Premier Jiang Yi-huah (江宜樺) is scheduled to meet with groups opposing nuclear power tomorrow to address their concerns over the disposal of nuclear waste, Executive Yuan spokesman Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) said yesterday.
Cheng said that Vice Premier Mao Chi-kuo (毛治國), who is the head of a special office dealing with issues related to the fate of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant, Minister of Economic Affairs Chang Chia-juch (張家祝), along with several academics and experts, would attend the meeting.
Kuo Ching-lin (郭慶霖), chief executive of the Northern Coast Anti-Nuclear Action Alliance, said his group plans to make several requests during the meeting, including that the government stop nuclear power production and halt the operations of the first, second and third nuclear power plants if it cannot deal properly with radioactive waste.
Photo: Chen Chih-chu, Taipei Times
It will also demand that a fund be established for residents in areas near nuclear power plants, to be used for compensation and restoration fees.
The group will also ask for an investigation into the flaws and corruption related to all the nation’s nuclear power plants, Kuo added.
He said other groups that will attend the planned meeting include the Green Citizens’ Action Alliance and organizations formed by those living in areas around nuclear waste dumps, such as the Orchid Island Tribal Culture Foundation, and near nuclear plants.
The Executive Yuan’s plan for the meeting came a day after President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), Jiang and Chang met at the Presidential Office with representatives of Mom Loves Taiwan, an association of mothers established to monitor the use of nuclear power, for a hearing on nuclear safety.
Ma said in an article posed on his Facebook page yesterday that it was a good start for him to meet with members of Mom Loves Taiwan, as the meeting allowed the truth to become clearer through debate and dialogue.
The meeting lasted for three hours, exceeding the originally scheduled 80 minutes, he wrote.
The president said that experts and academics from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Atomic Energy Council and Taiwan Power Co explained the current nuclear safety situation and future plans to the 12 representatives.
Establishing a safe, reliable, low-carbon and green nuclear-free homeland with sufficient power supplies at reasonable prices is the country’s eventual goal, the president said.
He added that the government would continue talks with the public to allow more people access to open and transparent information so that they can make informed decisions.
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