was his first day at the protest, and that he had traveled to Taipei to participate. “The KMT and TPP are saying because they have the majority (in the legislature) passing the bill is legal,” he said.

Chiang said that legal means were used to impose martial law on Taiwan, during which time the government severely restricted freedoms and carried out political persecution. He said he fears the new law could also reduce people’s freedom, and that he feels it is his duty to protest.

As it did on Tuesday, the nearby Chi-nan Presbyterian Church played a significant role in assisting with logistics, as pastors and church staff handed out water and food to crowds. A food delivery area was also established, and a steady flow of scooters dropped off water, raincoats, and snacks throughout the day, which were distributed free to the public.

Protests are scheduled to continue until midnight. Organizers said they plan to return and continue protesting if the bill is still under consideration when the legislature next sits on Tuesday.