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REFERENDUM LAW TO TAKE EFFECT JAN. 2

2003-12-31 17:58:21

    Taipei, Dec. 31 (CNA) The newly passed Referendum Law will take effect Jan. 2, 2004 after President Chen Shui-bian promulgated it Wednesday.

    Chen first signed the act in a ceremony held at the Presidential Office, witnessed by a group of legislators from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

    It was then sent to the Executive Yuan for Premier Yu Shyi-kun's endorsement. Later in the day, Chen issued a decree promulgating the act. According to the ROC Constitution, the act will come into force Jan. 2. "This is a historic moment," Chen said after signing the act. "We have completed referendum legislation after many years of promotion. This is a dream come true."

    Chen presented to DPP Legislator Trong Chai the pen he used to sign the act in recognition of Chai's contribution to the legislation. "I'm grateful for Chai, who took the initiative to enact a referendum bill and has worked hard for its passage through the legislature," Chen said.

    Because of his obsession about referendum legislation, Chai has been nicknamed "Referendum Chai." "The enactment of the law has substantiated your name," Chen said jokingly.

    Nevertheless, Chen said, more work has to be done to allow the 23 million people of Taiwan to truly exercise their right to referendum. "Referendum is a basic human right and a universal value. We should make it take root in Taiwan so that it can be enjoyed by all of our people," Chen said.

    Besides Chai, several other DPP legislators, including Ko Chien-ming, Chen Chi-mai, Chiou Chuei-chen, Lai Ching-teh and Chou Ya-shu, were also present at the signing ceremony.

    Referendum legislation is the DPP's brainchild, but the opposition "pan-blue alliance" of the Kuomintang and the People First Party, which control a majority in the Legislative Yuan, outmaneuvered the ruling party by packing the Cabinet-drafted bill with their own ideas and steamrolling it through the legislature Nov. 27.

    The disappointed Cabinet decided to ask the legislature to reconsider 12 of the 64 articles of the bill Dec. 11, but the requested was rejected Dec. 19. The DPP legislative caucus has vowed to redress what they call a flawed bill, including pushing for amendments and asking the Council of Grand Justices to interpret its constitutionality.

(By Sofia Wu)

ENDITEM/J