SEPTEMBER 2009

DEMOCRACY & PROGRESS

Typhoon Morakot brings devastation
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
to Southern Taiwan
Typhoon Morakot
Brings Devastation to
Southern Taiwan
- Pg. 1

Latest Polls Report

- Pg. 1

DPP in action for

On Saturday, August 8,
Typhoon Morakot struck Tai-
wan, bringing an historic
amount of rainfall that caused
the most serious flooding, as
well as mud and landslides, in
50 years. The heart of the disas-
ter area was in Southern Taiwan:
Pingtung, Kaohsiung, Tainan,
Chiayi and Taitung counties. To-
date at least 376 deaths have
been recorded, with 254 people
still missing, and 24,950 evacu-
ated, along with a total of
Typhoon Morakot
- Pg. 2
NT$15,800,000,000 in property
losses and NT1,036,414, 000 in
agricultural losses. Government Rejects a
Referendum on ECFA
The DPP in Action: Week one-
- Pg. 5
disaster relief (emergency sup-
ply of water and food)
His Holiness the Dalai
On Sunday, August 9, DPP Lama visits Taiwan
Chairperson Dr. Tsai Ing-wen
- Pg. 6
called an emergency meeting to
announce the establishment of
the DPP Typhoon Morakot Dis-
aster Relief Operation Team led
... continued on pg. 2

Latest Polls Report: Ma’s approval rating dips with typhoon

CNN ‘Quick Vote’(August 16-17) : “Should Tai-
wan's leader stand down over delays in aiding ty-
phoon victims?”
82% of respondents voted “Yes”.
ICRT News Survey (August 18 to 21): 97% voted
‘Yes’ that President Ma should step down over
failing to effectively lead relief efforts.
TVBS Poll on “Aftermath of Typhoon
Morakot” :
Ma’s approval rate dropped to 16% (the lowest
since he took office as the president) with 65%
expressing their dissatisfaction with President
Ma's performance.
... continued on pg. 4

PAGE 1

DPP in action for Typhoon Morakot
by the DPP Secretary General Wu Nai-Ren. A
Disaster Relief Information website
(http://dpp0808.blogspot.com) was established.
Through co-operation with the media, local
governments and the keen web community, the
DPP started to collect and distribute disaster
information, aid supplies, funds, as well as re-
cruiting volunteers. DPP Plurk (‘DPPOnLine’)
also started to send out real-time updates of the
disaster situation and volunteer demands
through Plurk.
On Monday, August 10, three operation centers
were established in the DPP chapters of Kaoh-
siung, Tainan and Pingtung Counties and the
first DPP disaster relief teams were sent to
Tainan and Pingtung to assist in distributing
clean water, food and clothing to victims of the
typhoon, while the DPP headquarters took re-
sponsibility for co-ordinating the volunteers
and donated supplies from DPP local chapters
and those county councilors whose districts are
less impacted.
The English DPP Typhoon Relief website
(http://www.helptaiwan.blogspot.com) was
established calling for international attention
and assistance.
On August 10- Dr. Tsai started her visits to dis-
aster areas.
On August 12- a second wave of DPP relief
teams was sent.
In the first week, more than 150 volunteers and
160 tons of clean water and other supplies were
sent to the disaster area.
Week two: Prepare for Reconstruction and
Disease Outbreak Prevention
While the death toll in mountainous areas was
still on the rise due to the government's slow
SEPTEMBER 2009
... continued from pg.
1
response, refusal to accept foreign aid, and the
president's refusal to deploy more military per-
sonnel for rescue missions and the region re-
mained inaccessible for civilian volunteers due
to road cut-
offs and landslides, most of the flood-affected
areas were reporting a retreat of the flood-
water, restarting of the electricity and water
supplies, so warm foods and clean water were
no longer in short supply. However, the thick
mud had yet to be cleared. Garbage, damaged
furniture, dead animals, and rotten fruit were
still piled up in the streets. The major challenge
was figuring out a way to recruit machinery
from around the entire island to use in remov-
ing the mud and damaged furniture. Another
major challenge was preventing the spread of
an epidemic with the return of the summer
temperature, and the breakout of the H1N1 vi-
rus. The DPP believed the disaster relief efforts
should move to the second stage, which is
preparation for reconstruction.
Although there is certainly much left to accom-
plish, the DPP decided that from this point for-
ward, local relief efforts will run much more
smoothly if local governments take the lead.
Thus, the DPP has referred the volunteers re-
cruited to the local governments and is no
longer accepting supply donations. Cash dona-
... continued on next page
PAGE 2
 SEPTEMBER 2009

... continued from previous

page

tions are encouraged to raise enough funds for

reconstruction work. So far, the DPP has suc-
cessfully raised more than NT$60,000,000.

