Farmers Criticize Gov't to Legalize Factories on Farmlands|工廠管理輔導法修正 政院擬就地納管

Members of the Legislative Yuan are scheduled to discuss the amendment of the Factory Management Act. Farmers groups have criticized the amendment proposed by the Executive Yuan, saying it covers malfeasance and does not include any "sunset clause". The farmers held a press conference on the morning of May 27 and reiterated their criticism. On the other hand, those who illegally set up factories on farmlands have also formed an alliance. They claimed that they have collected more than 100,000 signatures to show supports of the amendment proposed by the Executive Yuan.


In order to resolve the illegal construction of factories on farmland, an issues that's been ongoing for the last 30 to 40 years, the Executive Yuan proposed an amendment to the Factory Management Act. The amendment states that small to medium factories with low waste emission should follow government regulations and apply for operating permit. The farmers said the amendment serves only to gain political support.

There have been many unfair doings, why didn't you change any of it? You're doing this (amendment) only for the presidential election.

Yang Ju-men was once imprisoned for placing bombs in public space to force the government not to import foreign rice products. He said he will no longer resort to similar drastic measures, but he did also say that the government only cares about farmers before elections, and that the latest proposal only aims to help businessmen escape their responsibilities.

Why doesn't (the government) ban or fine the illegal factories? They also didn't put laws in place to ensure the factories are dismantles after their term is up. Why do our laws evolve in a way that favors businesspeople?

The farmers have criticized the amendment for covering malfeasance and for allowing damage to the environment. On the other hand, several dozens of representatives of factory owners held a press conference on the morning of May 27, during which they claim that they've collected more than 100,000 signatures in support of the Executive Yuan's amendment proposal. The representatives said that they will improve the factory's emission and safety conditions if the government legalizes the construction of factories on farmland.

(You mean the pollution won't be a problem?) Yes. Sometimes, our (construction) is illegal. And many of us don't dare to build a lot (of factories). All we need is a legal way to build our factories. I believe that the people in Taiwan are all very nice and they will love the land wholeheartedly.

The representatives for factory owners were also backed by the support of legislators from both major parties. Those in opposition criticized them for damaging the land, and that their logic of rectifying environmental damage after their construction is legalized does not make sense at all.




為了解決三四十年來，工廠非法興建在農地，行政院提出工廠管理輔導法修正草案，把低汙染產業納管，讓中小企業申請合法，但看在農民眼中，這完全是選舉考量。

苗栗農民 洪箱表示：「這很多不公不義的事情，為什麼你們不改進？你們現在為了要選舉，你們又要這樣！」

而過去曾以白米炸彈要社會關注農業問題的楊儒門，表示自己不會再用激烈手段，但政府只在選舉時才照顧農民，工輔法修法明顯是替商人解套。

248農學市集創辦人 楊儒門表示：「那你為什麼不取締它？不開罰它？不要求它限期之後去拆除？為什麼我們的法律要走向，所謂的幫商人去做解套？」

農民痛批農地違章工廠就地合法，嚴重傷害農地與環境，但數十位農地工廠業者27號上午則舉行記者會，強調連署超過十萬人，支持行政院版本，業者代表強調，只要合法化，就會改善汙染公安等問題。

彰化縣田園工廠創新協會理事長 呂明炎表示：「（所以會比較不汙染這樣嗎？) 對對對，因為有時候我們不合法，很多人不敢下去做很多的建設，現在只要給我們有一條路可以走，相信我們台灣這些的老百姓都很可愛，1絕對會認真去愛護這塊土地。」

以「田園工廠」自稱，農地違章工廠業者的記者會上，不分藍綠立委出席力挺，但反對的團體不滿長年破壞環境的業者，如今宣稱合法後就會改善，所以應該支持他們合法，這根本是歪理。