Razor-wire Barricades Go Up: Government Prepares for Siege

[Cover Picture: United Daily News]

Live Broadcast of Protests April 19

A district of Taipei containing the Presidential Palace, Executive Yuan, and Legislative Yuan is surrounded by razor-wire barricades as the ruling Democratic Progressive Party prepares to bring a pension reform bill for a final reading in the legislature.

The reform bill, which President Tsai Ing-wen says is necessary to prevent the pension system’s imminent financial collapse, is opposed by retired public servants including military and police, and anti-reform groups have vowed to surround the legislature to prevent passing of the bill.

The bill includes provisions for reducing the preferential 18% interest rate that many former public servants enjoy on their savings, reducing the income replacement rate, and increasing the retirement age.

Barricades began to go up on Sunday, and more than 2000 police have been dispatched by Taipei City Police Bureau and the National Police Administration to control traffic and maintain law and order, Tuesday April 18.

Members of a pension reform watchdog action alliance gathered near the legislature today and called for an overnight siege of the Legislative Yuan.

Pretty Cop Gets Attention Ahead of Protests

Chinese language Liberty Times Network reports that people passing by stopped to take photographs of a police officer, and that her picture was being passed around on social media due to her resemblance to celebrity model Lin Chi Ling.

Officer Luo (羅惠君), from Changhua, has 10 years of experience policing and is no stranger to protests and media attention. Apple Daily ran a similar article on Officer Luo during the 2013 “White Shirt Army” protests in 2013.

Taiwan English News is an independent publication with no corporate funding. If you found this article informative, and would like to support my work, please buy me a coffee or support me on Patreon. Subscribe to Taiwan English News for free to receive the latest news via email. Advertising queries are welcome. Share, like, comment below.