On August 14, the DPP Reconstruction Consul-

tation Team was established, led by former
Transportation Minister Guo Yao-chi, former
Public Construction Committee chairperson
Wu Ze Cheng, and former Ministry of Trans-
portation Deputy Minister Ho Chen-tan. The
team’s purpose is to establish a long-term
communications channel between the DPP
headquarters and affected counties and cities
governed by the DPP, assist in drafting a re-
construction white-paper, and draft relevant
legislative proposals immediately.

At a Central Standing Committee meeting on

August 19, Dr. Tsai stated, "The 8th of August
flooding disaster has saddened us deeply as it
has caused much hardship for many of our
people and a substantial amount of property
loss. It is now the 11th day since the flood. Res-
cue missions as well as relief operations are still Additionally, Dr. Tsai strongly has urged Presi-
ongoing. On behalf of the DPP, I want to give dent Ma to reshuffle his cabinet team. She
the highest commendations to our front-line pointed out, “It is clear that the major reason
workers, rescuers, military personnel, volun- why rescue operations failed this time was be-
teers and international rescue teams. We have cause of poor leadership and lack of coordina-
seen countless individuals from all corners of tion. It will still be a disaster if this failed com-
the nation making a donation or volunteering, mand system continues to lead the next recon-
and this behavior shows Taiwan's united hu- struction mission.”
manitarian philosophy which seeks to share the
burden of hardship caused by this disaster. We
should encourage them all - they are Taiwan's
future.”

PAGE 3

LATEST POLLS REPORT
Premier Liu Chao-shuan's approval rate stood at
13% (the new ‘low’ record for premiers) with
70% expressing their dissatisfaction.
64% are unsatisfied with the central govern-
ment’s response to the disaster. (Compared to
last week’s poll, the satisfaction rate dropped by
10% while the dissatisfaction rate rose by 12%).
74% said that the Ma administration’s crisis
management ability is “poor”.
66% think the cabinet should be reshuffled over
the disaster.
*poll conducted between August 17 to 18, 2009
with 977 valid responses.
POLL: Typhoon Morakot Online poll (United
Daily News)
1. President Ma's rescue response: (39,402 votes)
13.9% very satisfied
0.9% satisfied
0.5% average
1.5% not satisfied
83.0% very unsatisfied
0.2% not sure/ no opinion
Who should take responsibility for the 8/8 flood-
ing disaster in southern Taiwan? (37,619 votes)
65.4% Central government
27.3% Local governments
5.7% The force of nature
0.7% Central Weather Bureau
0.9% Other
0.1% not sure/ no opinion
The biggest mistake committed by the Ma ad-
ministration in the disaster relief operations:
(currently ongoing 10,095 votes)
SEPTEMBER 2009
... continued from pg. 2
62.3% lack of direction, lack of leadership
18.2% cold-hearted towards flood victims
14.5% late response, slow aid
1.9% rejecting foreign aid, indecisive
3.1% others/no opinion
POLL: Typhoon Morakot Online poll (Apple
Daily)
68% (out of 2,575 votes) Premier Liu should
stand-down to take responsibility for the slow
and ineffective rescue operations.
Typhoon Morakot caused the most severe dev-
astation in Taiwan for 50 years. What are your
views? (673 votes)
41% - upset the government moved at a turtle’s
pace.
19% - NT$88 Trillion flood prevention projects
did not have any success.
19% - the most urgent task now is to help out in
the disaster relief operation
11%- I am touched by the relief efforts the police
and firefighters have done.
9%- this flood disaster is not just a natural disas-
ter, it is also caused by human error.
1%- no opinion
63% believe that the biggest
mistake committed by the Ma
administration in the disaster
relief operations was lack of di-
rection and lack of leadership
- Poll conducted by United Daily
News after Typhoon Morakot
PAGE 4
 SEPTEMBER 2009

