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Published on Taipei Times
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2007/03/29/2003354298

Gangster footage shot by TVBS reporter

By Jimmy Chuang and Shelley Shan
STAFF REPORTERS
Thursday, Mar 29, 2007, Page 1

Advertising Video footage televised by nearly all news channels on Monday featuring a gangster demonstrating an array of firearms and threatening to kill his estranged boss was discovered yesterday to have been fabricated by cable television station TVBS.
TVBS issued a statement last night that said it had fired Nantou reporter Shi Chen-kang (史鎮康), who filmed the video, and his superior, chief correspondent Chang Yu-kun (張裕坤).

In the video, Chou Cheng-pao (周政保), a member of the Celestial Way Gang, sat next to a table with a number of pistols and rifles.

In addition to threatening to shoot his former gangster boss, Chou said in the video that he was also behind three recent shooting incidents in the Taichung area.

In its statement, TVBS said an internal investigation had found that Shi had helped Chou film the video.

TVBS news director Pan Tzu-yin (潘祖蔭) and vice news director Sun Chia-juei (孫嘉蕊) were also given citations for their lack of oversight, the statement added.

According to the TVBS, Shi explained that Chou asked him for help on Saturday afternoon. He decided to make the video because he found it newsworthy, the station cited Shi as saying.

Shi asked Chang not to tell TVBS managers about how he got the footage, TVBS said.

Yang Ying-lan (楊英蘭), an official with the National Communications Commission (NCC), disagreed with TVBS' position that the two reporters were solely responsible for the incident.

"The footage has been broadcasted again and again," she said. "How can the management at the station get away with simply saying that it was just the reporters' fault?"

When asked if the incident will cause the station to lose its broadcast license, Yang said the penalty will ultimately be determined by the commission's members.

If the commission finds the Chou video to be a serious violation, the station will be asked to stop broadcasting for three days.

Cabinet Spokesman Cheng Wen-tsang (鄭文燦) said last night that Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) was very upset upon hearing that the video had been filmed by Shi.

Taichung police summoned Shi for further interrogation.


Copyright © 1999-2007 The Taipei Times. All rights reserved.

