Panel rejects request for national referendum on ECFA
China Post | Friday, June 4, 2010
Panel rejects request for national referendum on ECFA
The China Post news staff
TAIPEI, Taiwan — The Referendum Review Committee (RRC) yesterday rejected a proposal to hold a national referendum on an economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) that has yet to be signed between Taipei and Beijing.
The ruling of the panel under the Cabinet drew strong protest from lawmakers of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party and the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU).
The verdict was announced following a deliberation of 4.5 hours in the evening with four votes backing the proposal and 12 against.
Lawmakers of DPP and TSU leaders rallied a huge crowd gathering outside the RRC office starting at around 6:00 p.m.
They pounded on the gate of the office building and engaged in several waves of scuffles with security guards who managed to block their attempt to charge into the RRC office while the meeting was still in process.
Government agencies and the ruling Kuomintang already made it clear they would respect the RRC decision and abide whatever ruling it was to hand down.
The DPP and TSU, on the other hand, are expected to continue stepping up the campaign to combat government efforts to secure the major trade pact across the Taiwan Strait.
Some political analysts said the anti-ECFA campaign has been turned into a major strategy of the opposition camp to seek more ballots in the elections of mayors and city council members set for November.