DPP: ECFA Referendum Rejection is

DEMOCRACY &
Illegal, Unconstitutional,
PROGRESS
Unconscionable
PUBLISHED BY:
The Executive Yuan's authority by conducting a re-
Referendum Review Commit- view of substance, not only Department of International
tee’s rejection of the ECFA ref- formality. The law doesn’t al- Affairs Democratic
erendum on August 29 was low it to review substance, and Progressive Party
clearly riddled through and only formality instead. This
through by the vested interest once again proves that the func-
of the ruling Chinese National- tion of the Referendum Review 9F, No. 30, Pei-Ping East
ist Party (KMT) in unreservedly Committee, a committee which Road, Taipei, Taiwan
pushing for signing an ECFA the DPP has always opposed, is
with China without an objective to be the referendum assassin Tel: 886-2-2392-9989 ext. 306
and impartial review. This re- and the black hand of the po-
jection was made through ille- litical leaders.
gal and unconstitutional means, Fax: 886-2-2393-0342
According to the review
and the Democratic Progressive
committee’s reasons for reject-
Party (DPP) absolutely opposes
ing this referendum, no matter Email: foreign@dpp.org.tw
and will strongly protest this
how the subject of the referen-
decision.
dum is amended, if it is related
Website:
Whether or not to hold to ECFA, then there is abso-
an ECFA referendum should be lutely no chance for a referen- http://www.dpp.org.tw
decided by the people and not dum. Regarding this “fire the
by the referendum review arrow before the bulls-eye is
committee, which is only re- painted”, “reject first then make
sponsible to review the sub- up an excuse” review, the Tai- DIRECTOR:
stance of a proposed referen- wanese people absolutely do Bikhim Hsiao
dum. When the principle of na- not approve. However, the DPP
tional sovereignty is involved, will not give up our efforts to
DEPUTY DIRECTORS:
by law a referendum must be push for an ECFA referendum,
held. At the same time, if ECFA and will not let-down the hun- Huang Chih-ta
is signed, it will greatly impact dreds of thousand voters who Hsieh Huai-hui
our industries, affect the em- signed the petition for a refer-
ployment prospects and lives of endum, and we will live up to
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF:
the public, and also widen the the expectations of supporters
rich and poor divide. Therefore, to direct democracy. We will Michael J. Fonte
it is the people, of course, who immediately file another peti-
have the right to demand and tion and do everything possible EDITOR:
decide on a referendum on this to make this referendum hap-
issue. pen. Ping-Ya Hsu

As of today, the Refer-

endum Review Committee has
expanded its delegated author-
ity within the referendum law,
and overstepped its legislative

PAGE 5
 SEPTEMBER 2009

His Holiness the Dalai Lama visits Taiwan, offering

compassion to victims of Typhoon Morakot

His Holiness the Dalai Lama paid a visit to Tai- problem".

wan for five days to offer his personal condo-
lences for the victims of Typhoon Morakot. Unfortunately, China firmly opposed His Holi-
The Democratic Progressive Party wishes to ness’ visit to Taiwan, violating the fundamental
express its sincerest welcome and deepest grati- values of democratic countries, and also put-
tude to His Holiness. His Holiness brought a ting itself at odds with Taiwan's mainstream
message of compassion and humanity out of public opinion.
religious concern, soothing the broken hearts of
victims and encouraging them to gather The DPP believes that the Holiness’ visit to
strength to rebuild their homes. Taiwan for the victims of Typhoon Morakot, in
the eyes of the people of Taiwan, is a good
His Holiness the Dalai Lama made two visits to deed. The Beijing government should not and
Taiwan (in 1996 and 2001), creating a profound has no right to interfere in the matter.
impression and deep appreciation from the
people of Taiwan. During the Typhoon Mora-
kot aftermath, His Holiness expressed concern
to magistrates of the southern counties that
were affected by the typhoon. Following, our
magistrates believed that inviting His Holiness
to visit the victims would bring them some re-
lief.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama's high position in

the international community and his religious
image are not only highly respected by all the
people in the world, but he is also an important
figure who reminds us that compassion is the
best way to improve society’s illnesses. DPP Chairwoman Dr. Tsai Ing-Wen with His Holiness
the Dalai Lama on September 3, 2009.
According to the latest poll conducted by the
DPP Survey Center, 67.2% of the public agreed
that "the Dalai Lama's visit is a religious bless-
ing for the purpose of offering comfort and care
to the victims of the typhoon and is a non-
political activity". Even among pan-blue sup-
porters, there was approximately 57% who
concurred with this view. In addition, 50.7% of
the people did not agree that the "pan-green
camp invited the Dalai Lama for political pur-
poses, deliberately causing Ma Ying-jeou a

PAGE 6