Opposition calls referendum `illegal, a joke'

Voicing disapproval of President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) announced referendum content and branding it "illegal," the opposition Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT)-People First Party (PFP) alliance yesterday said it would call on cities and counties governed by pan-blue camp leaders to not hold the referendum in their respective constituencies.

"Chen's referendum content is not a defensive referendum, not a preventive referendum nor a peace referendum. It is but a joke, an illegal referendum," said KMT policy committee convener Tseng Yung-chuan (曾永權) at a press conference held at the alliance's national campaign headquarters in Taipei.

"Given that holding an illegal referendum would result in a fine and legal charges, it is thus in accordance with the law if heads of cities and counties do not go along with such a referendum," Tseng said.

On Friday night Chen unveiled the two questions that will be put to voters in a referendum on March 20 alongside the presidential election.

The two questions will ask the people of Taiwan whether they would support enhancing the nation's defensive capabilities should China refuse to withdraw the missiles it has targeted at Taiwan and to openly renounce the use of force against Taiwan; as well as negotiating with China on cross-strait peace and stability.

Questioning the necessity of spending huge sums of money on holding a referendum on issues that already enjoy solid consensus among the people, Tseng said that the alliance would propose to vote the content of Chen's referendum question -- without altering a word -- into a resolution when the Legislative Yuan convenes its new session on Feb. 6.

"Given that a legislative resolution is enough to express public opinion, we would then request President Chen Shui-bian to recall the need of holding such a referendum that would otherwise require spending as much as NT$500 million," Tseng said.

Citing the Referendum Law (公民投票法), which stipulates that a defensive referendum can be initiated by the president under the condition where the country faces an external threat that could interfere with national sovereignty, Tseng criticized Chen for "abusing the right [which the Legislative Yuan has entrusted to the president to call a defensive referendum] for a personal campaign."

Branding Chen's referendum content "an election ploy," Tseng added that, if Chen insists on holding such a referendum, the alliance would request an interpretation of the Constitution from the Council of Grand Justices.

"And before the Council of Grand Justices hands down an interpretation, President Chen, on the basis of showing respect for the law and justice, should stop proceeding with the illegal referendum on March 20," Tseng said.

Saying that all of Chen's referendum contents must first be previewed by the US government, PFP legislative leader Chou Hsi-wei (周錫瑋), who is also the deputy director of the alliance's policy department, called Chen's planned referendum "a mere paper-tiger referendum."

"What Chen did represents not the president of the Republic of China but rather a minister of a department under the US," Chou said at the press conference.

"Chen therefore should honestly admit his mistake and recall the illegal referendum immediately," he said.

Su Chi (蘇起), director of the alliance's international affairs department, said that the international community still harbors concerns about Chen's call for a referendum.