Annette Lu vows pursuit of anti-plant referendum

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

Former vice president Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) yesterday said she would not give up her effort to initiate a local referendum to stop the installation of fuel rods in the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant if her appeal is rejected by the Taipei High Administrative Court next month.

Lu filed a provisional injunction in January after the Executive Yuan’s Referendum Review Committee in May last year rejected a proposal regarding the plant in New Taipei City’s Gongliao District (貢寮).

Lin ends anti-nuclear hunger strike

‘UNPRECEDENTED STRUGGLE’:：The antinuclear activist thanked all those who backed his fast and opposed a controversial power plant, but said more fights are ahead
By Chris Wang and Lee I-chia  /  Staff reporter
Thu, May 01, 2014 - Page 1

Former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairman Lin I-hsiung (林義雄) yesterday afternoon announced the end of his hunger strike against the continued construction of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant and said he was grateful for the “phenomenal antinuclear effort” of Taiwanese over the past two weeks.

Lin said he would continue to fight what he called the injustice of President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) administration.

NUCLEAR POWER DEBATE: Majority wants no plebiscite threshold

POLL PRESSURE:：The Taiwan Thinktank said judging by the results of a recent poll, the mainstream public opinion on amending the Referendum Act has been made clear
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter
Wed, Apr 30, 2014 - Page 3

The majority of respondents in a public opinion poll released yesterday supported eliminating the threshold stipulated in the Referendum Act (公民投票法), as well as a simple format for referendum questions to avoid hidden political agendas.

The Taiwan Thinktank found that 64.8 percent of the respondents agreed that the current high threshold — which requires the participation of 50 percent of eligible voters and with at least half of them casting a “yes” vote for the referendum to pass — should be eliminated, with only 22.4 percent not agreeing and 12.8 percent declining to answer, the think tank’s deputy executive director, Lai I-chung (賴怡忠), told a news conference.

NUCLEAR POWER DEBATE: Polls say majority favor suspending or aborting plant

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter
Tue, Apr 29, 2014 - Page 3

The majority of respondents in two public opinion surveys released yesterday support suspending or terminating the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant in New Taipei City’s Gongliao District (貢寮) and do not believe that the government is capable of handling a nuclear disaster.

In a poll conducted by Commonwealth magazine, 58.7 percent of respondents said they back scrapping the power plant entirely, while 27.2 percent were in favor of suspending the project and 14.1 percent did not provide an answer.

Lin I-hsiung hospitalized on seventh day of strike

‘LIVE ON’:：Lin was taken to hospital after visiting his family’s cemetery. It was not clear whether he would continue after vows to suspend the plant’s construction
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter
Tue, Apr 29, 2014 - Page 1

Former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairman Lin I-hsiung (林義雄) yesterday was hospitalized on the seventh day of his hunger strike against the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant and whether he could continue his protest remained unknown.

Lin was taken to National Taiwan University (NTU) Hospital emergency center at about 3:40pm for an examination after briefly leaving the site of his hunger strike in Taipei and paying tribute to his deceased family members in a cemetery in his hometown in Yilan County earlier in the day.

KMT antinuclear olive branch is ‘stalling,’ DPP says

By Alison Hsiao and Chris Wang  /  Staff reporters

The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) yesterday agreed not to continue the construction of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant’s No. 1 reactor and have the construction of the No. 2 reactor “suspended.”

KMT Culture and Communication Committee head Fan Chiang Tai-chi (范姜泰基) briefed reporters late yesterday afternoon about the decision, reached during a meeting convened by President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), who also serves as party chairman.

“Construction of the plant’s No. 1 reactor will not continue (不施工), but still go through safety checks, after which it will be sealed up (封存), while construction of the No. 2 reactor will be suspended (停工),” he said.

DPP proposes 25 percent threshold to scrap plant

‘EQUAL OPPORTUNITY’:：Su said a threshold based on vote share would be fairer, while Lin I-hsiung threatened suicide if medical treatment is forced on him against his wishes
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter
Mon, Apr 28, 2014 - Page 1

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday conceded its previous insistence on a simple majority threshold in the referendum for the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant to appeal to President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) to end the hunger strike of anti-nuclear advocate Lin I-hsiung (林義雄).