Taipei Times /March 14, 2007
1
Prize-winning piggies
A lantern inspired by the fairy story ``The Three Little Pigs'' is displayed in Hsinchu yesterday. The
lantern won first-place in the hanging lantern division in a competition held by the Hsinchu Du
Cheng Huang Temple.
Chen calls for three-party approach to Taiwan Strait
PUSHING PEACE: The president said the US and China can't ignore Taiwan's view in trying to
ensure stability in the Strait while criticizing Beijing's military budget
By Ko Shu-ling
STAFF REPORTER, WITH AFP
Taipei Times /March 14, 2007
2
On the eve of the second anniversary of the passage of China's "Anti-Secession" Law,
President Chen Shui-bian urged the EU to retain its ban on arms sales to China and
for the US, Taiwan and China together to manage peace and stability in the Taiwan
Strait.
Until China improves its human-rights record and relinquishes attempts to use
military force against Taiwan, Chen said the international community -- particularly
the EU -- should maintain its arms embargo against China.
The embargo was imposed following the Tiananmen Square Massacre in 1989.
Chen said, however, that Taiwan opposed the management of the "Taiwan issue" by
the US and China. He said Taiwan and those two countries should work together to
maintain peace, security and stability in the Strait.
Chen made the remarks while receiving John Hamre, president and CEO of the
Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, at the Presidential
Office yesterday morning.
Chen Ming-tong, professor at the National Taiwan University's Graduate Institute of
National Development, said that President Chen's call for the joint management of the
Strait's stability was made to counter the proposal made by some US academics that
the US and China co-manage the Taiwan issue.
"The president's goal is to establish the framework of `three party' talks," he said.
"However, China's attitude is key because it does not want to see the US interfere in
its `domestic affairs.'"
The president also urged China to learn from Taiwan's nationalization of its armed
forces so the People's Liberation Army (PLA) would serve the country and its people
rather than a particular party or individual.
He also asked China to practice genuine democratic elections that are free, fair and
open.
"China should have elections so that political parties can enjoy fair competition,
opposition parties can be legally recognized and transfer of party power would be
possible," he said. "China should learn from Taiwan's democratization and allow its
Taipei Times /March 14, 2007
3
people to directly elect their national leaders and parliamentary representatives."
The president chastised China for legalizing its military ambition to attack Taiwan by
enacting the "Anti-Secession" Law after it failed to deter Taiwan's first free
presidential election in 1996 by firing live missiles into the Strait.
"The piece of legislation not only reflects China's hegemonic nature of indulging in
wars of aggression, but also imposes a great threat to the safety of the democratic
community in the Asia-Pacific region," he said.
China has increased its military budgets by double-digits since 1989 and the 17.8
percent growth in its defense budget this year was the biggest since 1989.
"We think such an increase goes far beyond its needs of self-defense," the president
said, adding that China's actual defense expenditure last year increased by 20 percent
compared with 2005.
In Beijing, Chinese President Hu Jintao urged the PLA to firmly adhere to ommunist
leadership, the People's Daily yesterday quoted Hu as saying.
"We must strictly abide by political and organizational discipline and ensure that the
army under all conditions and at all times firmly obeys the orders of the party's central
committee," Hu was quoted as telling military delegates at the National People's
Congress.
"We must grasp the banner, obey the fundamental tenet of following the orders of the
party, and firmly arm our officers and soldiers with Marxism with Chinese
characteristics," he said.
`Anti-Secession' Law opposed: survey
By Jewel Huang
STAFF REPORTER
Taipei Times /March 14, 2007
4
A vast majority of Taiwanese disapprove of China's bid to change the cross-strait
status quo by passing its "Anti-Secession" Law two years ago and believe that the
people of Taiwan should be the only ones to have a say in determining the nation's
future, a new think tank survey shows.
More than 90 percent of respondents disagreed with China's attempts to change the
cross-strait status with the law, while nearly 80 percent think the Taiwanese should be
the only decision makers in determining Taiwan's future, the survey found.
The Taiwan Thinktank conducted the poll from last Friday through Sunday to see if
there had been a change in opinion since Beijing enacted the law two years ago today
and gathered a total of 1,067 valid responses.
According to the results, 91.2 percent of respondents said they opposed the enactment
of the "Anti-Secession" Law, 80.2 percent disagreed with China's claim that the law
met the interests of Taiwanese and 79.5 percent said it was up to the people of Taiwan
to determine the nation's future.
Only 14.5 percent of respondents believed that the people of China should also have a
say in Taiwan's future.
"The result showed that the `Anti-Secession' Law has not alienated the people of
Taiwan, it has provoked Taiwan to have a more consolidated consensus on its attitude
toward China," said Lo Chih-cheng, director of Soochow University's department of
political science, at the press conference to announce the results yesterday.
"Beijing got the reverse of what it wanted from the legislation," Lo said.
Tung Li-wen, deputy executive director of the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy,
said the law had bogged China down in a "war of laws," especially in terms of
international law, which was China's weak point.
"This law was in response to internal pressure in China on the `Taiwan issue' yet
Beijing has been unable to define what [Taiwan's] independence is," he said.
The poll found 67.1 percent of respondents disagreed with the statement that China
had actively contacted Taiwanese opposition parties while refusing to talk with with
Taiwan's government.
Taipei Times /March 14, 2007
5
Almost half of respondents, 47.2 percent, said the law had a bad influence on
cross-strait relations, while 33 percent said it had not had any influence.
"This is a result of China using the carrot and the stick at the same time," said Hsu
Yung-ming, a research fellow in political science at Academia Sinica.
Meanwhile, a second opinion poll released by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)
yesterday said about half of its respondents want to see Taiwan independent.
The poll was conducted last Wednesday and Thursday and received 1,034 valid
responses.
It found that 50.4 percent of respondents favor independence while 33.9 percent
support unification with China. Those were the only two options offered.
As for national identity, 68 percent said they considered themselves Taiwanese while
16 percent said they identified with China.
"This is a `gift' to China from the Taiwanese people on the eve of the second
anniversary of the `Anti-Secession' Law," DPP Secretary-General Lin Chia-lung said
at a press conference.
Chinese AIDS activist says Beijing not helping
AP, WASHINGTON
Gao Yaojie shakes her head, stabbing hard at the air with her forefinger, when asked if
the Chinese government is helping fund her efforts to expose the country's AIDS
problems.
"Not even a dime," the 79-year-old -- some say she is 80 -- AIDS activist said on
Monday.
This is a message some Chinese authorities were reluctant to have Gao deliver in the
Taipei Times /March 14, 2007
6
US.
blocked
Officials in Beijing had repeatedly blocked her from going abroad until finally
allowing this trip after her case received widespread media attention.
Gao said the government is beginning to understand the enormity of the AIDS
problem.
Speaking through an interpreter, the retired gynecologist praised Chinese President
Hu Jintao for allowing her to travel to Washington to receive an award this evening
honoring her work. She also praised high-ranking health officials.
But despite many changes in government attitudes, she said: "Sometimes they support
me; sometimes they don't."
She is tenacious in her efforts, using her own money and funds from foreign awards
she has received to pay for her work.
facing reality
Officials, she said, should "face the reality and deal with the real issues -- not cover it
up."
In the 1990s, Gao embarrassed the Chinese government by exposing blood-selling
schemes that infected thousands with HIV, mainly in her home province of Henan.
Operators often used dirty needles, and people selling plasma -- the liquid in blood --
were replenished from a pooled blood supply that was contaminated with HIV.
Provincial officials initially attempted -- with some success -- to cover things up.
The Chinese government and the UN said China's problem of tainted blood has
improved.
But surviving victims face discrimination and have not been adequately compensated
for their suffering.
Gao has also faced difficulties because of her activism.
Taipei Times /March 14, 2007
7
In 2001, she was refused a visa to go to the US to accept an award from a UN group.
In 2003 she was prevented from going to the Philippines to receive a public service
award.
Last month, authorities kept her under virtual house arrest for about 20 days to keep
her from traveling to Beijing to arrange a visa for the US.
Gao says she persists in her work because "everyone has the responsibility to help
their own people. As a doctor, that's my job. So it's worth it."
John Tkacik on Taiwan: What exactly is the `status quo'?
By John Tkacik
`It is vital that the US administration, and particularly Bush and his successors,
sympathize with the existential challenge facing Taiwan.'
On May 18 last year, President Chen Shui-bian told visiting European legislators,
"Over the past 50 years, the status quo across the Taiwan Strait has been that on one
side, there is a democratic Taiwan, and on the other, there is an authoritarian China.
Neither of the two countries are subordinate to each other, because they are two
independent sovereignties. Both sides have their own national title, national flag,
national anthem, legislature, judicial system and military." Given the textbook
definition of "status quo," this seems reasonable, at least to me.
On March 4, Chen made another of his periodic comments on Taiwan's status quo,
this time saying that Taiwan's only problem was its national identity. The following
day in Washington, US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack was asked,
"Can you make the link in one sentence saying that President Chen's comments are
unhelpful or can you not say that?"
To which McCormack responded with the non sequitur, "I don't have anything to add
to the statement that I have read." The statement he had just read had nothing to do
with the validity of what Chen had said, but simply noted that "[US] President
Taipei Times /March 14, 2007
8
[George W.] Bush has repeatedly underscored his opposition to unilateral changes to
the status quo by either Taipei or Beijing because these threaten regional peace and
stability."
Chen's observations on Taiwan's status quo are indeed "provocative" to Beijing's
leaders, but they at least have the advantage of being true and consequently need not
be provocative in Washington. This is because Washington presumably has an interest
in maintaining the status quo in the Taiwan Strait -- the status quo that Chen
describes.
On Dec. 9, 2003, Bush chastised "Taiwan's leader?" -- Chen -- for making comments
that "indicate that he may be willing to make decisions unilaterally that change the
status quo, which we oppose." Bush was apparently referring to the "Taiwanese
leader's" comments about a democratic referendum on Taiwan that would express
Taiwanese indignation at being the target, at the time, of 350 Chinese short-range
ballistic missiles.
Yet, far from threatening a unilateral change by Taipei in the status quo, the Taiwanese
referendum was meant to protest Beijing's military moves to change the status quo.
The Bush administration has since tried to rearticulate a somewhat conditioned
position which insists that the US is committed to "our `one China' policy" and
"opposes" any move by China or Taiwan to "change unilaterally" the "status quo as
we define it."
On April 21, 2004, a glimmering of this position came in a public statement by then
US assistant secretary of state for East Asia and Pacific Affairs James Kelly, who
enumerated for the House International Relations Committee "core principles" of US
policy in the Taiwan Strait:
* "The United States remains committed to our one-China policy based on the three
Joint Communiques and the Taiwan Relations Act;
* "The US does not support independence for Taiwan or unilateral moves that would
change the status quo as we define it;
* "For Beijing, this means no use of force or threat to use force against Taiwan. For
Taipei, it means exercising prudence in managing all aspects of cross-strait relations.
Taipei Times /March 14, 2007
9
For both sides, it means no statements or actions that would unilaterally alter Taiwan's
status."
Beyond that third point, Kelly had to admit he was "not sure" he "very easily could
define ... `our' one China policy." Nonetheless he continued, "I can tell you what it is
not." It is not the "one China" principle that Beijing suggests, and it may not be the
definition that some would have in Taiwan. Alas, that is as close as a State
Department official has ever come to defining "our one China policy" in private or in
public. Nor, as it happens, has any US official ever "defined" the "status quo as we
define it."
Which raises two core questions for US policy: First, what are the "use of force" and
the "threat of force" and what, exactly, is Taiwan's status, as far as the US is
concerned? And second, what is the US going to do if either side does something the
US "does not support?"
The fact is that Washington has no answers to these core questions -- either publicly
or in confidential policy documents circulated among decisionmakers. Hence,
Washington's political leaders should not be surprised when Washington's Delphic
pronouncements are interpreted arbitrarily in both Beijing and Taipei.
Actually, Beijing just ignores Washington. In 2003, the Chinese People's Liberation
Army deployed 350 ballistic missiles targeted on Taiwan, and by February last year
there were more than 700. In March 2005, Beijing's "legislature" passed a law giving
the Central Military Commission the authority to launch a military strike against
Taiwan whenever it feels like it. And there was little or no public comment from
Washington.
On Feb. 27 last year, US State Department spokesman Adam Ereli was asked, apropos
of something Chen had said a day earlier, "Do you think Chen Shui-bian's move is a
change of the status quo, and what is the US definition of the status quo?" Ereli tried
to turn the question around: "President Chen has said that he is committed to the
status quo and that he is committed to the pledges in his inaugural speech." But the
questions persisted: "I just want to get this right. So you don't consider this as a
change of status quo?" To which the cornered Ereli could only admit: "You know, I'm
not going to define it further than I already have." Needless to say, he hadn't defined it
at all. Chen himself might therefore be excused if he doesn't quite have a clear picture
of the status quo -- as Washington defines it.
Taipei Times /March 14, 2007
10
The US Defense Department is a bit clearer on the concept. On March 16 last year,
US Assistant Secretary of Defense Peter Rodman observed that, in his opinion,
"When there are zero ballistic missiles opposite the Taiwan Strait, and a few years
later there are 700, that's a change in the status quo." But the Pentagon doesn't make
Taiwan policy, the State Department does, and therein lies the rub.
Rather than being reactive to changes in the status quo in the Taiwan Strait,
Washington needs a proactive policy that pre-empts such "changes" or sanctions them
when the changes become too extreme. This is far more important in managing
Chinese attacks on what might be called the "real status quo" than Taiwan's desperate
efforts to articulate the state that actually exists. It would therefore be a useful
exercise, before trying to react to some change in the status quo, for Bush's National
Security Council to actually define "the status quo as we define it," -- even in a
classified document if that is really needed.
What follows are some specific pre-emptive countermeasures that would signal our
increasing pressure on China and Taiwan:
The White House should clearly state that the 1,000-plus missiles facing Taiwan are
provocative. Imagine that these missiles were arrayed by Iran against Israel or North
Korea against Japan -- 1,000 Chinese missiles aimed at Taiwan should be no less
alarming. Washington must not allow itself to be a hostage to these weapons.
If Washington cannot convince China to dismantle these missiles, which have indeed
changed the status quo and are not of a defensive nature, then the US administration
should consider adopting late US president Ronald Reagan's "Zero Option" response
to the Soviet "intermediate nuclear force" in Europe. Reagan and then British prime
minister Margaret Thatcher gained support for the deployment of Pershing II missiles
in West Germany as a strategic response to Soviet deployments of SS-20 missiles in
Eastern Europe.
This would mean supporting Taiwan's development of ballistic or cruise missiles
capable of hitting Chinese targets in an effort to augment the negligible deterrent
value (despite their significant defensive value) of Taiwan's anti-ballistic missile
defense systems.
The White House should also reaffirm Reagan's so-called "six assurances" of July 14,
1982, that the US would neither seek to mediate between the People's Republic of
Taipei Times /March 14, 2007
11
China (PRC) and Taiwan, nor "exert pressure on Taiwan to come to the bargaining
table." Of course, the US is also committed to make available defensive arms and
defensive services to Taipei to help Taiwan meet its self-defense needs. The US does,
after all, "believe a secure and self-confident Taiwan is a Taiwan that is more capable
of engaging in political interaction and dialogue with the PRC."
It is vital that the US administration, and particularly Bush and his successors,
sympathize with the existential challenge facing Taiwan, rather than harangue the
nation's leaders about Washington's precious, yet undefined "status quo."
The one thing that Taiwan's democratically elected leaders at either end of the
political blue-green spectrum simply cannot, and will not, do is to compromise the
legitimacy of the Republic of China's governance. Sovereignty over Taiwan, they
insist, belongs solely to the people of Taiwan, and in no way to the "sole legal
government of China" in Beijing.
The US government must also understand that so long as Taiwan refuses to accept
Beijing's sovereignty, Beijing's long-term strategy will be to isolate Taiwan in the
international community to the most extreme extent possible.
Thus, when China gets obstreperous on the Taiwan issue, White House and Cabinet
spokespersons should publicly articulate the common-sense stance that "the United
States does not recognize or accept that China has any right whatsoever under
international law to use or threaten the use of force against democratic Taiwan." (This
has the advantage of actually being US policy, but it has never been stated in public.)
In background to journalists and reporters, US "senior officials" could explain that
even a Taiwanese declaration of independence would just be "words on paper" and
would not change any country's behavior or affect China's security posture? This
wording would make it clear that the US does not now recognize, and never has
recognized, China's territorial claims to Taiwan.
Finally, a diplomatic deal might be struck with the "elected leaders of Taiwan" that
they would refrain from verbal challenges to the so-called status quo in the Strait in
return for authoritative US expressions of support like those described above.
Without a formal and detailed definition of "the status quo as we define it,"
Washington simply cedes the terms of the debate to Beijing and Taipei while US
Taipei Times /March 14, 2007
12
diplomats are left to flounder around reactively as tensions heighten. That is a recipe
for a catastrophe.
The term status quo means "the state in which [anything is]"; existing conditions;
unchanged position. (Harper Dictionary of Foreign Terms, Third Edition.)
John Tkacik, Jr. is senior research fellow of the Heritage Foundation.

