MARCH 2013

DEMOCRACY & PROGRESS

KMT plays trickery with referendum question 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 Power Plant 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 continue construction on the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant. The KMT is beating around the bush, violating the will of the people, and this is absolutely unacceptable. Chair Su emphasized that the issue of nuclear power in earthquake-prone Taiwan must be completely bipartisan. Once again, he appealed for the public to come out and express their stance against nuclear power in the March 9th rally. DPP Spokesperson Wang Ming-sheng explained 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.

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 According to Mr. Wang, the Supreme Administrative 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 proposition of halting construction and not become operational, which is rarely seen in a referendum 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

MARCH 2013 law requiring 50% of the registered voters to participate 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 which battles to ght, they can still decide the winOn March 4, at the general assembly of the DPPs Legislative Caucus at the Legislative Yuan, DPP Chair Su Tseng-chang reaffirmed the DPPs unequivocal stance of halting the construction of the Fourth Nuclear 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 of people to 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 standing to end nuclear power in Taiwan. Nevertheless, he said he felt encouraged to know that when it comes to the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant Referendum, the major players are not just political parties. He said that instead, the movement has shifted to become a social force among civic society, just like the moms who have stood out to demand a safe homeland for the future generation, the silent majority from all walks of life, the youth brimming with ideals and even the nine-tofivers who are usually too busy to give their opinions or to exercise their rights.

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MARCH 2013

Its our home, and we decide how to build it, he said, encouraging the people to join forces in the no-nuke campaign and gather together to create a momentum that will force the government to give-in to the peoples most determined stance to this date. For us, this is the only battlefield, said Chair Su, noting that the DPP is neither going to propose another referendum topic, nor going to jeopardize 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 and taking 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 absurd way 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 unattainable 9 million people requirement and a tricky topic, the referendum will not pass, but they cannot 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 Taiwanese people as Taiwan has the highest nuclear plant density in the world. He also said that to make 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 advocates. This is a battle of integrity and values, said DPP Legislative Caucus Convener Ker Chien-ming, noting that the party will not propose another referendum topic, but it will be fully engaged in the battle, especially seeing to the end, the amendment 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, righteousness and accountability are paramount. Convener Ker further said that if the government finds its way to continue the plants construction deceivingly, 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 referendum for the continued construction of the Fourth Nuclear 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 peoples faith, and this is going to be the last straw that brings down the Ma administration.

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MARCH 2013

DPP attends rally on 54th Tibetan Uprising Day

DPP Chair Su participated as a guest speaker at the 54th anniversary remembrance of Tibetan Uprisidng 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 liberation. This year marks the 54th anniversary of the Chinese 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 democratic 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 in protest 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 people 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 recalling 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.

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MARCH 2013

DPP Chair Su Tseng-changs remarks at World 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 Taiwan's national security, Chair Su highlighted some of Mas administrations most crucial mistakes in the presidents five years in office. Chair Su also reaffirmed his support for the strengthening of Taiwan's selfdefense as well as for the cooperation 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 international trade, Chair Su also shared the concerns of the Taiwanese people regarding the Ma administration's incompetence in the past five years, where economic failures were evident. First, he said President Ma has compromised Taiwans sovereignty, which has resulted in the people worrying about their well-being. Later on, with the country's failure 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 policies immediately after returning to office, and U.S. President Barack Obama has also set out plans to sign FTA with the European Union and pledging more domestic manufacturing jobs. A global trend in economic planning is obvious, he said. With the recovery of the international economy, the Taiwanese people expect our government to help us ride that wave, but without 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 falling 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 people'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 administration's goals as too reliant on China. He said that everyone understands that one should not place all their eggs into one basket. Yet the Ma administration violated this common sense, he PAGE 5

 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 a half years later, Taiwan still has not been able to sign any FTAs. He further mentioned that even Japan 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. According 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 regressed to just 1.69 billion USD. While comparing international investments, Taiwan has fallen to second place from the bottom, only beating the African country of Angola. With falling capital, a contracting economy, and a climbing unemployment rate, the Taiwanese people are suffering. In regards to national security, Chair Su said he believed that the Ma administration thinks improving relations with China and promoting peace were sufficient, 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 international community that two countries China and Taiwan are collaborating against Japan. Such misjudgments will result in hostilities between Taiwan and Japan and the most severely impacted people are the fishermen of both countries, he said.

