dpp newsletter mar2013
TRANSCRIPT
-
7/28/2019 DPP Newsletter Mar2013
1/10
MARCH 2013
PAGE 1
DEMOCRACY & PROGRESS
KMT plays trickery with referendum ques-tion on nuclear power
On March 6, the KMT issued the question that
will be posed in the referendum to be held on
the nuclear power issue. The text of the nuclear
power referendum states, Do you agree that
the construction of the Fourth Nuclear PowerPlant should be halted and that it not become
operational?
Responding to this development, DPP Chair Su
Tseng-chang said, It is clear that in issuing this
referendum question, the KMT is distorting
text. It is also clear that their ambition is to con-
tinue construction on the Fourth Nuclear Power
Plant. The KMT is beating around the bush,
violating the will of the people, and this is abso-
lutely unacceptable.
Chair Su emphasized that the issue of nuclear
power in earthquake-prone Taiwan must be
completely bipartisan. Once again, he appealedfor the public to come out and express their
stance against nuclear power in the March 9th
rally.
DPP Spokesperson Wang Ming-sheng ex-
plained the DPPs suspicions towards the way
in which the referendum question was posed by
the KMT. He emphasized the illegality of the
question based on a past ruling by the Supreme
Administrative Court.
-
7/28/2019 DPP Newsletter Mar2013
2/10
MARCH 2013
PAGE 2
According to Mr. Wang, the Supreme Adminis-
trative Court has passed a ruling that requires the
referendum question to be subjective, and usually
in the affirmative and retained in simplicity in
order not to create voter difficulties.
The KMTs question includes a double proposi-
tion of halting construction and not become
operational, which is rarely seen in a referen-
dum question, and it also violates the Supreme
Administrative Courts ruling, Mr. Wang said.
The DPP accused KMT for plainly tricking the
people with a highly controversial referendum
law requiring 50% of the registered voters to par-
ticipate in the referendum and 50% of those who
vote must vote in favor of the proposal.
Su Tseng-chang:even though the people cannot decide whichbattles to fight, they can still decide the win-On March 4, at the general assembly of the DPPs
Legislative Caucus at the Legislative Yuan, DPP
Chair Su Tseng-chang reaffirmed the DPPs une-
quivocal stance of halting the construction of the
FourthNuclear Power Plant, for which the party
has resolved to engage in a full-fledged battle.
In response to the KMTs attempt at resuming the
construction of the Fourth Nuclear Plant, Chair Su
appealed to all kinds ofpeopleto stand up and
speak out. Despite the KMT constantly creating
hurdles against the anti-nuke camp, Chair Su said
confidently that the peoples will shall prevail.
Even though we cannot choose which battles to
fight, we will eventually win, and the government
must answer to public opinion in the end, he
said.
Chair Su criticized the KMT for using its majority
in the Legislative Yuan to outnumber those stand-
ing to end nuclear power in Taiwan. Nevertheless,
he said he felt encouraged to know that when it
comes to the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant Refer-
endum, the major players are not just political
parties. He said that instead, the movement has
shifted to become a social force among civic soci-
ety, just like the moms who have stood out to de-
mand a safe homeland for the future generation,
the silent majority from all walks of life, the
youth brimming with ideals and even the nine-to-
fivers who are usually too busy to give their opin-
ions or to exercise their rights.
-
7/28/2019 DPP Newsletter Mar2013
3/10
MARCH 2013
PAGE 3
Its our
home,
and we
decidehow to
build it,
he said,
encour-
aging the
people to
join
forces in the no-nuke campaign and gather to-
gether to create a momentum that will force the
government to give-in to the peoples most de-termined stance to this date.
For us, this is the only battlefield, said Chair
Su, noting that the DPP is neither going to pro-
pose another referendum topic, nor going to jeop-
ardize its integrity by making contradictions.
During the meeting, it was discussed that in order
to counter the governments designation of a
tricky topic to get the construction approved andtaking advantage of a crippled Referendum Act,
DPP legislators will unite with legislators from
other parties who are also against nuclear power
to demand the KMT to retract the holding of a
referendum and stop construction of the power
plant altogether.