http://blog.228.net.tw/tda/

Taipei Times /March 13, 2007
1
Chinese threat growing: Lee Jye
By Rich Chang
STAFF REPORTER
Minister of National Defense Lee Jye said yesterday the Chinese military has
conducted more than 30 military exercices focusing on Taiwan.
Lee said the People's Liberation Army (PLA) has been growing in strength, and its
military drills have been conducted under Chinese President Hu Jintao's principle of
"talk less while doing more, hide the real but show the fake".
He highlighted the Chinese military threat yesterday morning during a meeting of the
legislature's National Defense Committee. He said the Chinese military drills had
emphasized landings on Taiwan, and the Chinese military believed it could land in a
short period of time.
Lee said China has more than 20 satellites which were able to monitor Taiwan and the
Taiwan Strait 24-hours a day. He said the quantity and quality of Chinese warships
and submarines were increasing, and its power projection capabilities are also
advancing.
Lee said China was also believed to be developing its first aircraft carrier. He said if
China built an aircraft carrier force, it would be able to attack Taiwan from more
directions.
Lee said China had targeted about 900 ballistic and cruise missiles at Taiwan, and the
numbers were increasing at around 75 to 100 per year. China was also developing
new missiles, Lee said.
He said about 500 advanced fighter jets with long-range missiles had also been
deployed at China's military bases.
Lee noted that China had earmarked 351 billion yuan (US$45 billion) for its defense
budget this year, an increase of 53 billion yuan over last year.
It was the the sharpest rise in the defense budget in a decade and a 17.8 percent
Taipei Times /March 13, 2007
2
increase in Beijing's military budget, he said.
Lee warned the military balance between China and Taiwan has been tipping in favor
of Beijing.
The gap would increase if Taiwan did not build an advanced military force, he said.
Beijing to reduce number of executions
AGENCIES, BEIJING
China -- the world's leading executioner of prisoners -- should reduce the number of
death sentences it carries out but cannot abolish capital punishment altogether, the
country's top legal bodies say.
In a joint statement released late on Sunday, the Supreme People's Court, Ministry of
Public Security, Ministry of Justice and the country's top prosecutor also said
condemned prisoners should not be paraded through the streets and suspects should
not be tortured.
China is believed to carry out more court-ordered executions than all other nations
combined. Amnesty International says China executed at least 1,770 people in 2005 --
about 80 percent of the world's total.
The true number is thought to be many times higher.
The London-based Amnesty has cited a senior member of China's National People's
Congress as saying some 10,000 people are executed each year.
"Our country still cannot abolish the death penalty but should gradually reduce its
application," the document said.
"But where there is a possibility someone should not be executed, then without
exception the person should not be killed," it said.
Taipei Times /March 13, 2007
3
Along with crimes such as murder, rape and drug smuggling, the death sentence has
also been imposed in nonviolent cases such as tax evasion and corruption.
China has sought to tighten its rules on the application of the death penalty following
a series of high-profile cases involving wrongful convictions and torture. Rules
enacted last year restored a requirement that all executions first be approved by the
Supreme People's Court, something that had been waived amid the ongoing "strike
hard" anti-crime campaign.
Chinese police are often accused of torturing suspects into making confessions, and
the document said it was wrong to use statements or confessions obtained through
torture or threats "as the basis for a case."
Officials were obligated to "ensure crime suspects and defendants can fully exercise
their rights to defense and other procedural rights," the statement said.
The document said police must be more thorough and obey the laws in identifying
and collecting evidence.
VIOLENT DEMONSTRATION
In other developments, thousands of farmers and laid-off workers rioted in Hunan
Province on Friday, attacking police and smashing squad cars, a local official said
yesterday.
Nine police cars were burnt during the riot, in which 20,000 people clashed with
about 1,000 police armed with guns and electric cattle prods, the official said.
"They did it because they were not satisfied with some government behavior," the
official, surnamed Tan, said by telephone from Lingling District, which belongs to
Yongzhou City.
"They were also unhappy about official corruption," Tan said.
The overseas human-rights Web site Boxun (www.boxun.com) said the riot was
sparked by dissatisfaction with rising public transport costs.
The site, which is critical of the government, is blocked in China.
Taipei Times /March 13, 2007
4
The Hunan official said scores of the rioters had been arrested. The government was
tracking down the organizers, she said.
Taiwan still has several allies in the US, Lee says
Neurosurgeon C.T. Lee, president of the Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA), talked
to `Taipei Times' reporter Jewel Huang about his visions and future goals as the head of the
Washington-based non-profit advocacy group promoting Taiwan-US relations to the American
people
Taipei Times: What is your opinion on President Chen Shui-bian's comments on
independence at the FAPA's 25th anniversary celebration. Do you think it was
campaign rhetoric or echoed the voices of the Taiwanese people?
C.T. Lee: We feel honored that
President Chen could give a speech
containing significant points of view at
FAPA's celebration. When it comes to
the issue of Taiwan's independence or
unification [with China], the FAPA
insists that it is the people of Taiwan
who are the ultimate decision-makers on
Taiwan's sovereignty. We think that the
speech given by President Chen, a
democratically elected president, is a
reflection of his constituents' views.
President Chen's comments reflect new
Taiwanese voices, wishes and
self-determination.
C.T. Lee, president of the Formosan
Association for Public Affairs, speaks
with the Taipei Times during an
interview conducted on March 5.
As long as President Chen works toward his goals using the principle of
self-determination, the FAPA will continue to support President Chen's push for
Taipei Times /March 13, 2007
5
independence and the creation of a new constitution. We will also continue to urge the
US to give the Taiwanese encouragement, since encouragement from the US means a
lot.
TT: Recently, President Chen and former president Lee Teng-hui have publicly
disagreed on the beliefs and direction of the campaign for Taiwan's independence
and have traded criticisms through the media. What is FAPA's take on this?
Lee: Taiwan is a democratic country and everybody enjoys freedom of speech.
Everyone's opinion is important. Citizens and the media have the right to interpret the
words of public figures, this is quite normal in a democratic society. This phenomenon
is no different in the US. Whether Chen and Lee's remarks are simply electioneering
is subject to individual interpretation.
FAPA's standpoint on Taiwan's independence is that Taiwan is already a de facto
nation but it has not yet been recognized by the international community.
TT: What are the goals of FAPA for this year, and what are your strategies for
achieving these goals?
Lee: There are three major goals that FAPA aims to attain this year. First, to have all
the restrictions on high-level visits between Taiwan and the US lifted. Second, to
continue to promote Taiwan's bids to join the WHO and the UN. Third, to make a
breakthrough on China's "one China" policy.
We are targeting the normalization of relations between Taiwan and the US. Writing a
new constitution and changing Taiwan's official name are key to Taiwan's
transformation into a "normal" country and it would be helpful to normalize relations
between Taiwan and the US as well. We think that the power of the people of Taiwan
is the engine of this campaign and FAPA is willing to add fuel to the engine.
TT: Have you received any reaction from the US regarding the name changes to
state and corporate enterprises that have been going on in Taiwan?
Lee: We view the action to change the titles of Taiwan's international airport or other
state-run enterprises as "name changes," rather than "name corrections." Many in the
media in the US believe that the US should not interfere in the internal affairs of
Taiwan. The name changes are simply changes to companies' names and there is no
Taipei Times /March 13, 2007
6
need for anybody to make a fuss about it.
We think that it is unfair that the US State Department always have comments on
small actions performed by Taiwan, yet keeps silent on China's actions such as
deploying more missiles targeting Taiwan or enacting the "Anti-Secession" Law.
TT: We are curious about the actual ways that FAPA advocates its objectives in
the US and how they work?
Lee: FAPA has 56 chapters spread across the US and about 2,000 to 3,000 members.
Our grassroots power is strong. We encourage our members to resort to any means
possible to achieve FAPA's goals. We hold many conferences, visit US governmental
departments and hold all kinds of activities to advocate our ideas to Americans.
For example, we just held a symposium on the 228 Incident at the Brookings Institute
two weeks ago. We also held a forum at the Congress building on the news that China
had successfully used a missile to destroy an orbiting satellite in January. Many
assistants to representatives, academics and officials attended this forum. We educated
the US media and congressional assistants at the same time. I would also like to
clarify that FAPA is an advocacy and non-profit group, rather than a lobby
organization.
TT: Have you noticed that there is a trend for the US representatives or senators
to lean towards China? Is it true that the Taiwan issue, as some media outlets
have claimed, is not an issue to the US anymore?
Lee: My observation is that the US still gives Taiwan very solid support. The US
concern for Taiwan has not changed. There is no doubt that China is becoming more
important and enhancing its diplomatic ties with Washington and that might lead
some to get the impression that the US is increasing its support of China and
decreasing its support of Taiwan. But I don't think that is a correct interpretation.
China has formal diplomatic relations with the US and realizes that it is important to
obtain the support of the US. There was once an argument that "the shortcut from
Beijing to Taipei is not via the Taiwan Strait but from Beijing to Washington."
We have also seen that China recently established a new organization in the US whose
function is similar to that of FAPA. This new organization has plenty of funds and
four times the manpower that we do. So you can understand the challenge that FAPA
Taipei Times /March 13, 2007
7
now faces in the US. We really hope that the people of Taiwan will give us more
support and encouragement.
TT: Facing China's strong economic power and increasing military force, what
advantages or bargaining chips does Taiwan have when fighting for international
recognition?
Lee: Taiwan's democracy, freedom and self-determination are the noblest advantages.
Taiwan's strategic position and economic power are also valuable bargaining chips.
China's human rights record is its achilles heel. We should not underestimate the
important role that Taiwan plays.
TT: Many pro-independence groups are facing a problem when it comes to
recruiting young people. Does FAPA also share those concerns? How can you
attract youngsters who identify with your beliefs?
Lee: FAPA does have similar concerns, but we have started to solve the problem.
FAPA has established an arm called the "Young Professional Group [YPG]". Members
of the YPG are young Taiwanese who are college students, graduates or young
professionals in the US. The YPG so far has recruited about 300 members. We
encourage the younger generation to acknowledge their Taiwanese roots and not to
forget their roots no matter where they are and how successful they are.
TT: What are your expectations of Taiwan's next president? What kind of leader does
Taiwan need today?
Lee: FAPA will support the new president, whether he or she is from the pan-blue or
the pan-green camp, as long as he or she identifies with FAPA's objectives. FAPA will
support any decision made by the Taiwanese people -- independence or unification --
as long as it is based on the principle of self-determination. We do not expect or want
people to label FAPA. We hope that the new leader understands the history of the
country and creates in Taiwan a first class nation. I hope the new president will have
insight and vision and I hope the voters do not elect candidates who attack others with
abusive language.
Some people have said that the 21st century will be China's century. But from our
perspective, we don't think that is possible. It is a fair and equal society that
determines whether a country is powerful and prosperous, not money. The reason that
Taipei Times /March 13, 2007
8
the US became so strong during the past 300 years is because of it's sound
governmental system. If we scrutinize China's systems -- its social system or their law
and order -- we doubt if China can really become a superpower in the world.
Many people have asked me whether the US would help Taiwan if Taiwan faced a
crisis. FAPA believes that the Taiwan Relations Act has already specified that the
security of Taiwan is of great concern to the US. FAPA is also pushing the Taiwan
Security Enhancement Act, which aims to promote the protection of Taiwan.
But we are concerned that the arms sale bills have been vetoed sixty times by the
Legislative Yuan. This misleads people in the US in to thinking that the Taiwanese are
not committed to self-defense. That is not the fault of the Taiwanese people, but they
are responsible for the election of legislators. We hope the people of Taiwan will make
wise choices in the upcoming legislative elections. We believe in an old saying: "God
helps those who help themselves."
C. T. Lee
􀂋 1942 Born on July 13.
􀂋 1967 Graduated from National Taiwan University's School of Medicine.
􀂋 1970-1974 Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, Houston,
Texas.
􀂋 1974 until now Director of Neurological Surgery at Bethesda North Hospital,
Cincinnati, Ohio. Has served as the president of the Taiwanese Association in
Midwest America, founding president of the Sister Cities Association for
Cincinnati and Taipei County and founding president of the Cincinnati
Inter-Ethnic Council.

