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Activist says no need to build nuclear plant

Anti-nuclear activist and former DPP Chairman Lin I-hsiung prepares to deliver a speech at a forum yesterday marking the anniversary of Japan's World War II surrender, on Aug. 15, 1945. PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING, TAIPEI TIMES

Anti-nuclear activist and former DPP chairman Lin I-hsiung (林義雄) said yesterday the government would not need to build new power plants if existing plants under construction are completed on schedule.

"If the privately-operated power plants are completed in the future, the overall power supply would exceed the real power demand, and Taiwan Power Co would not need to build any new power plants in the future," Lin said yesterday.

Lin made the remarks yesterday in response to a media report that the government is planning to substitute the controversial construction of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant with that of a thermal power plant.

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) has vowed to push for a referendum next March to decide whether to continue the construction of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant in order to keep a campaign promise.

Lin yesterday delivered a speech at a forum in memory of Aug. 15, 1945, when Japan surrendered in World War II.

The forum named "Reexamination of the War's End and Taiwan's Prospects" is aimed at discussing Taiwan's progress and potential while building an independent country after the end of Japanese colonization and the KMT's authoritarian rule.

Speaking in the forum, Lin yesterday urged the public to actively take part in public affairs.

"Japanese rule and the KMT's authoritarian regime has made most Taiwanese citizens more hesitant about participating in public affairs. Though this situation has improved, many people have yet to fully accept that they could actually be their own rulers," Lin said.
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