Protesters stop Taiwan nuclear plant construction
Monday 28 Apr 2014 1:23 p.m.
Taiwan will stop construction at a controversial nuclear power plant after tens of thousands of protesters blockaded a main street in the capital calling for it to be scrapped.
Demonstrators broke a police cordon to take control of a busy eight-lane intersection demanding an end to construction of the "Nuke Four" power station outside Taipei. Later on Sunday the ruling Kuomintang party yielded to pressure and promised to stop the work.
"There will be no further construction of reactor one," Kuomintang spokesman Fan Chiang Tai-chi told reporters.
"Only safety checks will be done and after that it will be sealed for storage. Construction of reactor two will be terminated," he said.
"In the future, any of its commercial operation will be decided by a referendum."
Protest leaders said on Sunday night they were meeting to discuss the announcement.
Chanting crowds gathered on Sunday morning in the square outside the presidential palace where some protesters had already staged an overnight sit-in.
Demonstrators then marched to nearby Chung-Shiao West Road - an eight-lane artery adjacent the main railway station - and swarmed through police lines to occupy the street, bringing traffic to a halt.
Around half an hour later, the outnumbered riot police, who had offered no resistance, retreated to wild applause from the crowd.
Buses and other vehicles were forced to detour around the intersection and traffic ground to a halt.
Police put protester numbers at around 28,500.
The demonstrators are pledging to continue their sit-in until Tuesday, when parliament is due to meet to discuss the power plant.
The power station has been one of the most contentious projects in Taiwan. Intense political wrangling has repeatedly delayed its construction, which began in 1999 and has already cost around TW$300 billion (NZ$11.5 billion).
Structure of the Lead :
Who---demonstrators and parliament
What---Taiwan will stop construction at a controversial nuclear power plant
Why---tens of thousands of protesters calling for stopping nuclear power plant construction
Where---Taiwan
When---Sunday 27 to Tuesday 29 Apr 2014
How---blockaded a main street in the capital
Keywords :
1.controversial---爭論的
2.blockaded---封鎖
3.demonstrators---示威者
4.cordon---警戒線
5.terminated---終止
6.referendum---公投
7.adjacent---鄰里的
8.detour---繞行
9.pledge---誓言
10.parliament---議會
http://www.3news.co.nz/world/protesters-stop-taiwan-nuclear-plant-construction-2014042813
http://www.3news.co.nz/world/protesters-stop-taiwan-nuclear-plant-construction-2014042813
Actually, I don't know why Taiwan needs one more nuclear plant. However, I don't agree with the protesters on their unreasonable behavior. Perhaps there is another way to talk about our complaint to the government.
回覆刪除Although the nuclear seems to be stop construction, the harm it have to Taiwan has caused.
回覆刪除Ah... I wonder why the authorities concerned always can't think up a good solution.
Taiwan is shortage of power,but I think the nuclear plant must be stopped constructing. It is because it will damage the environment where we live.
回覆刪除The government should look at Japan. There was a disaster in Japan because of the nuclear plant, so it's apparently bad to built one. Although the plant has built, we can stop it now and look for another way to generate electricity.
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