台灣獨立建國勢在必行
大地快捷 - 陳軍專欄
作者 陳軍
　「正名、制憲」不但已是全民共識，更是讓台灣重新進入國際社會，加入聯合國以及成為一個主權獨立的國際上正常化國家的序曲，全國2300萬同胞責無旁貸，否則國之不存，民將焉附？要完成如此重要的法理建國的最終目標，需要由政府主導，政府各級單位及民間團體大力配合的實際行動及堅定貫徹的意志，方盡其功，任何人都不應為了一人一黨之私，刻意玩弄文字遊戲來橫加阻撓，迂迴阻止台灣獨立建國的神聖目標。


　「台灣是一個主權獨立的國家，它的名字叫中華民國」如今雖然已是台灣國內全民﹝不分藍綠﹞的共識，但如今卻仍然得不到國際上及聯合國的認可，因為「中華民國，CHINA」的「國號」在國際上早已被「中華﹝人﹞民﹝共和﹞國，CHINA」所取代﹔更何況在二戰終戰以來，台灣在國際定位上其實仍然一直是處於法理未定的狀況。所以台灣想要重新進入聯合國，獲得國際社會的認同，「正名」就顯得非常的重要，這也是台灣能否擺脫獨裁中共的恐嚇脅迫，堅強的站起來當家做主的最重要關鍵所在。


　但是極其弔詭的是，國內就是有一小撮人，尤其是那些號稱「純種中國人」者，口口聲聲到處宣示說：「台獨不是本中國黨的主張。」但卻到處跟著別人高唱：「『台灣』是一個主權『獨立』的國家，它的名字叫中華民國。」這些人要不是把全世界的人﹝包括老共、台灣人民及國際友人﹞當笨蛋，就是精神錯亂，人格分裂，病入膏肓到已無病識感的超級精神分裂性神經病。


　另外有一些人，雖然對台灣有一點貢獻，也享有一點令名，但是每次選舉一到，就開始胡言亂語，故意放出一些試探性的選舉語言，攪亂一池春水，意圖取得一點鎂光燈的青睞，獲取選民階段性的注目，以避免其人其黨走向泡沫化的宿命，並因此獲得一時媒體及民眾議論紛紛的熱度，進而權謀算計藉以暗中攫取一些個人的知名度和政治的高度。


　還有些人，也是最可悲的人，就是秉承一輩子奴才的宿命，雖身為道地的本土台灣人，卻甘為黨國餘孽的樣板傀儡，只要背後操弄者一聲令下，就身不由己的依照上級指示到任務指派的地點，不分青紅皂白的橫衝直撞，盡情爭相揮灑奴才的嘴臉，不落人後。最近郵政工會莫名奇妙的為反對而反對，並大鬧積極配合政府正名政策的董事會就是最典型的事件。


　近來政府好不容易有如猛獅乍醒，開始如火如荼的大力推動台灣正名、制憲，及積極嘗試以台灣名義重新申請加入聯合國的既定政策及對選民的承諾，這對於追求「自尊自強，當家做主，進入聯合國，接軌國際」的崇高目標有如大旱之望雲霓的2300萬台灣人民而言應該是令人振奮的大好消息才對，但是國內就是有這麼一小撮心懷不軌，專扯台灣後腿，寧願聯共制台，賣台求榮，也不願意見到台灣國家光榮獨立建國，並在國際上揚眉吐氣的純種中國人，在這種台灣國家剛開始起步追求國內外法理獨立的艱難處境及敏感時刻，卻故意大唱有如喪考妣的哭調，企圖唱衰台灣，並到處用似是而非的兩面手法掣肘本土政府，以搖尾乞憐式的自我作賤，討好背後中共新主子，實在是令人孰可忍孰不可忍。


　這些忝不知恥，反對台灣國堂堂正正追求法理正名制憲的黨國餘孽及其沆瀣一氣的奴才們乃國之大賊也，全國2300萬有骨氣、有道德勇氣的臺灣同胞人人皆可得而誅之。


　與其期望中共放棄一黨專政，共邀台灣建立一個民主自由新中國的海市蜃樓，不如台灣人民先要自尊自強，當家做主，建立一個能與世界上所有國家平起平坐（尤其是對我們虎視眈眈的獨裁中國），任誰都不能輕辱的獨立國家來的重要。如今台灣尋求國內外實質上及法理上獨立建國之行動已箭在弦上，勢在必行，吾人誠摯的邀請全國同胞們要秉持排除萬難，為「爭取台灣獨立建國，造福子子孫孫，雖千萬人吾往矣」的勇氣，再一次勇敢的站出來共同攜手奮鬥，共同為台灣永續經營的前途努力，共創台灣國家光明幸福的前景及未來。


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Published on Taipei Times
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2007/03/12/2003351975

Picking and chosing the history we want to keep

By Ku Ting-wei 古庭維

Monday, Mar 12, 2007, Page 8
`Such cherry picking of historical sites is reason for disappointment and resentment.'



The proposal to change the name of Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and the demolition of its outer walls have caused much controversy. The Taipei City Government has attempted to list the memorial hall, which was completed in 1980, as an official historical site. But it has forgotten to preserve the city's historic railways, which were completed more than a century ago in 1893.

As children, we learned from our textbooks such things as the shape of the Republic of China (ROC) is somewhat similar to that of a begonia leaf. Meanwhile, we ignored things that were not covered in the textbooks, such as the 228 Incident. Nor were we taught about the railway construction launched by Taiwan's first governor, Liu Ming-Chuan (劉銘傳), between Keelung and Hsinchu, which came into operation later in 1893. In the book, The 100th Anniversary of Taiwan Railway, there is even a photo of the Keelung Station built by Liu.

But growing up, we realize that the shape of the ROC was more like an old hen, and we began to learn about the massacre that began on Feb. 28, 1947. Moreover, those who study railway history learn that due to the poor quality of Liu's railways, the whole system was abandoned long ago, with only a few historical relics remaining.

In late 2004, during a historical site review, it was determined that the roof of the Taiwan Railway Administration's (TRA) old auditorium might possibly be the frame of the Taipei Station built by Liu. Since relics of the old line are extremely rare, the finding was surely precious. However, faced with pressure to build a new MRT station at the site, it was decided that the auditorium had to be removed during construction of the underground station, then returned to its original location later.

The location of a historical site is of great significance, and they should not be moved arbitrarily. The auditorium built during the Qing dynasty, had withstood Japanese colonization and the post World War II era, as it morphed from a station into a railway workshop and finally an auditorium. It witnessed the rise and fall of the three regimes, and symbolizes the beginnings of Taiwan's industrialization. However, due to the perfunctory decision made by Taipei's Department of Cultural Affairs, it was moved.

Soon after the relocation work started, workers discovered a railway base of the original line about 60cm below the floor. The reappearance of the base was as stunning as that of the "terracotta army" excavated in China, and the scene was magnificent. The problem was, it would be even more difficult to relocate the base. Finally, the department fell in line with the government's call for "desinicization" by removing the Chinese site and demolishing the entire base.

Ever since the historical site was revealed, the department has taken a passive attitude toward it. Despite the cultural value of the site, which contains important historical remains from the Qing dynasty, it has received little attention.

In comparison to the outer walls of the memorial hall, such cherry picking of historical sites is reason for disappointment and resentment.


Ku Ting-wei is a student in the Graduate Institute of Microbiology and Biochemistry at National Taiwan University.

Translated by Eddy Chang


Copyright © 1999-2007 The Taipei Times. All rights reserved.