The DPP is also intent on letting the people see
that instead of treating the issue seriously, the
KMT has engineered the referendum in an absurdway in the hopes that the people will realize that
the KMTs stance has been the opposite to the
public, getting in the way of Taiwans progress.
The Ma administration hopes that with an unat-
tainable 9 million people requirement and a tricky
topic, the referendum will not pass, but they can-
not underestimate the power of the people, he
said.
Chair Su further cited the catastrophic results of
the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant incident,
which has caused great concerns amongst Tai-
wanese peopleas Taiwan has the highest nuclearplant density in the world. He also said that tomake matters worse, we have an incapable and
ill-advised ruling party that is pro-nuclear power.
He said now is the crucial moment in the DPPs
30 years of the anti-nuke campaign to remain the
uncompromising partner of all anti-nuke advo-
cates.
This is a battle of integrity and values, said DPP
Legislative Caucus Convener Ker Chien-ming,
noting that the party will not propose another ref-erendum topic, but it will be fully engaged in the
battle, especially seeing to the end, the amend-
ment to the Referendum Act.
He dismissed Premier Jiang Yi-huahs version of
the referendum as a formality meant for policy
approval, noting that for a political leader, right-
eousness and accountability are paramount. Con-
vener Ker further said that if the government finds
its way to continue the plants construction de-ceivingly, it will end up alienating the people, and
this will be detrimental to Premier Jiang, as he
will be considered the most fallen intellectual of
the century.
According to Convener Ker, the issue is not a
stand-off between the KMT and the DPP, and it
boils down to either being for or against a
nuclear-free homeland. He said that just as when
the KMT proposed what they call a referendumfor the continued construction of the Fourth Nu-
clear Plant, they created their own doomsday.
Convener Ker warned that if they refuse to face
reality, they will be digging their own grave. He
concluded that even if the KMT managed to pass
the referendum technically, it will lose the peo-
ples faith, and this is going to be the last straw
that brings down the Ma administration.
-
7/28/2019 DPP Newsletter Mar2013
4/10
MARCH 2013
PAGE 4
DPP attends rally on 54th Tibetan UprisingDay
DPP Chair Su participated as a guest speaker atthe 54th anniversary remembrance of Tibetan Up-
risidng Day and annual demonstration of Tibetans
against Oppression. With the masses vowing to
safeguard democracy and freedom together, Chair
Su called all the participants to assist those still
facing oppression and help their cause of libera-
tion.
This year marks the 54th anniversary of the Chi-
nese invasion of Tibet in 1959 as well as their
leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama's forced exile.
Tibetans in exile and living in Taiwan along with
friends of Tibetans together held a rally in Taipei
City to commemorate the event.
While speaking at the rally, Chair Su reminded the
public that the one party dictatorship of the
Kuomintang heavily oppressed the Taiwanese
people in the past. In attempts to attain a demo-
cratic society with respect for human rights, many
revolutionary individuals in Taiwan, such as Chen
Nan-jung, were forced to sacrifice themselves
through self-immolation. In recent years, more
than one hundred Tibetans have also sadly and
tragically sacrificed themselves the same way inprotest of oppression as they struggle to achieve
their freedom. Thus, Chair Su appealed Taiwanese
people and citizens of every country to bravely
step forward and to help support the Tibetan peo-
ple with their cause.
Later on, the chanting of Free Tibet! could be
heard as Chair Su and the crowd vowed to stand
together with Tibetans in support of helping them
achieve democracy for their country. While recall-
ing that an unjust Taiwanese society existed until
recently, Chair Su encouraged everyone to support
each other and help liberate those who still live in
oppression.
Besides Chair Su, DPP Legislators Bi-khim Hsiao,
Yu Mei-nu, Chen Chieh-ru, Lin Shu-fen, City
Councilor Hsu Chia-ching and Former Deputy
Premier Yeh Chu-lan also attended the rally.
-
7/28/2019 DPP Newsletter Mar2013
5/10
MARCH 2013
PAGE 5
DPP Chair Su Tseng-changs remarks atWorld Taiwanese Congress annual meeting
DPP Chair Su Tseng-Chang was
invited as a guest speaker at the
12th consecutive international
conference hosted by the World
Taiwanese Congress and the
Taiwan Nation Alliance on
March 15.
