TOKUSHIMA — The Tokushima Municipal Assembly's passage of an ordinance Monday to hold a plebiscite on the controversial Yoshino River dam project was realized after three groups in the assembly in favor of the vote reached a compromise with New Komeito.

Citizens' Network and the other two groups reversed their earlier positions at the last minute and agreed to a proposal made by New Komeito. The three groups had been criticizing the party's proposal, saying it lacks teeth because it does not specify any timetable for holding the plebiscite.

"I am relieved that an ordinance (for the plebiscite) to reflect the will of the citizens is at last in sight," Hisatake Kujime, head of Citizens' Network, told a news conference after Monday's assembly session.

Masayoshi Himeno, representative of a civic organization seeking a plebiscite on the dam, also said that although New Komeito's proposal was not satisfactory, it was the first step toward realizing the first plebiscite on the public works project.

Three of the five members of Citizens' Network were fielded by Himeno's subgroup, and they have been working closely with Himeno in a series of behind-the-scenes negotiations over the last few days.

However, some citizens who support the plebiscite expressed frustration over the intraparty negotiations that resulted in a setback from the original proposal made by Citizens' Network and the other two groups that requires the city to hold a plebiscite within six months.

"I cannot say I am totally happy with the ordinance. It remains uncertain whether the plebiscite will actually be held," said Tatsuya Sumitomo, a member of Himeno's group.

Sumitomo and others also complained that most negotiations took place behind closed doors.

Many residents insist that information disclosure and open talks that allow people to understand the importance of a plebiscite are key.

Although plebiscite results are nonbinding, the Construction Ministry is concerned that the project may be abolished if it is voted against in the plebiscite. The ministry is strengthening efforts to maintain a dialogue between officials and local residents, hoping to avoid the plebiscite.

Tokushima has also shown flaws in the past in representative democracy. Although nearly half of eligible local voters signed a petition that called for a plebiscite on the dam project, the assembly rejected the majority opinion in February.

In April elections, citizens voted for plebiscite-supporting candidates and put 22 such members in the 40-member assembly. But what resulted at the end of the assembly session was a plan that could still allow the city to shelve the plebiscite indefinitely.

Shinichiro Takeda, associate professor of administrative law at Aichi University, stressed the importance of legalizing a plebiscite that is decided upon by a certain percentage of signatures.

"Under the current law, even if all the electorate signed a petition demanding a plebiscite, it would not happen if the assembly rejects the proposal," Takeda said. "The systematic problem is easy to see in the case of Tokushima."

To prevent that from happening, a group of lawyers and professors, of which Takeda is also a member, is currently working on a draft bill to mandate plebiscites if they receive enough voter support.