Taipei Times /March 1, 2007
1
Chen urges KMT to apologize for 228
NO MORE SECRETS: The president told a memorial ceremony in Taipei that only when the
complete truth is known would fairness and justice be truly served
By Ko Shu-ling and Jimmy Chuang
STAFF REPORTERS
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT)
should apologize for the atrocities
committed during the White Terror era
and turn over all documents concerning
the 228 Incident, President Chen
Shui-bian said yesterday.
Chen also asked the KMT to return
assets stolen from the people, rather than
selling them off at reduced prices.
"We find it unacceptable that some
politicians' words do not match their
actions. They apologize on the one hand,
but sell off their stolen party assets on
the other," he said.
President Chen Shui-bian, center, and Vice President
Annette Lu, on Chen;s left, observe a moment of silence
in Taipei yesterday afternoon for the victims of the 228
Incident. Chen, unveiling a new memorial to the
victims, vowed to uncover the truth behind the killings.
"Such politicians are not fit to lead the country," he said.
Chen made the remarks in a speech to the national memorial service commemorating
the 60th anniversary of the 1947 massacre at Taipei City's 228 Peace Park yesterday
afternoon.
Vice President Annette Lu, Premier Su Tseng-chang, Democratic Progressive Party
(DPP) Chairman Yu Shyi-kun and Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin were among those
attending the event.
MANY, MANY VICTIMS
Saying the 228 Incident was not an "ordinary historical event," the president said that
Taipei Times /March 1, 2007
2
anyone who had suffered under the KMT's authoritarian reign was also a victim of the
incident.
Although the government has made efforts to help 228 Incident victims and their
families to cope with their pain, there was much more to be done, Chen said.
"Sixty years is not the end but a new beginning," he said. "Future work will focus on
addressing the responsibility of perpetrators."
"Only when the truth is known can fairness and justice be served," he said.
Such responsibilities include renaming Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and Chiang
Kai-shek's mausoleum and accounting for all the atrocities committed during the
Martial Law era, Chen said.
At the ceremony, Chen presented certificates to four victims of the "228 Incident" to
restore their reputations. They had been labeled as "hooligans" on their household
registrations during the KMT's reign.
Yesterday morning, Chen unveiled the name plaque of the new National 228 Incident
Museum.
He also urged the legislature to approve legal revisions to the Statute for Handling of
and Compensation for the 228 Incident.
The government proposed an amendment to the law which has been blocked by
pan-blue lawmakers since it was introduced in October 2005.
LEE'S PROMISE
Meanwhile, former president Lee Teng-hui vowed to dedicate himself to helping
Taiwan become a more "normal" nation and said he would always stand by the
Taiwanese people.
Lee said he would continue to push for the country's name to be changed, for the
enactment of a new constitution and for accession to the UN.
Lee made the remarks at the "10,000 People Sing" event held yesterday afternoon on
Ketagalan Boulevard in front of the Presidential Office. The event was cosponsored
Taipei Times /March 1, 2007
3
by the 228 Foundation.
In other developments, Su urged KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou to do more to help
228 Incident victims and their family members.
ONUS ON KMT
"[Ma] always says that he's sorry for the victims and their family members. Well, I
hope he shows some sincerity," Su said as he attended the grand opening of the 228
National Memorial Hall yesterday morning.
Su said the KMT had done little -- other than make apologies -- to make reparations to
228 Incident victims and their families.
He urged Ma to turn over 228 Incident-related documents kept in the KMT's museum
to the government to help with the investigation into the incident. He also urged Ma to
ask KMT members to stop boycotting proposed laws or amendments related to 228.
"I would also suggest [Ma] return the party's assets stolen from the people [to the
government so that they can be allocated] for the use of 228 Incident victims and their
families," Su said.
The premier said the KMT's museum has documents detailing the progress of the 228
Incident, including the twice-a-day telegrams that KMT members sent to the party's
headquarters in Nanjing to update party leaders on the latest developments.
The KMT headquarters then deployed more troops to Taiwan and worked with its
Taipei branch to coordinate the arrests of people whose names were on a check list, he
said.
"Victims and their families expect the truth to come out because there will be no
forgiveness if there is no truth," Su said. "The KMT should help to make this happen
by doing more, not just saying `sorry.'"
The premier said the KMT had perpetrated the 228 Incident and its aftermath was its
responsibility.
Su added that the government should not be responsible for paying compensation to
the victims or their families.
Taipei Times /March 1, 2007
4
"The government's money comes from the people. It is their tax money, from their
hard work," he said. "The KMT created the tragedy. It would be natural for the party
to pay compensation. I do not see anything wrong with that, since the majority of the
KMT's assets were stolen from the people anyway."
KMT tried to show truth behind 228 `ethnic conflict': Ma
By Mo Yan-chih
STAFF REPORTER
Former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairman Ma Ying-jeou defended the party's
efforts to reveal the truth behind the 228 Incident yesterday, while promising to
improve political democracy and cross-strait relations to prevent the recurrence of
such a tragedy.
In an article entitled "Five promises" published in the Chinese-language United Daily
News, Ma argued that the KMT had spared no effort to reveal the truth of the incident
and to work toward reconciliation with the victims and their family members by
making public apologies and honoring the victims.
"I've tried every possible way to heal the wounds of the 228 Incident, and I
understand that historical tragedies are always twisted and difficult to heal," he wrote.
Ma vowed to make a greater effort to prevent such a tragedy from recuring, and he
urged the public to "say no" to ethnic conflicts.
"Tragic ethnic conflicts such as the 228 Incident are likely to happen again if people
allow politicians to continue dividing ethnic groups. We can't allow this to happen.
What we want is a harmonious Taiwan," he wrote.
Ma also pledged to fight against corruption, for true democracy in politics and society
and for peaceful and open cross-strait relations.
"Taiwan should seek to end the hostility in cross-strait relations and sign a peace
Taipei Times /March 1, 2007
5
agreement, so we can be free from the threat of war," he wrote.
In response to Premier Su Tseng-chang's call for the KMT to make public all of its
228-related documents, Ma said the party had already made public the documents in
its history center.
He also said the decision-maker during the incident was not the party's chairman.
"The KMT history center only stores a limited number of documents related to 228.
More information should be found in the government [archives]. As the ruling party,
the Democratic Progressive Party should find more documents there," Ma said while
attending a 228 memorial event in Tainan.
However, he said the party was willing to support compensation for 228 victims and
their families.
The KMT caucus blocked passage of a proposed amendment to the Statute for
Handling of and Compensation for the 228 Incident in the legislature on Tuesday.
KMT spokesman Su Jun-ping said yesterday the party supported replacing the world
"compensation" with "indemnification" in the statute but would not accept the
amendment if it was aimed at creating political struggles.
Collectors compete for newly issued 228 stamps
LIMITED SUPPLY: The Taipei Post Office had only 500 sets of memorial stamps, all of which it
sold to eager customers within half an hour of opening its doors
By Shelley Shan
STAFF REPORTER
Excited stamp collectors lined up in front of the Taipei Post Office early yesterday
morning to be among the first to acquire freshly printed 228 Memorial Hall Stamps
issued by the Taiwan Post Co.
Taipei Times /March 1, 2007
6
But enthusiasm soon turned into anger
as police tried in vain to prevent unruly
queuers from sneaking forward in the
line to purchase a second set of stamps.
Because each branch office only has
limited supplies of the stamps, some
collecters had to visit more than one post
office to try to acquire stamps.
Customers were only permitted to
purchase two to four stamps at a time,
but most collectors wanted to buy the
entire set of 20 stamps.
"What is the purpose of collecting the
stamps if you can only buy four of
them?" one stamp collector asked. "It is
not worth it!"
A woman shows off her sheet of
newly issued 228 Memorial
Hall Stamps at the Taipei Post
Office yesterday.
"The quality of the design is poor," another stamp collector complained. "It looks like
it was done in a hurry."
Despite complaints and minor conflicts, the first batch of stamps bearing the name
"Taiwan" has proven to be a popular commodity among enthusiasts.
The Taipei Post Office on Nanhai Road, for example, was given 500 sets to sell. All
500 sets were sold within half an hour after the post office opened at 8:30am.
"These Taiwan stamps were published immediately after Chunghwa Post changed its
name to Taiwan Post," a young man said while on the way to have his postage
envelope stamped with a 228 Memorial Hall seal.
"Since the Legislative Yuan has yet to amend the relevant regulation to legalize the
name change, the company might have to change its name back. And if that is the case,
these stamps could become rarities," he said.
The recently renamed post office announced earlier that it would issue 1 million
Taipei Times /March 1, 2007
7
stamps yesterday in remembrance of the 228 Incident.
The stamp features the new National 228 Memorial Hall, located on Nanhai Road,
with a lily next to it.
To accommodate stamp collectors, Taiwan Post kept 51 post offices open yesterday,
although it was a national holiday.
The company said more than 400,000 stamps were sold yesterday. It also said 300,000
stamps would be placed in its annual yearbook. More than 100,000 would be reserved
for the post office's long-term subscribers. The remaining stamps will be available for
purchase today.
Taiwanese take `228' to the US
GIVING HIS ALL: Misjudging the weather, 66-year-old Liu Chin-chen, `Taiwan's Forrest
Gump,' ran 40km through heavy snow in Delaware wearing short pants
By Charles Snyder
STAFF REPORTER IN WASHINGTON
A drive by Taiwanese-Americans to make other Americans aware of the 228 Incident
and promote Taiwanese independence was set to come to Capitol Hill yesterday, as
dozens of organizations made last minute preparations for a memorial service in a
House office building.
The service, which was expected to attract a number of congressmen, and a press
conference before it, were the culmination of a 240km walk/run from Philadelphia,
the home of US independence, to Washington by 25 Taiwanese-Americans from all
over the country.
Along the route, tired but enthusiastic marchers distributed copies of a manifesto they
were planing to unveil in Washington. It called on US citizens to learn about the 228
Incident, urged US President George W. Bush and Congress to help safeguard
Taipei Times /March 1, 2007
8
Taiwan's democracy, called for Taiwanese membership of the UN and demanded that
China "renounce its territorial claims over Taiwan."
Remember
In their proclamation, the marchers "implore the citizens of this great nation to learn
the truth of the 228 massacre, so that those who perished 60 years ago shall not have
died in vain and Americans can help prevent such history from repeating itself."
"We want the world to know that the Taiwanese want our own future," said marcher
Nora Tsay, a past president of the North American Taiwanese Women's Association.
"Though we are all Taiwanese-Americans, we are deeply concerned about the future
of Taiwan, and because of the 228 Incident, the massacre of Feb. 28, we want the
world to know that this kind of tragedy could happen again, and that we do not want
to see it happen."
After arriving at the University of Maryland on Monday evening, the group spent
Tuesday visiting congressional offices and seeing congressmen and their aides.
Those they met were very supportive, said Michael Yeun, the president of the New
Jersey chapter of the Formosan Association for Public Affairs, the leader of the group.
"They seem to be able to understand the [228] situation," he said.
Joining the walk/run was Liu Chin-chen, known as "The Forrest Gump of Taiwan,"
after the US book and movie. Liu gained fame by running barefoot around Taiwan in
support of democracy.
Fellow marchers said that Liu, 66, ran a full 40km through heavy snow in Delaware.
It was the first time Liu had been to the US and the first time he had seen snow, said
Susan Chang, a past president of the Taiwanese Association of America.
Underdressed
This time around, Liu wore shoes. But, not knowing much about US weather, he also
wore shorts. He vowed to wear warmer clothing next time, Chang said.
Another marcher was Kathy Li, who holds the Taiwanese record for the 1,500m,
which she set in 1975. She also won three gold medals at the 1975 Asian track
championships in Korea, but was denied a shot at the 1976 Summer Olympics in
Taipei Times /March 1, 2007
9
Montreal when the then Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) government rejected
China's demand that the name "Taiwan" not be used.
"This is my opportunity to wear the name `Taiwan' on my shirt and to represent
Taiwan. Going forward, we should use the Taiwan name on everything. And we want
Taiwan to be an independent country," Li told the Taipei Times.
A high point of the march came in Philadelphia when more than 300
Taiwanese-Americans gathered next to the Liberty Bell to proclaim Taiwan's cause
through a rally and commemorative service.
The assemblage marched the first 5km symbolically and then dispersed, as the 24 core
marchers continued on to Washington.
A time for reflection
Lin Lien-ming, director of the Hualien County Association for the Care of Relatives of Victims of the
228 Incident, yesterday pays his respects during a memorial service in Hualien.
Taipei Times /March 1, 2007
10
Web-based project commemorates the 228 Incident
HOMAGE: Taiwanese from around the world put the collaborative nature of the Internet to
good use by creating a joint tribute to the victims of the 228 Incident
By Loa Iok-sin
STAFF REPORTER
Ninety people from different corners of the world -- most of whom have never met
each other -- joined forces to commemorate the 228 Incident by creating an online
