At a rally in front of the Legislative Yuan, representatives of more than 10 environmental groups said Ma`s insistence on nuclear power was "stupid and irresponsible."
They were referring to Ma`s remarks at a nuclear disaster drill Tuesday that Taiwan still needs nuclear energy for a while yet.
"From my point of view, that drill is a total joke, " said Lee Chou-han, secretary general of the Taiwan Environmental Protection Union.
It is "a staged play with police officers dressed only in raincoats directing a small group of well-disciplined people, " Lee said.
Lee said he was not at all assured that the government is capable of protecting the public in the event of a nuclear catastrophe.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Tien Chiu-Chin, who also joined the protest, said Taiwan is playing with fire by operating nuclear power plants in a metropolis close to the densely populated capital city.
Except for one in the southern Taiwan county of Pingtung, Taiwan`s nuclear power plants --including the one under construction -- are all located in New Taipei City.
"The No. 4 nuclear power plant is only 40.6 km away from the Legislative Yuan, " Tien said. "Where will we -- and all the other legislators -- evacuate to?"
The protesters urged legislators from both the ruling Kuomintang and opposition DPP to open their discussions on the fourth nuclear power plant to the public on Friday.
Otherwise, larger protests may staged outside the Legislative Yuan next week, the demonstrators said.
(T.A045/H-AK)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
