Taipei, Jan.23 (CNA) The ruling Kuomintang (KMT) discussed Saturday the possibility of assigning a sergeant-at-arms to keep order in the legislature and improve the nation’s international image, in light of the local and international news reports of violence and chaos in the lawmaking body.

KMT Secretary-General King Pu-tsung said that the assignment of a sergeant-at-arms to the legislature would be in keeping with a practice in western countries that effectively helps to enhance democracy.

King said the frequent scuffles in the legislature, which have been broadcast on global networks like CNN, convey a negative image of the parliament and the country as a whole.

Taiwan’s legislature has been compared in the past to an American football field because of the frequent pushing, pulling, bizarre protests, and physical fighting that occur there.

In one instance, opposition lawmakers tried to lock a door and seal it with quick-drying glue to prevent Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng from taking his seat in a parliamentary session.

The idea of creating a post for a sergeant-at-arms in the legislature came from Stephen S.F. Chen, head of the national security division of the non-government National Policy Foundation (NPF).

Chen, who is a former representative to the U.S., made the proposal during the KMT’s central committee meeting Wednesday. Many KMT legislators also suggested that personnel other than the police be used to maintain order within the legislature.

King agreed with the proposal to assign a sergeant-at-arms who can be authorized by the legislative speaker to maintain or restore order.

King said he does not favor the use of police for that purpose, as people may question whether the state machinery was being used to influence the democratic process.

In a democratic society, King said, the majority leads in the legislature, and even if there is no consensus among the parties in the legislature over a particular issue, opposition lawmakers should not occupy the podium and freeze the voting process.

Meanwhile, Legislative Speaker Wang said Saturday that he is not opposed to the idea of a sergeant-at-arms, but raised the question of whether the speaker can exercise what he called police power in the legislature.

Wang said in Taiwan, it is common to see dozens of protesting lawmakers joining forces in the legislature, unlike other countries where perhaps one or two persons might create a scene.

The question is whether or not a sergeant-at-arms would help the situation, he added.

Clashes broke out between KMT and opposition Democratic Progressive Party lawmakers at the Legislative Yuan Jan. 18 over the passage of amendments to the Local Government Act. The efforts by opposition lawmakers to occupy and control the podium lasted four hours. (By Kelvin Huang, Kuo-fang Huang and Fanny Liu)

More Info: http://www.taiwanheadlines.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=177804&CtNode=39