video.
The project focused on the idea of justice for the victims of the incident and all
interested parties were invited to submit their contributions, organizers said.
"Hosting the project online made it possible for people from all over the world to
participate," said Miawko, a project organizer who wishes to be known only by her
online nickname.
Submissions were accepted between Feb. 1 and Feb. 20, during which time organizers
received hundreds of photos, drawings, video clips and poems as well as a recorded
interview and a theme song for the project.
"In addition to the 10 to 15 organizers, about 80 people submitted their works.
Altogether about 90 people contributed [to the making of the video]," said Takayuki,
the video editor who also wishes to be known only by her online nickname.
"I really don't know the ages or occupations of the participants, since most of us don't
even know each other," Miawko said.
The completed video was posted online on Monday. Although it is only four minutes
and thirty-six seconds long, it was still a big challenge to complete the editing process
on time.
Taipei Times /March 1, 2007
11
"The most difficult part was to find a central theme for the video. I had to find a way
of linking all the materials together," said Takayuki, who spent the entire Lunar New
Year holiday working on the video.
"One night, I began watching the interview with Chien Tang at about 9pm and
finished editing it at about 6am," she said.
Chien is a division director at the 228 Memorial Foundation.
Ultimately, only 20 seconds of the 90 minute interview with Chien were included in
the video.
Writing and recording the theme song, Lily, in the space of just 10 days was also a
challenge.
Tsao Hsin-wen, a Taiwanese musician who lives in Vienna, Austria, was put in charge
of the music.
"I had no hesitation in agreeing to work on the song but I was busy with another
project, so I asked my uncle to write the lyrics," Tsao said.
Tsao's uncle, Kufao, proved himself more than equal to the task, as many who listened
to the song were touched by its lyrics.
Kufao finished the lyrics in just two days and Tsao composed the accompanying
music in three days.
"The most challenging part was finding the right singer," Tsao said.
She had to find a singer who was able to sing in Taiwanese and would do so pro bono.
"I eventually turned to Taiwan's representative office in Vienna for help," Tsao said.
Tsao was able to arrange studio time through her husband, Hans Doellinger, a
professor at a conservatory in Vienna and ultimately the song -- ?and the video -- were
completed on schedule.
The video begins with these words:
Taipei Times /March 1, 2007
12
"The night was long and horrifying. When daylight broke the next morning, dead
bodies were found floating in Keelung Harbor and on the Tienliao River."
The video then shows contemporary footage of sites on a small island near the
Keelung Harbor where people were murdered 60 years ago.
It is notable that there are no signs to indicate what happened all those years ago.
"Why is there no evidence of the 228 massacre here?" the narrator asks.
After slide shows of 228 monuments across the nation and various art works depicting
the violence that took place, the video shows scenes of Nazi massacres of Jews during
World War II, the Nuremberg Trial and how European countries have dealt with these
grim events.
"So what about Taiwan?" the narrator asks.
The project organizers explained that they were calling for an honest confession and a
sincere apology from the perpetrators of the 228 Incident. Only then could there be
reconciliation, they said.
"The Chinese Nationalist Party [KMT] keeps asking people to forgive," Takayuki
said.
"If you strike a person, you can't just tell him to forget about it. You have to apologize
first, then it's up to the victim to decide whether or not to forgive you. It's ridiculous
that the perpetrator of the crime keeps telling the victims to forget about it," she
added.
All of the contributors to the video were volunteers.
The video can be viewed at http://blog.roodo.com/showtaiwan.
Mothers push for Tiananmen probe
Taipei Times /March 1, 2007
13
SHEDDING LIGHT: A letter signed by 128 members of the Tiananmen Mother's group called for a public accounting,
restitution and the prosecution of those responsible
AFP AND AP, BEIJING
Relatives of victims of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre called on the National
People's Congress to open a new investigation and allow publication of accounts of
the crackdown, they said yesterday.
A letter signed by 128 members of the Tiananmen Mother's group was sent to the
congress ahead of its annual session starting on Monday, said Zhang Xianling, a
member of the organization.
The signatories were led by outspoken government critic and Nobel Peace Prize
nominee Ding Zilin.
Hundreds, possibly thousands of unarmed protesters were gunned down in the streets
of Beijing by military units on June 3, 1989, as the government ended six weeks of
pro-democracy protests.
The massacre remains one of the most sensitive political issues in China.
The letter called for "a fresh investigation into the incident, a public accounting and
appropriate restitution, and prosecution of those responsible," Zhang said.
"We sent the letter to the standing committee of the National People's Congress, like
we do every year," Zhang said.
"We have confirmed that they received the letter."
China will open its annual session of parliament on Monday with the building of a
"harmonious society," the pet project of President Hu Jintao, the central focus.
The letter also called on authorities to lift a ban on three books on the incident,
including one containing interviews with Zhao Ziyang, former head of the Chinese
Communist Party (CCP) who was ousted for his opposition to the massacre.
Another was written by former prime minister Li Peng, who is reviled for ordering the
Taipei Times /March 1, 2007
14
crackdown but who reportedly has tried to clear his name through his banned
memoirs.
The third is Ding's book The Moment of Truth, which details the 18-year effort of the
Tiananmen Mothers to overturn the government's verdict that the unrest was a
"counter-revolutionary rebellion."
Meanwhile, two members of parliament were dismissed, media reports said yesterday.
The Xinhua news agency said the two were expelled from the national parliament
over alleged involvement in corruption, without giving other details.
Xinhua said that the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC)
voted yesterday to approve local parliamentary decisions to strip Liu Weiming, 68, a
Guangdong provincial official, and Deng Zhonghua, 49, president of Hunan Chendian
International Development, of their NPC membership.
It said Liu, a vice governor of Guangdong Province from 1988 to 1998, was dismissed
for "seriously violating discipline," a decision made by the provincial people's
congress in Guangdong said.
He has also been expelled from the CCP.
KMT contrition for 228 is nonsense
When former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairman Ma Ying-jeou said on
Sunday that the 228 Incident was not an ethnic issue but one of poor governance, it
could be charitably concluded that he lives in a Nationalist Chinese fantasy world.
In the space of four days, Ma has reversed this position, writing yesterday in the
United Daily News that: "Tragic ethnic conflicts such as the 228 Incident are likely to
happen again if people allow politicians to continue dividing ethnic groups."
This new stance, which misrepresents the events and political structures of 1947, will
Taipei Times /March 1, 2007
15
probably leave readers rather confused. So, let the facts talk:
After the arrival of the KMT in late 1945, officials and newspaper editorials said
Taiwanese had been infected by the Japanese -- on levels of language, culture and
identity that can only be sensibly labeled as "ethnic" -- and promised to cure them of
their "Japaneseness." This led to stupid policies, such as breaking up families with
Japanese members and banning the use in publications of the Japanese language --
Taiwan's lingua franca at the time -- thus severing lines of communication between
those of different ethnic groups with limited literacy.
So, ethnicity indeed had a critical role in 228.
All this history may be too complex for Ma to understand. And to this day, Ma may be
unaware that his mentor and former employer, president Chiang Ching-kuo, spent a
few days in Taiwan in the aftermath of 228 collecting intelligence on dissidents for
direct delivery to his father, dictator Chiang Kai-shek. With KMT icons caked in
blood, Ma has good reason to concentrate on "ethnic" semantics.
Yet Ma is the most moderate and conciliatory KMT leader on this issue. He is the
KMT man civilized people turn to in the hope of having a dialogue. He can be abused
to his face by his foes and he will maintain decorum. Unusual for a KMT leader, he
manages to retain a degree of credibility and dignity.
The same cannot be said for most of his senior party colleagues, where there is scant
interest in the 228 Incident. Put simply, there is no genuine contrition in the KMT
over its criminal past.
The word "responsibility" and apologies may be bandied about, but the KMT has
come up pitifully short on what really matters: action.
Action to make amends is the product of true contrition, yet within the KMT, and on
its think tank perimeters and across sympathetic academic networks, hardliners
consistently act in opposition to the process of accountability. And they still have the
upper hand: So-called party moderates rarely speak out with conviction on these
matters.
Events that triggered the 228 Incident -- government theft of private property, abuse
of international aid, carpetbagging, the killing and mistreatment of ordinary people --
Taipei Times /March 1, 2007
16
were later reflected in the manner in which top KMT officials made fortunes from the
enmeshing of party and state. It is this legacy that the KMT refuses to denounce, let
alone seek to correct in a manner respectful of all Taiwanese people.
Instead, we are treated to the KMT and its radical allies saying that accountability for
228 and the White Terror threatens to foment ethnic tension -- a claim that is
unspeakably arrogant and malicious.
The real issue is this: Until the KMT can explain why it defends and nurtures
extremist views of history and rationalizes theft of public assets, the pan-green-camp
voter will look upon it as ill-willed.
Today's KMT leaders did not commit the crimes of 1947 or those thereafter, but they
refuse to let go of the booty that the violence helped put in their hands.
Until this changes, the anniversary of the 228 Incident will continue to divide those
who want to move forward by facing the past and those who insult the memory of the
murdered by lecturing the bereaved on ethnic harmony.
Taipei Times /March 1, 2007
17
Name changes necessary
Most Westerners identify the name "Taiwan" with a progressive, technically
innovative and democratic country that makes high quality products and exports them
around the world.
Taiwan is a "brand" that people trust, and "Made in Taiwan" evokes quality and
reliability. Westerners generally regard people from Taiwan as Taiwanese but are
sometimes unsure exactly how to identify the native language they speak.
Notwithstanding the political, constitutional and legal imperatives, when the Republic
of China (ROC) is used however, the country's identity becomes a little murky.
First, the ambiguity in the name can imply that the ROC belongs to China.
Second, acronyms with the letter R for Republic in them are mostly associated with
repressive communist regimes such as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
(North Korea), the USSR and the People's Republic of China (PRC).
Third, a question many Westerners raise is, are people from the ROC Chinese or
Taiwanese? Then, we have the leading advocates for Taiwan in the US bearing the
historical name Formosa.
The "Formosa Foundation" and the "Formosan Association for Public Affairs" add to
Westerners confusion and obscure Taiwan's modern status and true identity. Whatever
the political motivation for President Chen Shui-bian's recent actions to change the
names of some state owned enterprises to include "Taiwan" and remove "China"
seems like a positive move, from the average Westerners point of view.
Westerners trust people from Taiwan and people representing Taiwanese companies.
People representing Taiwanese companies with China in their name are sometimes
misunderstood and are treated a little more cautiously. This cautiousness stems from
the fact that the PRC's legal protections and copyright issues are not as robust as
Taiwan's.
Taipei Times /March 1, 2007
18
Taiwan needs to proudly and boldly reinforce its "brand" recognition in the world
with a clear and unambiguous identity.
This will benefit not only the Taiwanese people in their international dealings but will
also assist people who do business with Taiwan, potential tourists, government
officials of foreign countries and other international organizations that wish to deal
with a modern, vibrant, free and independent Taiwan.
Walt Brown
Auckland, New Zealand
It is a mistake for Michael Falick to say that state-run entities in Taiwan are "owned --
and named -- by China" (Letter, Feb. 26, page 8). This is precisely the reason why
many names in Taiwan have to be rectified to avoid mistakes and confusion like this.
Many of these Taiwanese entities were established even before the PRC was born.
China cannot have named or owned them. Although most of them still carry "China"
or "Chinese" in their names, they are not owned by China. As state-run corporations,
they belong to the people of Taiwan. The government has the responsibility to
administer them and report to the people rather than the shareholders.
Likewise, New England does not belong to England, nor is New Mexico part of
Mexico, although Americans choose not to change these names since England and
Mexico do not claim these areas.
Taiwan is called "Chinese Taipei" in the Olympics, APEC meetings and other
international gatherings. Americans would be pissed off if the US were called "British
Washington." Taiwan's official representative office in the US has a lengthy name,
"Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office." This name needs to be
shortened for simplicity.
Individuals also have rights to change or to keep their names. Chinese Nationalist
Party (KMT) Legislator John Chiang has freedom to rectify his last name if he thinks
his previous last name (Chang) was incorrect. Former KMT chairman Ma Ying-jeou
was born in Hong Kong and his given name literally means "British Kowloon." Ma
has liberty to keep his original name, right or wrong.
It was childish for Ma to criticize the recent name changes in Taiwan as "childish."
Taipei Times /March 1, 2007
19
Ma always opposes whatever President Chen says and does anyway.
Charles Hong
Columbus, Ohio