In regards to economic issues
and other topics related to Tai-
wan's national security, Chair Su
highlighted some of Mas ad-
ministrations most crucial mis-
takes in the presidents five years
in office. Chair Su also reaf-
firmed his support for the
strengthening of Taiwan's self-
defense as well as for the coop-
eration of Taiwan, Japan, South
Korea, and the United States in
maintaining peace, prosperity
and security in the region.
While expressing that Taiwan is a
country that supports interna-
tional trade, Chair Su also shared
the concerns of the Taiwanese
people regarding the Ma admini-
stration's incompetence in the
past five years, where economic
failures were evident. First, he
said President Ma has compro-
mised Taiwans sovereignty,
which has resulted in the people
worrying about their well-being.
Later on, with the country's fail-
ure to follow international
growth trends, Taiwan appears to
be regressing, he said.
Chair Su said that in contrast, the
current Prime Minister of Japan,
Shinzo Abe, has instituted a
string of economic reform poli-
cies immediately after returning
to office, and U.S. President Ba-
rack Obama has also set out
plans to sign FTA with the Euro-
pean Union and pledging more
domestic manufacturing jobs.
A global trend in economic
planning is obvious, he said.
With the recovery of the inter-
national economy, the Taiwanese
people expect our government to
help us ride that wave, but with-
out actions in sight, the DPP has
set out a 3-4-5 economic target at
the beginning of this year.
He said the DPP plan projects to
reach a growth of per capita of
3%, the unemployment rate fal-
ling to below 4%, and the growth
of our economy to exceed 5%.
We continue to hope the Ma
administration will seize the
many opportunities available.
However, this administration not
only failed to respond to the peo-
ple's expectations, but they also
resorted to punish the DPP chair.These shortcomings highlight
major miscalculations on the
government's part.
Chair Su concluded the Ma ad-
ministration's goals as too reliant
on China. He said that everyone
understands that one should not
place all their eggs into one bas-
ket. Yet the Ma administrationviolated this common sense, he
-
7/28/2019 DPP Newsletter Mar2013
6/10
MARCH 2013
PAGE 6
said.
He cited ECFA as an example, prior to its signing,
President Ma promised this agreement would pave
the way to the signing of many FTAs. Yet two and ahalf years later, Taiwan still has not been able to
sign any FTAs. He further mentioned that even Ja-
pan and the United States do not appear to show a
desire to sign an FTA with Taiwan.
Chair Su explained that in these five years of the
Ma administration, the actual investment rate is
16.5%, which cannot be compared to the DPP's rate
of 23.9%.
He criticized the current model engaged by the
government, which is completely reliant on China,
a mistake to take for Taiwan, a country that needs
many different international trade partners. Accord-
ing to Chair Su, the current 2 million consumers in
different ethnic groups are lacking enough variety
to keep the consumption demand afloat.
In 2011, annual investments in Taiwan have re-
gressed to just 1.69 billion USD. While comparing
international investments, Taiwan has fallen to sec-
ond place from the bottom, only beating the African
country of Angola. With falling capital, a contract-
ing economy, and a climbing unemployment rate,
the Taiwanese people are suffering.
In regards to national security, Chair Su said he be-
lieved that the Ma administration thinks improving
relations with China and promoting peace were suf-
ficient, but the peace achieved on this platform can
only be short termed, especially with the East
China Sea controversy occurring. He said that as a
result, there is the impression among the interna-
tional community that two countries China and
Taiwan are collaborating against Japan. Such mis-
judgments will result in hostilities between Taiwan
and Japan and the most severely impacted people
are the fishermen of both countries, he said.
He further added that while the DPP believes the
Diaoyutai Islands are under the sovereignty of Tai-
wan, the well-being of fishermen from both Taiwan
and Japan should be the main priority. Quickly re-
solving the fishery issues and preventing a thirdcountry from interfering into this bilateral issue
would result in the least amount of conflict, said
Chair Su.
Only long term thinking and planning will result
in maintaining peace. It takes the four democracies,
Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, and the United States
to cooperate with one another with respect for free-
dom, human rights and values. The people cannot
accept allowing a non-democratic country to inter-fere.