The party proposed a threshold based on vote share, rather than turnout, requiring one-quarter of eligible votes to pass a anti-nuclear decision via the referendum.

Academia Sinica wades into debate on nuclear power

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

More than two dozen researchers at the Academia Sinica released a joint statement yesterday, calling for political parties to establish a workable and reasonable mechanism for a national referendum on construction of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant before the facility becomes operational.

“There is still time for rational discussions before the power plant at New Taipei City’s Gongliao District (貢寮) becomes operational,” said the joint statement of 25 researchers, released on the same day as an anti-nuclear rally in Taipei yesterday.

Antinuclear protest to continue: groups

PROTECTING THE FUTURE:：Mothers, concerned about nuclear power and nuclear waste, said they joined the rally with their children to stand up for future generations
By Lee I-chia  /  Staff reporter
Mon, Apr 28, 2014 - Page 1

Tens of thousands took to the streets of Taipei yesterday afternoon in an antinuclear protest that also occupied a section of Zhongxiao W Road in front of Taipei Railway Station.

At 3pm, Ketagalan Boulevard was packed with protesters wearing yellow ribbons that read: “Stop the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant. Give Power Back to the People,” as they listened to speeches and prepared to march.

President overriding his authority: Lin

NO RIGHT:Ma Ying-jeou cannot make promises on behalf of the government before the Cabinet and the legislature work out a final solution, Lin Yi-xiong said
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

Former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairman Lin Yi-xiong (林義雄) yesterday said that President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) pledge to determine the fate of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant in New Taipei City’s Gongliao District (貢寮) through a national referendum is unconstitutional and interferes in the power of other branches of government.

Lin’s hunger strike to halt construction of the plant entered its third day yesterday at the Gikong Presbyterian Church in Tapei.

Report ‘distorted’ views on Lin: Lee

DISASTER FOR DEMOCRACY:After an endorsement from Ma’s office for ‘asking the right questions’ on Lin Yi-xiong’s hunger strike, Lee Teng-hui then appeared to criticize Ma
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

Former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) yesterday said his views on nuclear energy and on former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairman Lin Yi-xiong’s (林義雄) hunger strike have been “distorted and taken out of context” by a media report.

Lee was quoted in a Chinese-language United Daily News report yesterday as questioning how many people would agree with Lin, a staunch anti-nuclear advocate, and where Taiwan’s electricity would come from if it phased out nuclear power.

‘Human chain’ supports Lin’s hunger strike

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

Thousands of people stood in line to make a “human chain” last night along Taipei’s Xinyi Road and turned on the flashlight applications on their smartphones at 8:14pm to show support for former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairman Lin Yi-xiong (林義雄), who was in the third day of a hunger strike against the construction of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant.

As the participants turned on the flashlights and pointed their mobile phones toward the sky, they started chanting: “Terminate the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant in 2014.”

DPP’s Tsai calls for fuel rod moratorium at Gongliao plant

NO RODS, THEN VOTE:The former DPP chair told lawmakers to first pass a resolution barring fuel rods at the plant and then facilitate a referendum
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

Former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday proposed implementing a moratorium on the installation of fuel rods at the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant and accelerating the holding of a national referendum to the decided the fate of the unfinished power station as soon as possible.

Tsai, who is widely tipped to win the party’s chairmanship election next month, criticized President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) for insisting on using an unreliable nuclear safety inspection system and flawed referendum mechanism to determine whether the construction of the plant in New Taipei City’s Gongliao (貢寮) District should continue.

President visits Presbyterian church

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter
Thu, Apr 24, 2014 - Page 1

President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday visited the Gikong Presbyterian Church, where former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairman Lin Yi-xiong (林義雄) is staging an anti-nuclear hunger strike, as more support from politicians poured in for Lin risking his life as an admonition to the government.

