Environmental Protection Administration chief Lin Yun-yi (
"In the past, my opposition to nuclear energy was a way of opposing totalitarianism. Since totalitarian rule has disappeared, I can take the stance of not being opposed [to nuclear energy]," Lin said during a meeting of the Legislative Yuan's Sanitation, Environment and Social Welfare Committee yesterday.
Lin was responding to Chiang Yi-wen (
Chiang asked Lin if he would resign because of his environmental ideals if the Ministry of Economic Affairs decided to continue the construction of the plant.
Lin said he would not, because the procedure of policy-making in democratic politics is not the product of any individual insisting on his own opinions.
Lin's statement disappointed anti-nuclear legislators.
"You might still remember that you were called the `Father of anti-nuclear activists' (
Jao disagreed with Lin, arguing that the situation had not changed.
"The dictatorship still exists because the public is still kept in the dark about things; there are still administrative power struggles and departmental egoism, in addition to an overwhelming scientific hegemony," Jao said.
Anti-nuclear activists echoed Jao's remarks.
"How could he say that dictatorship has disappeared? I haven't seen any new public policy-making procedures taken up by the new Ministry of Economic Affairs for reviewing the controversial plant project," said Lai Wei-chieh (
Lai said the Alliance would visit the economic affairs ministry next week with local residents from Kungliao (
Lin made his comments yesterday just as his former anti-nuclear comrades from the Taiwan Environmental Protection Union were presenting a petition to the Control Yuan for a comprehensive investigation of the divisive nuclear power issue.
Members from the environmental union -- one of the oldest anti-nuclear groups in Taiwan -- pressed for a continuing investigation of two censures that were given for not completing environmental impact assessments on the plant.
"Making a statement like this really hurts our feelings," said Shih Shin-min (
"I agree with what Legislator Jao said because we still see a monopoly of energy in Taiwan," Shih said.
Typhoon Usagi yesterday had weakened into a tropical storm, but a land warning issued by the Central Weather Administration (CWA) was still in effect in four areas in southern Taiwan. As of 5pm yesterday, Tropical Storm Usagi was over waters 120km south-southwest of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), the southernmost tip of Taiwan proper, and was moving north at 9kph, CWA data showed. The storm was expected to veer northeast later yesterday. It had maximum sustained winds of 101kph, with gusts of up to 126kph, the data showed. The CWA urged residents of Kaohsiung, Pingtung County, Taitung County and the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春) to remain alert to
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