Taiwan Today

Presidential Office spokesman Wang Yu-chi reiterated Aug. 11 that typhoon relief efforts can be carried out effectively without issuing an emergency decree. “To issue an emergency decree would have a profound impact on the existing legal system, and the timing for the president to activate such an order is not yet ripe,” Wang said. A call for the executive order had come primarily from ruling Kuomintang lawmakers, who felt it would make the typhoon relief campaign more effective. Wang said if it is possible under the existing system to increase the efficiency of ongoing relief work and intensify communication on relief efforts and on plans for future reconstruction, it is not yet the time to issue an executive order. “Only if there is no way of achieving relief aims under the present system would President Ma consider an executive order,” he said. Following the termination of the Period of Mobilization for the Suppression of Communist Rebellion in 1991, revisions to the ROC Constitution authorize the president to declare a state of emergency during major disasters or financial and economic crises after the Cabinet reaches a resolution to support such a move. The Legislature then has 10 days to confirm the announcement. A state of emergency was declared by former President Lee Teng-hui in the wake of the Jiji Earthquake of Sept. 21, 1999, granting the government flexibility not only in fund raising but also in relief and post-disaster reconstruction efforts. Meanwhile, the opposition Democratic Progressive Party Aug. 11 decided to follow the example of the Jiji Earthquake and propose a special budget for reconstruction in the wake of Typhoon Morakot. Despite the KMT lawmakers’ call and the DPP’s proposal, Government Information Office Minister Su Jun-pin said that relief efforts remain the government’s top priority, as opposed to issuing an executive order. As to whether to stipulate special regulations and pass a special budget, Su said decisions will be made concerning such proposals after the related ministries complete their assessment of the damage caused by the typhoon. “Such measures have not been ruled out but the government has no plans for them at the present time,” he said. Separately, in order to facilitate the central government’s coordination of rescue operations, President Ma Aug. 11 telephoned local heads of the 10 unaffected counties in central and northern Taiwan to provide rescue personnel, resources and equipment to the National Fire Agency under the Interior Ministry, the designated command center for rescue operations. President Ma plans to visit Chiatung Township in Pintung County and Chiahsien Township in Kaohsiung County, two of the most damaged areas, Aug. 12 and will continue his inspection in Yunlin County and Tainan County Aug. 13. In addition, the Ministries of Transportation and Communications, the Interior and Defense under the Executive Yuan will report current progress on relief efforts and reconstruction work to Legislative Yuan President Wang Jin-pyng this afternoon.