Ma was unable to meet Lin — who is declining to see anyone during the hunger strike that began on Tuesday against the construction of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant in New Taipei City’s Gongliao District (貢寮) — during his three-minute visit and only signed his name on a notebook prepared by the church and left a card for Lin.

Lin starts anti-nuclear hunger strike

HUNGRY FOR CHANGE:：Lin Yi-xiong began his fast at a church in Taipei, where he was visited by the DPP’s Su Tseng-chang, who cried as he lamented failing to avert the strike
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter
Wed, Apr 23, 2014 - Page 1

Former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairman Lin Yi-xiong (林義雄) yesterday began a hunger strike at Taipei’s Gikong Presbyterian Church to demand that the government halt the construction of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant in New Taipei City’s Gongliao District (貢寮), saying that the President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) administration’s pledge that the plant would be safe was “a trick to fool the public.”

“So-called nuclear safety is questionable because even if the plant was completed and became operational, unassailable damage could still take place in the event of a natural disaster or human error,” Lin said.

Jiang rejects DPP nuclear statute

PRECEDENT:：The premier said stopping the Gongliao plant’s construction via executive order is unfeasible, as it was ruled unconstitutional when the ex-DPP government did it
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter
Tue, Apr 22, 2014 - Page 1

Premier Jiang Yi-huah (江宜樺) yesterday turned down a Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) proposal for a special statute that would pave the way for a national referendum on the completion of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant after discussing the matter with DPP Chairman Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌).

It is not possible for the Cabinet to issue an executive order halting the construction of the plant in New Taipei City’s Gongliao District (貢寮), Jiang told a joint press conference he held with Su following their 90-minute meeting at the Executive Yuan complex in Taipei.

Former DPP chairman points finger at government before hunger strike

SACRIFICE:Lin Yi-xiong said he believed in cherishing his body, but leaders who did not listen left him with no choice, and they were the ones ‘savaging’ his body
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

Former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairman Lin Yi-xiong (林義雄) reiterated in an open letter yesterday that he is starting a hunger strike today because of the government’s insistence on ignoring mainstream public opinion and continuing with the construction of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant in New Taipei City’s Gongliao District (貢寮).

“I believe that everyone should cherish their bodies. If it wasn’t for the nation’s leaders ignoring public opinion and their insistence on constructing the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant, I would not go on a hunger strike,” the 72-year-old wrote.

Su, Hau talk over nuclear power plant

CONCILIATION:：DPP Chairman Su Tseng-chang met with Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin yesterday, in the first sign of a blue-green willingness to discuss the nation’s nuclear issues
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter
Mon, Apr 21, 2014 - Page 1

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairman Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) met with Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) yesterday to discuss the DPP-proposed national referendum on the construction of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant, with both describing the meeting as “the first step toward conciliation” between the pan-green and pan-blue camp.

Su visited Hau, a member of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), at Taipei City Hall to seek the mayor’s support for the DPP’s plebiscite on the plant in New Taipei City’s Gongliao District (貢寮), which was submitted last week as the DPP’s solution to end the 30-year-old controversy over the plant.

DPP plans new law to resolve nuclear dispute

SIMPLE MAJORITY:The party is proposing a statute that will make it easier to vote on whether the nation should continue building a new nuclear power plant
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday said it plans to propose a special statute that will pave the way for a national referendum to resolve the decades-long controversy over the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant in New Taipei City’s Gongliao District (貢寮).

DPP Chairman Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) announced the plan at a press conference after it was approved at the party’s weekly Central Standing Committee meeting, saying that stopping the construction of the plant has always been a party goal.

Ex-DPP chair Lin to start anti-nuclear hunger strike

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

Former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairman Lin Yi-xiong (林義雄) yesterday announced that he is to go on a hunger strike on Tuesday next week to urge the government to halt construction of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant in New Taipei City’s Gongliao District (貢寮).

In a press release, Lin — who is well-known for his advocacy for the anti-nuclear movement, condemned the government for insisting on continuing building the plant — despite most public opinion polls showing that the majority of Taiwanese are against the plant being put into operation.