外來統治集團遺孽的滑稽古蹟
不吐不快 - 大家一起來
作者 思印
　台北市政府宣布將中正廟列為暫定古蹟。才建立27年，中正廟成了全世界最年輕的古蹟，台北市的在台中國人，又創金氏世界紀錄！


　60年前，228大屠殺的元凶蔣介石，雙手沾滿了台灣人的血，計劃性地種族清洗台灣精英，以利其霸佔台灣主權，推動殖民奴隸政權。這樣的極權惡靈，他死後的政治圖騰，仍如古代中國專制極權的萬仞宮牆，牢固地圈住殖民統治階級的權益，試圖將廣大的平民百姓戒備森嚴地隔離在權力的外圍。


　是以，牆外任何人都別想把那堵高不可攀的圍牆推倒。圍牆裡面的獨裁幽靈及其殖民統治遺緒，從來就是權力與利益的獨佔集團，他們經由相互的掩護、合作，嚴控思想教育，愚化人民，綁架國家，好不容易建立高高在上、不可質疑的「王土王民」權威，懾服廣大而無知的台灣人，任其宰制，豈可輕易讓威權之牆，任人民隨意推翻。


　牆，不止是一堵牆，那無形的牆比起有形的牆，更高傲、更神聖不可侵犯；也不在於時間的長短，雖只是短短27年，但那象徵威權意識的人性欲望，原始而不可究其始終，而人間的古蹟脆弱易損，千年者寥寥無幾，又豈能望其項背？


　明乎此，台灣人的古蹟，較之不可究其始終的中國極權歷史，既無萬骨枯的殺戮霸氣，又無睥睨芸芸眾生的天朝貴氣，怎麼看都是那麼地平凡平庸，難怪前台北市長馬英九把平凡無奇的台灣古蹟計劃性地一一消滅，讓台灣人失去自己的根，忘了自己的歷史，永遠臣服於外來殖民者虛擬的中國王權。


　突兀的青瓦白牆，高調的天朝聖主，在21世紀民主時代的台灣，顯得如此地滑稽，他們卻說那是古蹟，歇斯底裡地反制中央政府，不顧台灣人追求自由民主平等的感情。也罷，作了古蹟，往事只能憑弔。
http://www.southnews.com.tw 2007.03.07



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giveyes 發表時間: 2007-03-04 18:19
進階會員


註冊日: 2004-03-06
來自:
發表數: 121 228台灣神道與佛陀教誨
台灣神道與佛陀教誨

對抗不平等的佛陀
佛陀生於三千年前階級不平等的印度社會，當時的人被區分為四大階級，當時最高的領導階級是被稱為婆羅門的宗教徒，其次才是被稱為剎帝利的王族，此二階級奴役著身為平民的吠舍以及奴隸階級的首陀羅。鑒於種性制度對人民的歧視與壓迫，身為王族的佛陀不僅不願以階級威權奴役人民，更起而破除此一不平等的制度。佛陀於菩提樹下悟道時即了悟「一切眾生皆有如來智慧德相」，後來更主張「四姓出家，同為釋氏」的平等觀，強調任何人皆沒有權力去奴役其他人，因為眾生平等，不因出生而有差別。佛陀不因當權者的反對而腳步遲疑，反而使其破除階級不平等制度的信念更為堅定，終為數千年來實施階級統治的黑暗印度帶來了民主、平等的光明。

國對國的不平等迫害
雖然台灣國內實施民主制度，人人享受自由、平等的果實，然而台灣在國際上卻遭受嚴重的歧視與不平等待遇。此種整個國家的被壓迫，乃導因於台灣與中國間的不平等，此為國與國之間的不平等：一群人想要統治另一群人，壓縮另一群人的生存自由與民主。中國為使台灣成為其領土範圍，至今不放棄透過武力攻擊的方式使台灣屈服，在國際上透過外交手段阻止台灣成為聯合國的一份子，阻礙台灣爲世界貢獻心力的願望，在在都顯示了中國對台灣的迫害與壓迫。此種一個國家對另一國家的迫害，對人類的殘害程度更勝於一階級對另一階級的迫害。

懦弱的台灣佛教徒偏離了佛陀教誨
當中國對台灣文攻武嚇時，世界各主要宗教莫不發出譴責之聲，而台灣的佛教徒卻似老僧入定般充耳不聞、無動於衷，好似事不關己一般。試想佛陀有教我們只要各修各的，吃齋、念佛就完成了修行的功課嗎？還是應以苦難的蒼生為念，以我不入地獄、誰入地獄的胸懷，拯救台灣人民於水火之中。

信仰台灣神，效法228民主、正義精神
60年前的228事件中，許多台灣先賢先烈眼見專制集權的國民黨政府對善良台灣人民的迫害，憤而起身抵抗國民黨政府殘忍屠殺，而奉獻了祂們寶貴的生命。令人痛心的是祂們為保台、護台、建國而受到外來政權的打壓、殺害，最後換來的是被專制集權的國民黨政府以土匪、叛徒、暴民等字眼污衊祂們。然而，祂們現在得其道而證位，成為無形中的轉輪力量，護祐台灣的子子孫孫，邁向自由法治的民主大方向，冀完成台灣成為舉世傲人的民主大國。

