Response to Infravest Statement (June 2013)

2013/7/17

Response to InfraVest's June 2013 Statement regarding the Yuanli Self-Help Organization

In Yuanli, residents will continue to protest against the InfraVest project until Infravest recognizes the many controversies surrounding the project and there is greater resident involvement. More than 4,000 coastal residents have signed the petition against InfraVest's unjust and poorly sited project.

InfraVest, having failed to inform (let alone involve) local residents about the project in the first place, have not shown sincerity in addressing the concerns of residents. InfraVest's so-called negations were in actuality a use of political and economic influence to force through its plan without consulting local residents.

Yuanli Self-Help Organization has gained the support of other communities across Taiwan which have faced similar issues with InfraVest's irresponsible and poorly-managed projects. Many non-profit organizations and citizen alliances, such as the Taiwan Association for Human Rights, Green Citizens' Action Alliance, and Wild at Heart Legal Defense Association, support our petitions against this threat to Taiwan's future of renewable energy.

Yuanli Self-Help Organization promotes clean energy options in Taiwan and advocates for better regulation and citizen involvement in the development of wind energy.

We condemn InfraVest for its continued attacks, use of violence, and legal action against public participation (SLAPP), instead of engaging in open discussion with local residents, and for taking media attention away from the real issue: Taiwan's need for responsible wind energy.

Regarding InfraVest's slandering of our elected leader, Chen Chin Hai, and other residents involved in local elections, their statements are not only false, but unrelated to the central issue of wind energy development. Referring to InfraVest's claim that we support nuclear energy, let us re-affirm our stand that we support green energy development and oppose any development that sacrifices people's standard of living and exploits rural areas.

Yuanli Self-Help Organization calls for InfraVest to stop harming local communities and the environment, and engage in sincere dialogue with local residents.

*InfraVest's statement:http://www.business-humanrights.org/Documents/InfraVestYuanliturbine