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KMT bigwig denies existence of '3rd U.N.-bid referendum'

ROC Central News Agency

2008-02-12 16:53:28

    Taipei, Feb. 12 (CNA) A legislative bigwig of the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) categorically denied Tuesday that there was a "third referendum proposal" regarding Taiwan's bid to enter the United Nations.

    Lin Yi-shih, a KMT legislator who doubles as director of the KMT's Central Policy Committee, said neither the KMT nor the legislature has plans on a "third UN-bid referendum."

    The Central Election Commission decided late last year to hold two referendums, seeking public opinion on Taiwan's quest to enter the United Nations, alongside the March 22 presidential election.

    One of the referendums, proposed by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, tests public approval for Taiwan to attempt to enter the U.N. under the name Taiwan. The other referendum, proposed by the opposition KMT, calls for Taiwan's entry into the U.N. under the name of the Republic of China, or whatever feasible name.

    The ROC was expelled from the U.N. in 1971 after the international organization awarded the China seat to the People's Republic of China.

    Lin also said that it was clear the two referendums will be held, despite disapproval from Washington and pressure from Beijing to scrap the plans.

    The holding of two referendums on Taiwan's U.N. bid alongside the March 22 presidential election is now a "closed and non-negotiable matter," Lin said.

    The Legislative Yuan -- in which the KMT now holds an absolute majority following its landslide victory in the Jan. 12 legislative elections -- is unable to say no to the referendums except for blessing them, Lin said.

    Meanwhile, Lin would not comment on news reports Tuesday that the Executive Yuan plans to put an amendment to the Executive Yuan Organization Act as one of the priority bills to be debated and screened by the new legislature, which was sworn in on Feb. 1, but has yet to begin its first plenary session.

    The Executive Yuan-proposed amendment calls for cutting the number of Cabinet-level agencies from the current 39 to around 26, including only 14 ministries, seven councils and five independent agencies.

(By Deborah Kuo)

ENDITEM/cs