TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Over 70,000 citizens gathered outside the Legislative Yuan on Tuesday (May 28) to protest the passage of controversial measures to expand the parliament's powers.
At 5 p.m., the Legislative Yuan passed the third reading of the amendments to the Law Governing the Legislative Yuan`s Power (立法院職權行使法). Civic groups gathered outside the legislature to express opposition to the bills, and the crowd supporting the newly named "Bluebird Movement" peaked in the evening, per CNA.
Organizers said that the movement is “not an end but a beginning" and they aim to become a “fourth force” outside the three main political parties.
Multiple civil groups and minor parties, including the Economic Democracy Union and the Taiwan Citizen Front, gathered to protest on Jinan Road and Qingdao East Road outside the legislature in the morning. They set up a stage for civic groups and the public to express their support.
The number of participants in the "Bluebird Movement" gradually increased in the evening with protesters holding up placards and circulating large inflatable white balls printed with slogans. At 8 p.m., Taipei police closed the express lanes on Zhongshan South Road due to the surge of supporters.
The crowds gathered before the Ministry of Education, Legislative Yuan, and Control Yuan. Around 9 p.m., the number of participants peaked, and at 9:30 p.m., the organizers announced that the crowd had exceeded 70,000 people.
Students supporting the action on-site expressed their concerns that the Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People's Party (TPP) passed the bills without discussion, fearing that Taiwan might face a situation similar to Hong Kong's. They worry that it will be difficult to express their demands through street protests in the future.
They said that the TPP had previously proposed making the parliament more transparent, but the process of amending the law appears contrary to that goal.
Around 11 p.m., Economic Democracy Union Convener Lai Chung-Chiang (賴中強) took to the stage and announced the passage of the amendments. Lai said in the future when officials respond to questioning from legislators if KMT or TPP legislators believe the officials are lying, it will be considered a crime, which he described as “ridiculous behavior.”
