Minister tenders resignation over oil spill debacle

Minister of Transportation and Communications Yeh Chu-lan (葉菊蘭) yesterday tendered her letter of resignation to Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) stating that she was resigning in connection with the recent oil spill in southern Taiwan.

The minister's unexpected action could yet precipitate an early Cabinet reshuffle. President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) originally planned not to carry out a reshuffle until after the anniversary of his inauguration on May 20.

Chang confirmed that he had received the resignation letter but stressed again that he would not allow any Cabinet member to leave for the time being.

"The premier is considering the whole situation, including how and when to carry out the reshuffle," said government spokesman Su Cheng-ping (蘇正平), Director General of the Government Information Office yesterday after the Cabinet meeting. "Therefore, the resignation letter will be put aside until Premier Chang makes his final decision about the reshuffle."

Su refused to comment on whether a reshuffle might take place before May 20.

Speaking to reporters, Yeh expressed her strong determination to resign. She had already asked for two days' leave of absence.

According to a source in the Presidential Office, the president convened a meeting on Wednesday night with the premier and a few top-ranking officials to discuss the possibility of reshuffling the Cabinet earlier.

"President Chen hopes that Premier Chang can persuade Yeh not to quit," the source said yesterday, "but, Chen said that he will fully support Chang's decision on whether to reshuffle the Cabinet in the near future."

Meanwhile, opposition alliance lawmakers yesterday pressured the premier to replace some Cabinet members immediately, saying the reshuffle should be carried out as soon as possible.

"We praise Yeh for her character as a politically appointed official, though we did not agree that she should be punished for the oil spill," said KMT legislative caucus leader Cheng Yung-chin (鄭永金).

"Other Cabinet members, such as the minister of economic affairs, Lin Hsin-yi (林信義), and the head of the Environmental Protection Administration, Lin Jun-yi (林俊義), are those who should be replaced," Cheng added.

New Party convener Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) said that Chen should allow Chang to organize his own ruling team instead of "controlling from above."

The Presidential Office responded that the president will not control the Cabinet's reshuffle but will respect Chang's decisions.

"The public may wonder whether President Chen's severe criticism of the Cabinet last month meant the possibility of a reshuffle," said secretary general to the president Yu Shyi-kun during yesterday's press conference.

"I have to say, however, that the president's purpose was to enhance the Cabinet members' spirit of cooperation and coordination."

"And President Chen will certainly not instruct Premier Chang over the reshuffle," Yu said.

The source in the Presidential Office told the Taipei Times yesterday that though the president had planned for a reshuffle after the anniversary of his inauguration in order to give Cabinet members a further three months to improve their performance, the premier seemed to want to replace certain ministers earlier.

"If Yeh refuses to stay, then the premier will be forced to carry out the reshuffle more quickly," the source said, "but the extent of the reshuffle will not be large."