Senior DPP adviser may leave post

Former DPP chairman Lin I-hsiung (林義雄), a veteran anti-nuclear activist, yesterday offered to resign from his position as the senior advisor to the party, saying "I've done my best [to push for discontinuance of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant (核四)] but I have to shoulder some responsibility [for the Cabinet's final decision to resume the plant's construction.]"

Lin made the comment at a press conference after meeting with party Secretary-General Wu Nai-jen (吳乃仁) yesterday morning and expressed his hope that the party's Central Standing Committee could discuss and approve his resignation today.

Lin also said that other DPP politicians and government officials, including President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), should examine their own wrongdoings during the party's policy-making process over the plant's fate.

Lin said he believed that the party had made a very bad impression on society by first deciding to scrap the plant, only to reverse the decision later on.

"The Council of Grand Justices had proposed three ways to settle the dispute over the plant, that is, passage of an energy law, the resignation of the premier and a vote of no confidence in the Cabinet. But none of those procedures was followed," Lin said, seemingly suggesting that the Cabinet should not have compromised and announced resumption of the plant's construction.

Lin, who had long advocated scrapping the plant, had previously said that no DPP government official would make a decision to build a nuclear power plant, including the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant, since to do so would violate the party's platform.

When former premier Tang Fei (唐飛) was still in office and stated his intention to continue the plant's construction, Lin immediately argued that "the president should replace any Cabinet members who endorse the plant."

Shocked at Lin's move, Chen, Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) and DPP Chairman Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) yesterday all said that the party would do its best to persuade Lin to stay.

"President Chen said whatever his decision will be, Lin will always be the party's chairman. He also said he will continue to consult with Lin on national policies," Secretary-General to the Presidential Office Yu Shy-kun said yesterday.

Hsieh tried to interpret Lin's move, saying that Lin did not mean to embarrass the party, but to emphasize the DPP's insistence on turning Taiwan into a nuclear-free country and to condemn pro-nuclear politicians.

Lin, in addition, embraced the idea of holding a referendum to decide the plant's fate.

"It's the people's fundamental right to vote. It is also common sense in a democracy. Any politician who opposes the passage of a referendum law has undemocratic principles," Lin said yesterday, adding that holding a referendum to have people decide the plant's fate was feasible -- even without relevant legislation in place.

Lin, who had promised to lead an anti-nuclear parade scheduled for Feb. 24, also said that the parade's theme would not be altered to cater to any individuals' anti-government sentiments.

The demonstration will be held to appeal that a referendum be held at year's end to reverse the Cabinet's decision to continue the plant's construction.