More groups are preparing to rally against an economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA), vowing to hold a month-long nationwide protest against the proposal, the organizations said yesterday.
Former presidential advisor Koo Kwang-ming (辜寬敏) and representatives of the groups, which include university professor and non-profit organizations, raised concerns yesterday that an ECFA would negatively impact Taiwan’s job market and fragile industries.
A number of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers offered support, joining in cries of “declare war” until President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) reconsiders his plan to sign the pact.
PHOTO: WANG MIN-WEI, TAIPEI TIMES
Taiwan Rescue Action Alliance chief Lin Yi-cheng (林宜正), one of the Taipei event’s organizers, told a press conference yesterday that the Ma government should hold a referendum before signing an ECFA with China in June.
“If there is no ECFA referendum, the people are bound to end up on the streets,” he said.
The protest is expected to attract the backing of a number of labor organizations, the organizers said, adding that the campaign would involve protests, conferences and lectures.
A statement later released by the groups called the timing of the campaign “a historic juncture,” and added that the referendum was necessary because of concerns over China’s political ambitions toward Taiwan.
“We want to show the world that Taiwanese stand together in our opposition to the ECFA and our protection for Taiwan,” the statement read.
Koo said that despite Sunday’s ECFA debate between Ma and DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), the government has not eased concerns that the agreement could unfairly benefit large corporations.
Campaign organizers said a lecture on the ECFA would take place tomorrow night at Taichung City’s Guang Fu Elementary School. Another conference on the ECFA will take place on Sunday in Kaohsiung City and lectures have also been scheduled for May 7 and May 8 in Taichung County.
Tropical depression TD22, which was over waters south of the Ryukyu Islands, is likely to develop into a tropical storm by this morning and pose a significant threat to Taiwan next week, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The depression is likely to strengthen into a tropical storm named Krathon as it moves south and then veers north toward waters off Taiwan’s eastern coast, CWA forecaster Hsu Chung-yi (徐仲毅) said. Given the favorable environmental conditions for its development, TD22’s intensity would reach at least typhoon levels, Hsu said. As of 2pm yesterday, the tropical depression was about 610km east-southeast of Taiwan proper’s
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Four factors led to the declaration of a typhoon day and the cancelation of classes yesterday, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said. Work and classes were canceled across Taiwan yesterday as Typhoon Krathon was forecast to make landfall in the southern part of the country. However, northern Taiwan had only heavy winds during the day and rain in the evening, leading some to criticize the cancelation. Speaking at a Taipei City Council meeting yesterday, Chiang said the decision was made due to the possibility of landslides and other problems in mountainous areas, the need to avoid a potentially dangerous commute for those
A new tropical storm is expected to form by early tomorrow morning, potentially developing into a medium-strength typhoon that is to affect Taiwan through Wednesday next week, the Central Weather Administration said today. There are currently two tropical systems circulating to the east of Taiwan, agency forecaster Hsu Chung-yi (徐仲毅) said. The one currently north of Guam developed into Tropical Storm Gebi this afternoon and is expected to veer toward Japan without affecting Taiwan, Hsu said. Another tropical depression is 600km from the east coast and is likely to develp into the named storm Krathon either late tonight or early tomorrow, he said. This
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