MARCH 2013 He further added that while the DPP believes the Diaoyutai Islands are under the sovereignty of Taiwan, the well-being of fishermen from both Taiwan and Japan should be the main priority. Quickly resolving the fishery issues and preventing a third country 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 freedom, human rights and values. The people cannot accept allowing a non-democratic country to interfere. 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 country 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 diplomacy has eased tensions and relaxed our military development. Only this way can we continue protecting our country's safety.

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MARCH 2013

DPP: China continues to suppress Taiwans international space

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 remembered: 1. Sovereignty 2. Equality 3. Respect for democracy China must understand that Taiwan is a democratic 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, sovereign and independent, and does not wish to unify with China, Mr. Wu said. Mr. Wu emphasized that if Chinese officials understand these three main principles, and the Taiwanese government ensures that they are followed, 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 engagement with China. Mr. Zhang mentioned on March 22 at the Cross Strait Relations Conference, that in order to resolve political issues between the cross straits, it must start from dialogue among civil society, especially encouraging think tanks to hold conferences 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 mutual trust 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 encouraged cross strait civic interactions, but these exchanges must originate from the desire of society without political party intervention. Mr. Hong appealed the Taiwan Affairs Office not to 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 Representatives have introduced bills to support Taiwans bid to join the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). However, Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office Spokesperson Yang Yi publicly commented 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 relations, and it counts on the assistance of its foreign friends to support its entry bids into world organizations. 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 attendance of Taiwanese officials in the 2013 Jakarta International Defense Conference, which resulted

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 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

MARCH 2013 from his administrations part. He lastly appealed for the public in general to understand that these past exchanges have been nothing but containment 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 participants over 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 according to the poll, the issue that youth are most worried about is finding employment after graduation. There were 55% of the respondents who expressed 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 respondents believed that media monopoly was a very serious issue. Regarding continuing construction on the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant, there were 74% who were opposed to continuing construction. In government efficiency, there were 76% who expressed dissatisfaction towards the current government. Mr. Chou said that based on these figures, it can be seen that the youth are worried and not satisfied with the current state of affairs of the country, and that in itself is quite worrisome. Their views on social conditions, political affairs, education and media are very concerning, and the government must reflect and pay attention to these figures, said Mr. Chou.

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MARCH 2013

DPP welcomes CALD resolution supporting Former President Chen Shui-bians medical parole
The DPP has welcome a resolution 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 medical 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 Former Taiwanese President and Former CALD Chair Chen Shuibian. 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 enduring commitment 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 Shuibian, who has been serving a prison 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 professionals; Lamenting the fact that the governments 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 supporting the move in seventeen (17) city and county councils in Taiwan. Hereby: Urges the government of President Ma Ying-jeou to go beyond partisan interests and immediately 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 former President 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 Government of Taiwan that, on humanitarian grounds, it takes appropriate action in relation to the serious health problems of former President Chen; Appeals that adequate and intensive medical care be given immediately to the former president 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 democracy.

Signed on behalf of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats: Sam Rainsy, CALD Chair J.R. Nereus Acosta, Secretary General

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MARCH 2013

DEMOCRACY & PROGRESS

PUBLISHED BY: Department of International Aairs Democratic Progressive Party 9F, No. 30, Pei-Ping East Road, Taipei, Taiwan Tel: 886-2-2392-9989 ext. 306 Fax: 886-2-2393-0342 Email: foreign@dpp.org.tw Website: http://www.dpp.org.tw

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