wfn.org | TCN: Penghu residents reject casinos in local referendum

["Taiwan Church News" <enews@pctpress.org>]

>      Taiwan Church News

>3005 Edition

>September 28~October 4, 2009

Penghu residents reject casinos in local referendum

>Reported by Chang Yi-chein and Chen Yi-hsuan

>Written by Lydia Ma

“Victory for Penghu! Victory for Taiwan!” cried Penghu  voters on September 26

soon after Taiwan held its first referendum on whether to build  casinos. In the

end, casino opponents won the referendum with a margin of nearly  4,000 votes,

which represented 56.44% of the total votes cast during the  referendum.

Penghu Anti-Gambling Alliance held a press conference soon after  results

became official and many alliance members, overcome by what they  had been

through, hugged each other as they dissolved in tears.  “Taiwanese people have

witnessed Penghu’s decision. We hope that all politicians  will shut up from now

on and stop talking about gambling,” said one member.

Because so many public officials supported building casinos and  had invested a

lot of resources into making sure the referendum would pass, many  people had

predicted the referendum would likely pass. Unfazed by  circumstances, Anti-

Gambling Legislation Alliance sought support from religious  organizations,

increased internet and short clip ads, staged sit-in protests and  rallies, sought

out local officials who opposed casinos, and steadily built up its  own supporters

until both sides were neck and neck in the last days leading up to  the referendum.

There are 73,651 total eligible voters in Penghu area and voter  turnout for this

referendum was 42.16%, with 13,397 votes supporting casinos and  17,359

votes opposing casinos. In the end, casino opponents won by a  margin of 3,962

votes. However, in some areas of Penghu, such as Chimei Township,  support for

building casino resorts outnumbered opposition by nearly 200% and  is indicative

of how many residents had hoped or believed that casinos would  attract tourists

>and boost the island’s economy.

After polls closed at 4 p.m. on September 26, counting began  immediately.

Reporters assembled at Jung-Jeng Elementary School and looked on  nervously

as vote-tallying began. When “no” votes were called out  in successions, a big

>smile broke out on the faces of some people.

Anti-Gambling Legislation Alliance members gathered at their  temporary

headquarters on the second floor of a local Catholic Church and  watched live

feeds of the vote counting from there. Whenever announcers  revealed that “no”

votes had outnumbered “yes” votes in their polling  station, an enthusiastic

applause would break out. However, one Makung Presbyterian Church  elder

confided later that she couldn’t feel at ease until all the  votes were counted and

>confirmed.

Gradually, the distance between “yes” and “no”  votes grew from 500 votes to

1,000 votes and more. Originally, very few media personnel had  stayed near the

alliance’s headquarters to conduct interviews once results  become official, but

when it became apparent that the “no” side had won, a  swarm of reporters

suddenly filled the room, which further confirmed the referendum  had failed to

>pass.

“Penghu has won!” Penghu Anti-Gambling Alliance Convener  Lin Chang-hsing

said excitedly during press conference. He thanked residents for  their wisdom,

youth for returning home to vote, and students for their support.  “We ask that

politicians get acquainted with Penghu’s beauty and ecology  and think seriously

about Penghu’s future. Forget about casinos!” he added.

Penghu Anti-Gambling Alliance CEO Yan Jiang-lung was speechless at  the

results. “We’re not vehemently opposed, but rather, very  worried about gambling

away Penghu when officials haven’t laid out specific plans  for us to see how they

will deal with consequences related to opening casinos. From this  day on,

gambling and casinos are no longer the only options for improving  Penghu.”

One Penghu resident who owns a bed & breakfast hugged his friend  as soon as

he found out the “no” side had won. “Penghu is on  the road to a great future.

Refusing to build casinos is the first step toward protecting our  children,” he said.

He was also heavily involved in anti-gambling campaigns

This surprise win in Penghu is another modern day example of David  and

Goliath, or ordinary residents defeating corporations. The  referendum is also a

victory for NGOs because, in the past, their opinions were  constantly ignored or

manipulated by others so that whatever they said or did would be  misinterpreted

and used as a weapon in partisan politics. However, residents and  NGOs proved

with their votes and efforts that public policies and partisan  politics are not the

>same thing.

Yan Jiang-lung said a major factor accounting for the  “yes” side’s loss this time

can be attributed to the government lack of explanations or  policies on related

issues such as gambling tax, division of profits between central  and local

governments, social services and employment opportunities. Due to  uncertainty

about how these important factors would play out, residents  couldn’t bet that

>opening casinos would be better for Penghu.

Alliance members also emphasized that opposing casinos wasn’t  the same as

opposing economic development, but rather, it reflected Penghu  residents’ hope

of finding a better option for the island’s future. Now that  the referendum results

are out, local and national leaders ought to end discussion on  opening casinos

>and find other means to help Penghu.

>Breakdown of referendum votes in Penghu

> 

>Support for Casinos

>Opposition to Casinos

> 

>Makung City

>7,882

>11,683

> 

>Huhsi Township

>2,098

>2,610

> 

>Paisha Township

>1,557

>1,221

> 

>Hsiyu Township

>1,183

>1,159

> 

>Wangan Township

>215

>476

> 

>Chimei Township

>462

>210

> 

>Total votes

>13,397

>17,359

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