Anti-nuclear activists set sights on DPP

Anti-government sentiment is spreading among anti-nuclear activists, who are organizing a demonstration on Feb. 24 to urge that a referendum be held to let the public decide the fate of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant (核四).

"During the parade, we will also ... ask supporters to trade their A-bian caps for our [anti-nuclear] T-shirts," said Kao Cheng-yen (高成炎), who is planning to lead the parade.

Kao said the willingness of President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and other DPP politicians to make compromises over the nuclear plant issue was not acceptable.

Kao added that if Chen's administration would not respond properly to their appeal, the Nuclear Free Country Action Alliance (非核國家行動聯盟) would probably burn all the collected caps to further demonstrate their opposition to Chen.

Speaking in a much softer tone, another leader organizing the demonstration, Hsu Shin-shen (徐馨生), said the theme of the demonstration would tackle the entire pro-nuclear lobby. "We will not target Chen alone, as lawmakers of the opposition alliance have done. What we are opposed to is the government's decision to continue the plant's construction," Hsu said, adding that Chen had joined them at many anti-nuclear rallies before he became president.

But the lyrics of one of the theme songs to be sung at the parade -- revealed for the first time yesterday -- seem to run counter to that assertion. "Chen bluffed people into believing that he would scrap the plant if he was elected president," the song says.

The demonstration is scheduled to take place on Saturday from 2pm until midnight.

Former DPP Chairman Lin I-hsiung (林義雄), Chang Chun-hung (張俊宏) and other DPP members have promised to take part in the parade. With such a significant DPP presence, president of the Taipei Society (澄社) Chiu Hei-yuan (瞿海源), warned party members to to try to manipulate the event. Reports by the local media have speculated that the DPP might try to control the parade's theme.

"This will be a parade initiated by the private sector. The DPP can only participate in it as a civil force, not as the ruling party overseeing our activities," Chiu said.

Chiu also asked the DPP to clarify media speculation that the party's recent initiative to propose a referendum law was just lip service.

Former KMT and now independent lawmaker Eugene Jao (趙永清), said that some politicians who had supported the ideal of a nuclear-free country, yet had endorsed the plant's construction, had set a bad example. He said that people should demonstrate their opposition in action.

When asked who should be eligible to vote if a plebiscite were held, Kao said that a referendum law should define this, but he suggested the vote should be cast by all citizens in northern Taiwan since their lives would be impacted most by the plant.

Chin Heng-wei (金恆煒), editor in chief of Contemporary Monthly magazine, however, argued that the Constitution empowers all citizens of Taipei County with the right to veto the policy according to the spirit of autonomy in local governments.

The DPP yesterday formally expressed its support of the demonstration and has placed newspaper ads, to begin running today, encouraging all anti-nuclear supporters to join the rally.

The party also argues that because their political ideals had met a setback, winning more legislative seats was the only answer to maintain political stability and fulfill these ideals, the ads said.