Environmental groups gather at the Executive Yuan, urging a thorough revision of the Mining Act to save Taiwan, China's mountains and forests
The long-disputed Asia Cement extension case and the amendment of the Mining Act drew public attention in the first half of this year, and the Democratic Progressive Party government also listed the Mining Act as a priority bill to be scheduled for review. But to this day, the Executive Yuan's draft version has remained silent and quiet, and may not be able to complete the amendment within this legislative session, which has sparked discontent among civil society groups. Today they gathered in front of the Executive Yuan to urgently call for the amendment, and to ask Premier Lai Ching-te to "wake up and save the mountains and forests"; at the same time, after years of passively accepting mining, local indigenous people also announced that they will launch a mountain closure on the 23rd, and that "the struggle will never end," demanding not only the revocation of the Asia Cement extension but also that the Mining Act be fully and thoroughly amended as soon as possible.
Lu Chen-hui, Councilor of the Economic, Energy and Agriculture Affairs Office: A special session may be added after December, and the bill will be sent to the Legislative Yuan as soon as possible
In response to the public appeal, the Executive Yuan side had Lu Chen-hui, Councilor of the Economic, Energy and Agriculture Affairs Office, accept the petition. She also pointed out that because the scope of this Mining Act amendment is very large, the Executive Yuan has listened to reports multiple times and also held many public hearings. With the draft listed as a priority bill, it is expected that after the Legislative Yuan session ends at the end of December, a special session may be added, and it will certainly be sent to the Legislative Yuan for review as soon as possible.
At the same time, Chou Kuo-tung, Deputy Director-General of the Bureau of Mines, stated that Asia Cement's extension application process was completed in the first half of the year, and that in the draft amendment to the Mining Act, companies that did not conduct environmental impact assessments for past extensions will be required to undergo such assessments. As for the road closure, he responded that this is a pluralistic society, that opinions from civil society groups are respected, and that he hopes the petition can be peaceful.