Referendum issue too hot to handle

The DPP's legislative caucus yesterday said a majority of its members were opposed to holding a non-binding referendum on the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant, on the grounds that a renewal of the controversy could only worsen the economy.

"At a time when the economy is already sluggish, we don't think the ruling party should raise such a sensitive issue, because this could affect the nation's economic development," said Lin Feng-hsi (林豐喜), convener of DPP caucus.

The caucus is expected to make public today the results of a survey on its 66 members on the issue.

Of the 40 members who had responded as of yesterday, a very high percentage are against the non-binding referendum, according to Lin.

Lin, however, would not reveal the exact figure, saying the survey was still going on.

Results of the survey are intended for the Executive Yuan's reference. The Executive Yuan is expected to finish an evaluation of the feasibility of holding a non-binding referendum later this month.

After the Executive Yuan's decision to scrap the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant was declared to have involved procedural flaws by the Council of Grand Justices, the Executive Yuan decided in February to resume the plant's construction.

The development disappointed the traditional DPP anti-nuclear wing, which includes former DPP Chairman Lin I-hsiung (林義雄), one of Taiwan's anti-nuclear pioneers.

In what was widely believed to be a move to pacify these supporters, the Executive Yuan formed a committee in late February to evaluate the feasibility of holding a so-called "consultative" referendum along with the legislative elections in December.

As the referendum law has yet to be passed, results of a consultative referendum would not be binding on Fourth Nuclear Power Plant policy.

The Executive Yuan was originally set to complete its evaluation of the law in May, but it has extended the deadline for another two months until July.

Over past months, it has been widely reported that the Executive Yuan intended to give up on the idea of holding a non-binding referendum for the sake of the economy, but it was trying to figure out a way to win Lin I-hsiung's understanding.

The endorsement of the DPP lawmaker is seen as essential for the Executive Yuan's decision.

Lin, however, has remained firm on his position. On Sunday, Lin said that the fate of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant should be decided by the people of Taiwan, and anyone who is opposed to a referendum on the issue is unsuitable for public office.

Executive Yuan spokesman Su Tzen-ping (蘇正平) yesterday said without a referendum law it is a debatable question as to whether it is appropriate to hold a "consultative" referendum.

This is the reason why the Executive Yuan is taking such a long time to make the evaluation, Su said.