Chair Su also emphasized the strengthening of our
national defense. He explained that Freedom is not
free! and the Taiwanese people must understand
the sacrifices associated with democracy. Our coun-
try must achieve self-sufficiency, he urged.
We must preserve the ability to defend ourselves
through researching and developing our weapons
technology. We cannot get comfortable because di-
plomacy has eased tensions and relaxed our mili-
tary development. Only this way can we continue
protecting our country's safety.
-
7/28/2019 DPP Newsletter Mar2013
7/10
MARCH 2013
PAGE 7
In regards to the possible visit of Zhang Zhijun,Director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State
Council of China, Joseph Wu, Executive Director
of the DPPs Policy Research Committee, said
there are three principles that must be remem-
bered:
1. Sovereignty
2. Equality
3. Respect for democracy
China must understand that Taiwan is a demo-cratic country where there are many different
opinions, and some of them may not be the same
as China, and according to the majority opinion
of Taiwan, Taiwan is a democratic country, sover-
eign and independent, and does not wish to unify
with China, Mr. Wu said.
Mr. Wu emphasized that if Chinese officials un-
derstand these three main principles, and the Tai-
wanese government ensures that they are fol-lowed, the DPP holds no opposition to any visits
by Chinese officials.
In regards to visits by representatives from the
DPPs think tank, the New Frontier Foundation,
to China, including a possible attendance to the
11th Cross Strait Relations Conference, Mr. Wu
said that the DPP has always advocated and does
not oppose any active and confident engage-
ment with China.
Mr. Zhang mentioned on March 22 at the Cross
Strait Relations Conference, that in order to re-
solve political issues between the cross straits, it
must start from dialogue among civil society, es-
pecially encouraging think tanks to hold confer-
ences and workshops. The DPPs Director of
China Affairs, Mr. Honigman Hong said Mr.
Zhangs remarks were welcomed by the DPP, but
exchanges must be increased based on mutualtrust and understanding, and if one side expresses
too strongly its objectives, then these exchanges
would be counterproductive.
He further pointed out that the DPP has encour-
aged cross strait civic interactions, but these ex-
changes must originate from the desire of society
without political party intervention.
Mr. Hong appealed the Taiwan Affairs Office notto say one thing, but taking other actions, and to
allow civic groups to hold real and meaningful
exchanges, especially without any intervention
from political parties.
The fact is, China has not stopped suppressing
Taiwans international space, said Mr. Hong at a
press conference on March 27.
Recently, the U.S. Senate and House of Represen-tatives have introduced bills to support Taiwans
bid to join the International Civil Aviation Or-
ganization (ICAO). However, Chinas Taiwan Af-
fairs Office Spokesperson Yang Yi publicly com-
mented that, foreign interferences complicate
matters, and we are absolutely opposed.
Mr. Hong said that Taiwan has continuously faced
difficulties when it comes to its international rela-
tions, and it counts on the assistance of its foreign
friends to support its entry bids into world or-
ganizations. He further mentioned that as Taiwan
is a sovereign and independent country, it does
not need to seek any foreign interference from
China, who has not stopped bullying Taiwan.
China has also recently interfered into the atten-
dance of Taiwanese officials in the 2013 Jakarta
International Defense Conference, which resulted
DPP: China continues to suppress Tai-wans international space
-
7/28/2019 DPP Newsletter Mar2013
8/10
MARCH 2013
PAGE 8
in Taiwan not being allowed to participate. In this
years commemoration of the 311 Earthquake in
Japan, China also protested Japan mentioning
Taiwans previous assistance in the disaster relief.
Mr. Hong criticized President Ma Ying-jeous
diplomatic truce, which is just wishful thinking
from his administrations part. He lastly appealed
for the public in general to understand that these
past exchanges have been nothing but contain-
ment within interaction, and they have all failed
to fulfill Taiwans interests.
DPP releases youth public opinion survey
On Youth Day, March 29, the DPP released a
public opinion poll held for youth participantsover the junior college age regarding their views
on current affairs as well as the anti-nuke
movement.
