wfn.org | Government Spies on Taitung Church for Opposing Nuclear Waste

["Lydia Ma" <enews@pctpress.org>]

>Taiwan Church News

>2962 Edition

>December 1-7, 2008

Government Spies on Taitung Church for Opposing Nuclear Waste

>Reported by Lin Yi-ying

>Written by Lydia Ma

The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan’s aboriginal presbytery in  Taitung city and county joined a movement opposing nuclear waste storage  in Taitung. In recent days, church members have reported that Taitung  county police department and Taitung investigation bureau have sent  representatives to monitor church activities. Officers have repeatedly  appeared during fellowship meetings, community gatherings and worship  services. Employees from Taitung aboriginal presbytery office suspect  that their office phones have been tapped as well.

Taitung aboriginal presbytery office reports that it has received a lot  of phone calls recently from authorities enquiring about the number of  people who will attend some rally or another, whether protesters will  carry dangerous items or weapons, or the name of the pastor who will  lead church members at a rally. Authorities have also enquired whether  opposing nuclear waste disposal in Taitung will be discussed during  church activities. According to one local pastor, Taitung city and  county officials have offered all kinds of excuses to refuse renting  venues to churches because of the latter’s opposition to nuclear  wastes being disposed in Taitung. Church employees sometimes receive  more than ten phone calls per day from government authorities enquiring  about anti-nuclear waste disposal rallies. Furthermore, mysterious  individuals have appeared at meetings held by organizations opposing  nuclear waste disposal in Taitung.

According to reports, some people support storing nuclear wastes in  Taitung. They have taken every opportunity possible to lobby for public  support, including putting up posters that say the impoverished region  would receive much needed financial compensation from the government if  the proposal goes through.

Ever since President Ma took office, protests, rallies, and large group  events organized by the opposition party or other organizations in  Taiwan have been closely monitored by the government. Some government  officials have already contacted churches to express “concern”  over the human rights prayer rally to be held on December 7th in  Kaohsiung city. In response, Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT) Church  and Society Committee issued a statement on its website announcing that  all group events will be posted on the PCT General Assembly’s  website from now on so that “interested” individuals may  easily access key information or contact the committee for any  questions.

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