Commentary

Opposition pushes for ECFA referendum

• Publication Date：02/24/2010
• Source： Liberty Times

Taiwan Solidarity Union Chairman Huang Kun-huei said his party is planning to initiate a referendum on the proposed economic cooperation framework agreement with Beijing.

“The people deserve a clear explanation from the government on the ECFA,” Huang said Feb. 23. “We will seek support for the referendum from the Democratic Progressive Party, civic groups and ECFA-affected industries.”

The TSU move is the second attempt to stage a referendum on the controversial trade pact within six months. Last year’s DPP-backed effort was turned down by the Cabinet’s Referendum Review Committee despite having passed an initial Central Election Commission review.

According to sources familiar with the matter, the committee rejected the petition as it was based on a “hypothetical situation” and did not meet criteria outlined in the Referendum Act.

Huang said this decision was politically motivated and nothing more than a cheap parlor trick. “Using the ‘hypothetical’ excuse to reject the DPP’s petition was unacceptable and an insult to Taiwan’s 23 million people.”

In light of this “injustice,” Huang said his party will do everything in its power to let the public decide whether it wants the ECFA.

“The new proposal will ask voters to choose whether they agree that the government should sign any type of economic agreement with mainland China as exemplified by President Ma Ying-jeou’s ECFA proposal,” Huang said.

TSU sources said the party aims to collect 86,000 signatures and have the first phase of the referendum process completed by May. “The race is on as ECFA negotiations will be part of the upcoming round of cross-strait talks set to take place before June,” they added.

But completing the second stage of the process, which requires 860,000 people to endorse the referendum within six months, will prove far more challenging for the TSU.

“Our mission is much tougher in light of the time constraints,” Huang said. “Ideally, we would like the ECFA referendum to be held in conjunction with the year-end municipal elections.” (CHY-JSM)