全通翻譯/翻譯社

Opponents say undue influences led Matsu residents to vote in favor of casinos PART1 (2012/09/23)

馬祖人的博弈夢(2) (上) 

馬祖人用公投，選擇了讓賭場進駐家鄉的無奈。但說到「公民投票」，最初原意是希望透過公民自決，用選票決定某些政策和議題走向。然而，在這次馬祖博弈公投當中，卻出現不少行政資源介入選舉的爭議，包括連江縣縣長楊綏生，選前公然為一家，尚未取得經營權資格的業者站台。行政資源介入，是否適當？成了公投結果之外，需要受到公評的議題焦點。

說馬祖在地的福州話，挨家挨戶遊說鄉親投下「不同意」票，就讀世新大學研究所的曹雅評，暫時放下學業，回到家鄉，號召在地居民「反博弈」

[[馬祖反賭青年 曹雅評]]
“我每一天去每個人家裡面拜訪，有一些人給我們加油，有一些人會把我們炮轟出去，但是把我們炮轟出去的人，其實我們可以很理解，為什麼今天他選擇要贊成，因為馬祖長期以來，真的是有交通上面的困難，可是在我的想法裡面認為，今天交通的問題應該是政府的責任，不應該是財團的責任，馬祖一直以來，長期依賴著阿兵哥過生活，難道我們的未來，還要依賴著財團過生活嗎”

支持賭場設立的團體也不甘勢弱，集結鄉親參加這家業者的投資說明會，兩個月來，這家投資商已經跑遍馬祖主要村落，舉行了十多場說明會，而就在業者侃侃而談的同時，台下坐了兩名縣府官員，一位是觀光局長劉德全，另一位是縣長楊綏生

[[連江縣長 楊綏生]]
“不管你是「贊成」還是「反對」， 我們希望鄉親都能夠去投票，當然我希望各位投「贊成票」，為什麼，因為公投過了以後，我們可以往下走一步”

這場說明會是在7月5日舉辦，兩天後的公投，會不會過還不知道，而且《博弈法》也只是個草案，中央部會還在評估可行性，一切都還沒有定案，縣府官員就為特定業者站台拉票，是否得當

[[連江縣長 楊綏生]]
“如果我個人，因為怕人家質疑我，行政不中立，行政不中立，畏畏縮縮，馬祖沒有事情做得成，問題是我這樣做，有沒有法令限制，我不能來這邊”

中央選舉委員會主委張博雅也表示，《公投法》裡沒有任何條文規定，行政機關必須保持中立。不過整體事件最具爭議的，恐怕不只是立場問題，而是行政資源介入的程度。

In a referendum earlier this year the people of Matsu voted in favor of opening casinos. Though it was not a conclusive poll – the central government still needs to pass related legislation – it raised many questions. Opponents are particularly upset at the extensive lobbying efforts from a business consortium along with unabashed support from the county commissioner. 

Speaking in Matsu’s native Fuzhou dialect, Tsao Ya-ping, a graduate student at Shih Hsin University, goes door-to-door to persuade people not to support the gambling referendum. She felt so strongly about this matter that she put aside her studies and returned to her hometown.

Tsao Ya-ping
Matsu Anti-gambling Youth Activist
Every day I go to people’s houses to campaign against the referendum. Some people encourage me and others want me to go away. Those that don’t support us, we understand their position because poor transportation links have hurt Matsu for a long time. But we think these problems with transportation are the responsibility of the government and shouldn’t be the responsibility of this business consortium. For a long time Matsu has been dependent on soldiers living here, and I am concerned that our future may depend upon this business group.

Those that support the casinos are not weak, poorly organized groups. In fact, this business consortium invited residents to join investment seminars regarding its development project, hosting 10 of them over two months. Attending such events were also two prominent officials: the local tourism bureau director, Liu De-chuan, and Lienchiang Commissioner Yang Sui-sheng

Yang Sui-sheng
Lienchiang County Commissioner 
Whether you vote yes or no, the most important thing is to go to the polls. Of course, I hope you vote yes because this will give Matsu a future road to travel along.

This event took place on July 5, and two days later the referendum was held. Many did not know the gaming act was only in a draft version with the central government still performing a feasibility assessment. Some believe that county officials canvassing on the behalf of a particular company or business consortium is also improper.

Yang Sui-sheng
Lienchiang County Commissioner
If I retreat into my shell out of a fear that people will say I’m not being neutral, then there is little that Matsu can do. The question is how am I permitted to act? Are there any legal limitations? Should I be forbidden to come here?

The chairman of the Central Election Commission, Chang Po-ya, said the Referendum Act does not state that government officials must remain neutral. However, some are questioning the use of government resources.