Mr. Chou Yu-shou, deputy director of the DPPs
Department of Youth Affairs, made a summary
briefing of the poll results. He said that accord-
ing to the poll, the issue that youth are most
worried about is finding employment after
graduation.
There were 55% of the respondents who ex-
pressed concerns about finding
employment in the future,
while 43% of the students said
that they believed that future
employment opportunities
would be less.
In regards to issues regarding
the media, 79% of the respon-
dents believed that media mo-
nopoly was a very serious is-
sue.
Regarding continuing con-
struction on the Fourth Nuclear
Power Plant, there were 74%
who were opposed to continu-
ing construction. In government efficiency, there
were 76% who expressed dissatisfaction towardsthe current government.
Mr. Chou said that based on these figures, it can
be seen that the youth are worried and not satis-
fied with the current state of affairs of the coun-
try, and that in itself is quite worrisome.
Their views on social conditions, political af-
fairs, education and media are very concerning,
and the government must reflect and pay atten-
tion to these figures, said Mr. Chou.
-
7/28/2019 DPP Newsletter Mar2013
9/10
MARCH 2013
PAGE 9
The DPP has welcome a resolu-
tion passed in March by the
Council of Asian Liberals and
Democrats (CALD), of which
the DPP is a founding member,
calling for the granting of medi-
cal parole for Former President
Chen Shui-bian.
Below is the resolution in full:
CALD Resolution No. 1 S.
2013
CALD resolution calling for the
grant of medical parole to For-
mer Taiwanese President and
Former CALD Chair Chen Shui-
bian.
The Council of Asian Liberals
and Democrats (CALD):
Noting the statement passed in
the recently concluded CALD
Conference on Challenges to
Fundamental Freedoms which
reiterates CALDs enduringcommitment to fundamental
rights and liberties;
Regretting that the right against
inhuman punishment and the
right to adequate healthcare are
not being observed in the case of
former Taiwanese President and
former CALD Chair Chen Shui-
bian, who has been serving aprison term for more than four
years now under substandard
and inhumane conditions;
Recognizing that the former
president is in poor health and is
suffering from severe depression
as attested by medical profes-
sionals;
Lamenting the fact that the gov-
ernments claim of providing the
former president with the best
living conditions and healthcare
under the law was not supported
by foreign officials and medical
professionals who visited him;
and
Highlighting the increasing
popular clamor for the grant of
medical parole as evidenced by
the passage of resolutions sup-
porting the move in seventeen
(17) city and county councils in
Taiwan.
Hereby:
Urges the government of Presi-
dent Ma Ying-jeou to go beyond
partisan interests and immedi-
ately grant former President
Chen a medical parole;
Supports the conclusion made
by Joseph Lin in November
2012, leader of the US medical
team which examined formerPresident Chen, who said that
the conditions under which the
former president was being held
constituted a gross miscarriage
of justice and human rights;
Supports the appeal made in
March 2013 by the International
Group of Independent Experts
on Human Rights to the Gov-
ernment of Taiwan that, on hu-
manitarian grounds, it takes ap-
propriate action in relation to the
serious health problems of for-
mer President Chen;
Appeals that adequate and inten-
sive medical care be given im-
mediately to the former presi-
dent by independent medical
experts; and
Trusts that the grant of medical
parole to Former President Chen
would pave the way for genuine
political reconciliation and
maturation of Taiwanese democ-
racy.
Signed on behalf of the Council
of Asian Liberals and Demo-
crats:
Sam Rainsy, CALD Chair
J.R. Nereus Acosta, Secretary
General
DPP welcomes CALD resolution support-ing Former President Chen Shui-bians
medical parole
-
7/28/2019 DPP Newsletter Mar2013
10/10
MARCH 2013
PAGE 10
DEMOCRACY &
PROGRESS
PUBLISHED BY:
Department of InternationalAffairs DemocraticProgressive Party
9F, No. 30, Pei-Ping EastRoad, Taipei, Taiwan
Tel: 886-2-2392-9989 ext. 306
Fax: 886-2-2393-0342
Email: [email protected]
Website:
http://www.dpp.org.tw
http://www.dpp.org.tw/http://www.dpp.org.tw/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]