Taiwan Church News 3247 Edition May 19 - May 25, 2014 Headline News Youth Occupy Politics: I Am 18, I Want To Campaign Foe An Office! Reported by Chiu Kuo-rong On May 9th, a group of young men launch a movement in slogan of "Youth Occupy Politics", proposing to lower the current minimum age - 18 years old - in order to revive Taiwan's democracy and restore the justice between generations. Elder Yeh Dah-hwa, who comes from Peaceful Island Presbyterian Church and also the General Secretary of Taiwan Alliance of Advancement of Youth Rights and Welfare, complained that Taiwan youth is gravely discriminated and unfairly treated without a balance of rights and obligations under current constitution: Taiwan youth is stipulated to be eligible to cast their vote in 20 and campaign for office in 23, yet they have to pay tax from 16 once start to be employed and take full responsibility on criminal cases or in military service from 18. Lawyer Lai Chon-chiang, who served as a legal adviser during the March Sunflower Student Movement, pointed out the administration and congress put much more resources to pension bills than youth unemployment or poverty. The issue of justice between generations is further deteriorated by the imbalance of government's shrinking tax base against her lavishing expenditure. And the solution for such unjust generation structure can only come from lowering down the minimum age of being eligible to cast vote and run office. The movement of "Youth Occupy Politics" plans to register their candidates in this September. It is estimated that there will be at least 22 youth candidates across Taiwan island, as each county or city will be one youth candidate recommended. The movement leaders pledge to campaign through the coming "9 in 1" Taiwan election at the end of year, even if they are rejected by the Central Election Committee in legal terms or administration restriction. "Youth Occupy Politics" prepares to file this case of youth political rights in administration court, even applying for constitutional interpretation or appealing for constitutional amendment via congress. Translated by Peter Wolfe |