A group of legislators yesterday filed charges with the Control Yuan against the state-run Taiwan Power Company (Taipower,
"As a state-run enterprise, Taipower was transgressing the law knowingly and even taking the lead in breaking the law. This is going to have a severe impact on the government's credibility," said DPP Legislator Chang Ching-fang (
The gravel was intended for the construction of a dock attached to the power plant, located in Kungliao (
The case first aroused the attention of local fishermen on July 24 when two ships were discovered in waters off Yenliao (
Suspecting that the ships were commanded by smugglers, the fishermen immediately notified the coast guard to deal with the matter and demanded the ships leave the waters.
The ships were then found to have sailed into port under the escort of coast guard vessels on July 28. The situation triggered strong protests from local fishermen, who then discovered the ships were carrying gravel intended for the power plant construction project.
Another DPP Legislator Chou Ya-shu (周雅淑), who had helped the fishermen negotiate with Taipower, accused the company of trying to cover up the illegal action.
While the shipper claimed that the gravel had arrived from Fujian province via Hong Kong on a route approved by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, Chou said she checked with the Keelung Harbor Bureau and confirmed that the ships had sailed directly from Wenzhou (
"We strongly suspect that there was some kind of underground collaboration between the construction company and government officials," Chou said.
Jao Yung-ching (
"In addition to violating the ban on direct cross-strait shipping, authorities concerned must check if there was any violation against the National Security Law and other anti-smuggling regulations," Jao said.
Local residents and environmentalists have been bitterly opposed to the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant, but the case of illegal shipping has fueled opponents' anger.
This was also not the first time the construction company working on the power project has broken the law. Environmentalists earlier discovered that the construction company had been dumping waste soil into the sea, which they said damaged marine ecology and caused pollution.
Faced with legislators' allegations, Taipower President Kuo Junne-huey (
"According to the commercial contract, the construction company or shipping company is responsible for the ships' sailing route and other details," Kuo said.
"Whether there were any irregularities will be determined by justice authorities."
The DPP is nominally opposed to the power plant, but has not yet moved to stop its construction.
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old