President wants nuclear referendum during or before presidential race

Taipei, June 30, 2003 (CENS)--President Chen Shui-bian said late last week that he wants to hold an islandwide referendum during or before next year's presidential election to decide the fate of the island's fourth nuclear power plant.

The vote would be Taiwan's first islandwide referendum, and the issue has been the subject of intense debate in recent weeks. Washington has raised its concern over the referendum issue, and Beijing has also warned that the vote could raise cross-strait tension.

"The public vote on the fate of the fourth nuclear power plant is part of human rights that cannot be denied or restricted by any countries, governments, political and individuals," Chen said in a closely watched televised speech at an anti-nuclear convention.

Chen went on that the planned referendum on the fourth nuclear power plant was not just part of the platform, but also the ruling party's pledge to the entire nation.

The former ruling Kuomintang (KMT) approved the plant before it lost the presidency in 2002, and the Democratic Progressive Party has argued that the KMT ignored the public's will when it made the decision.

Shortly after Chen's inauguration, the DPP government suspended construction of the controversial power plant. However, the suspension sparked a boycott by the major opposition parties that dominated the Parliament, and the government was later forced to reverse its decision, allowing the project to go on.