Thousands march against Taiwan nuclear plant

Protesters are demanding the government call a referendum on the controversial plant

TAIPEI, Taiwan - Thousands of anti-nuclear protesters have taken to the streets of Taipei demanding a referendum on the construction of a controversial nuclear power plant.

The march through the Taiwan capital by about 10,000 protesters, came 10 days after a government about-turn led to the resumption of construction work on the island's fourth nuclear plant.

Work on the controversial $5.5 billion facility was initiated by the previous Nationalist Party administration.

It said that the plant's planned output of 2,700-megawatts of electricity was vital for Taiwan's continued economic growth.

However, environmentalists argue that Taiwan lacks the ability to process nuclear waste and to deal with accidents.

A decision last October by President Chen's minority government to halt construction work on the plant angered the opposition Nationalists who still hold a majority in the 220-member legislature.

Government backdown

The row led to a three-month political stalemate which hit the economy and undermined confidence in the island's financial markets.

Environmentalists say Taiwan cannot cope with the waste from a fourth nuclear plant

Premier Chang Chun-hsiung eventually bowed to opposition pressure to resume building the plant on February 14.

Many protesters in Saturday's March said they had voted for the current President, Chen Shui-bian because he had pledged to abandon construction of the plant.

Wearing yellow headbands reading "nuclear referendum," the activists chanted "let the people decide" and other anti-nuclear slogans.

However, observers say the government is reluctant to call what would be Taiwan's first ever referendum because of the message such a move would send to mainland China.

Beijing, which considers Taiwan a breakaway province, fears the island's government may one day use a popular vote to determine whether to declare formal independence.

It has threatened to attack if the island declared statehood.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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