由此可知，台灣二二八先賢先烈的事蹟即如同佛陀精神的實踐。因此，為了使臺灣人民免於中國共產黨的壓迫、威脅而喪失了生命的自由，台灣人必須要效法台灣二二八先賢先烈的民主、正義精神，建立以台灣為念的精神信仰，以堅定的信念對抗邪惡的共產中國。

如今面對中國不放棄武力犯台的威脅，逐年增加對台的飛彈部署，甚至制定反分裂法企圖在國際上合理化中國對台灣的武力侵略。我們台灣人必須記取228的教訓，效法台灣先賢先烈的民主、正義精神，團結一致抵抗中國的蠻橫打壓與併吞，避免慘痛的歷史再度重演。

期望透過台灣神信仰的建立與推廣，讓台灣人世世代代都能記住這些台灣先賢先烈的事蹟，凝聚台灣國人共識，如同三千年前的佛陀一般，秉持大無畏的精神，為台灣的民主和平而持續奮鬥，為消彌中國對台灣不平等的迫害而努力，終將為兩國帶來和平共存的曙光。


流浪貓 發表時間: 2007-03-04 19:53
VIP


註冊日: 2005-04-21
來自: 台灣國
發表數: 1083 Re: 228台灣神道與佛陀教誨
並沒有所謂的『台灣佛教』，現今在台灣市面上流行的所謂佛教，稱為『漢傳佛教』，也就是『支那佛教』。台灣原本並沒有佛教，支那佛教是支那人帶來毒害台灣人心靈的，就如同大清帝國有計畫的用佛教『教化』強悍的土蕃國人及蒙古人，讓他們不再強悍，消除他們數千年來對支那的威脅，變得容易被支那統治。

要創立新的宗教不是短期可以達成的，如果期望宗教對國家改變能有所幫助，史界上現有的宗教就很足夠了，所以只需要選擇對自己國家最有利的宗教即可。爭論不同宗教的教義內容最後一定變成各說各話沒有交集，所以最好以結果論來看：如果想成為美國、加拿大、北歐諸國那樣的國家，就用力推廣基督教；如果想成為印度支那諸國如泰國或西藏蒙古那樣的國家，就用力推廣佛教；想成為支那那樣的國家，就用力推道教；如果想成為石油出產國，就用力推伊斯蘭教......

----------------
愛貓的民是有福的，愛貓的國是有福的。


camille 發表時間: 2007-03-04 20:30
資深會員


註冊日: 2006-09-17
來自:
發表數: 693 Re: 228台灣神道與佛陀教誨
我認為台灣的某些基督教會漢來自中國的佛教一樣在狗民黨的威權統治下嚴重扭曲變形,這些教會從不對國民黨過去所做不公不義殺人放火之事表示抗議,反而跑出來倒扁,最好的例子就是周聯華(在台中國人)主持的教會,裡面信徒多是台支(不是的很少),我偶爾遇到這些教會的信徒,我最喜歡問他們,上帝是主持公義的上帝,請問你對國民黨過去所作所為有何感想?這時很明顯的,10個當中有10個都開始跟我故左右而言他,根本不敢回答,他們也知理虧,卻因為意識形態而自相矛盾,有次在國外,朋友跟我介紹一位來自中國的基督徒,是中共高幹子弟,我笑著問他身為基督徒何以能認同中國統治人民的權威手段,還有他父親貪污讓他能在國外享福,這樣的事身為基督徒應該不能做吧!他很尷尬的半句話都說不出口,我知道我很白目,但我還是想讓這些人明白,宗教並無法掩飾他們的一切!


流浪貓 發表時間: 2007-03-04 21:00
VIP


註冊日: 2005-04-21
來自: 台灣國
發表數: 1083 Re: 228台灣神道與佛陀教誨
想起來，流浪貓也遇過只會看統媒、崇拜蔣光頭的腦殘牧師。不過，有問題的，通常都是跟著蔣光頭逃難來台的台支，我們不能因此否定台灣長老教會的貢獻。

總結來看，還是應該先消滅支那將缸文化，台灣才會有未來。支那文化，比甚麼都要毒，就連宗教教義也會受其毒害，難怪印尼政府會把漢字視同毒品。台灣需要『脫支入歐』運動，希望台語羅馬字普及之後，就陸續廢除漢字，改用台語羅馬字為官方語言及日常語言，並且利用羅馬字的便利像日本那樣盡快吸收外來語單字給語法豐富台語內涵，徹底切斷台灣與支那文化的聯繫。

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愛貓的民是有福的，愛貓的國是有福的。


csl1616 發表時間: 2007-03-04 22:08
進階會員


註冊日: 2006-12-04
來自: Ohio, USA
發表數: 191 Re: 228台灣神道與佛陀教誨
引文:

camille 寫道:
我認為台灣的某些基督教會漢來自中國的佛教一樣在狗民黨的威權統治下嚴重扭曲變形,這些教會從不對國民黨過去所做不公不義殺人放火之事表示抗議,反而跑出來倒扁,最好的例子就是周聯華(在台中國人)主持的教會,裡面信徒多是台支(不是的很少),我偶爾遇到這些教會的信徒,我最喜歡問他們,上帝是主持公義的上帝,請問你對國民黨過去所作所為有何感想?這時很明顯的,10個當中有10個都開始跟我故左右而言他,根本不敢回答,他們也知理虧,卻因為意識形態而自相矛盾,有次在國外,朋友跟我介紹一位來自中國的基督徒,是中共高幹子弟,我笑著問他身為基督徒何以能認同中國統治人民的權威手段,還有他父親貪污讓他能在國外享福,這樣的事身為基督徒應該不能做吧!他很尷尬的半句話都說不出口,我知道我很白目,但我還是想讓這些人明白,宗教並無法掩飾他們的一切!



You showed people how we Taiwanese are different from Chinese !!!

camille 發表時間: 2007-03-04 22:15
資深會員


註冊日: 2006-09-17
來自:
發表數: 693 Re: 228台灣神道與佛陀教誨
引文:

流浪貓 寫道:
想起來，流浪貓也遇過只會看統媒、崇拜蔣光頭的腦殘牧師。不過，有問題的，通常都是跟著蔣光頭逃難來台的台支，我們不能因此否定台灣長老教會的貢獻。


我有特別指名是周xx主持的教會喔!我可沒說是長老教會,我想也沒人會否認長老教會的貢獻吧(除了台支)!我從頭到尾說的都是中國來台的教會組織!

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Published on Taipei Times
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2007/03/02/2003350619

Recognize Taiwan: Tancredo

228 GATHERING: The US lawmaker told participants in a demonstration on Capitol Hill that it was time for Washington to end its strategy of ambiguity
By Charles Snyder
STAFF REPORTER IN WASHINGTON
Friday, Mar 02, 2007, Page 3

Advertising A US congressman urged Washington to recognize Taiwan as a separate nation, a victim of 228 described her family's tragic loss of their father and the strains of Green Forever, My Taiwan echoed through the halls of Congress on the 60th anniversary of the 228 Incident on Wednesday, as Taiwanese-Americans commemorated the massacres and the subsequent decades of White Terror in Washington.
The event was a memorial service held in the lobby of the Rayburn House Office Building that brought together some 200 Taiwanese-Americans to remember 228 and the martial law that followed, and to express their hopes for the new Taiwanese democracy.

The service came at the culmination of a 250km run by some two dozen Taiwanese-Americans from the home of liberty in Philadelphia to Washington.

Joining them for the final kilometer, nearly 200 Taiwanese-Americans from across the country marched from the Smithsonian main building to the Capitol under brilliant skies and unseasonally warm weather for a press conference and then the service.


Demonstrators representing more than 30 Taiwanese-American and allied organizations, pose in front of the Capitol on Feb. 28 during a campaign to increase US awareness of the 228 Incident, as well as to promote Taiwanese independence and recognition. The activists had jogged all the way to the US capital from Philadelphia beginning on Feb. 23.
PHOTO: CNA

The stories of the thousands of families affected by the White Terror had "a common element," Lin Hsu Yung-mei told the memorial service.

"Injustice and senseless silence ... Now their stories can be told," she said to a teary audience.

Hsu, the daughter of prominent intellectual Lin Mao-seng, recalled the night of March 11, 1947, when six men dragged her father from their house. He disappeared never to be seen or heard from again.

Equating 228's impact on Taiwanese with the Holocaust's impact on Jews, Hsu invoked the Jews' cry, "never again."

The victims in both cases "were not numbers. These were human beings. And the Taiwan people hope that the US continues to share our pain and joins us in saying, `never again,'" she said.

Congressman Tom Tancredo, a leading Taiwan supporter in Congress, bemoaned Washington's "ambiguous" stance toward Taiwan in favor of China.

"I think we've been far too ambiguous about how we relate to Taiwan, to the nation of Taiwan, to the country of Taiwan," he said.

"I want China to know where the US stands, and I want you to know and want them to know that we do in fact believe in your sovereignty, that we believe that you are an independent nation," he said, to roaring applause.

Scott Garrett, a New Jersey congressman who helped with the logistics of the memorial service, said it was a "time to remember those who were killed in the 228 tragedy. It's a time to remember and reflect on those individual lives and what they were killed for."

"Their memory carries on today, and translates into the freedom and democracy that we experience in Taiwan today," he said.

Garrett pledged to continue to work for a US-Taiwan free trade agreement.

He also expressed the hope to "go to my office down the street and meet with high level officials from Taiwan."

"And I hope to meet with the president of Taiwan right here," he added, referring to the US government's policy of forbidding President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and other senior Taiwan officials from visiting Washington.

In their march down Independence Avenue to the Capitol, the marchers chanted "Recognize Taiwan," and carried green and white flags similar to the Democratic Progressive Party flag, with the name, "Taiwan."

Formosan Association for Public Affairs chief lobbyist Coen Blaauw, one of the organizers, told reporters that the march intended to "bring the plea of the people of Taiwan for full de jure independence" to the nation's capital.

"We cannot change the past, but we have to make sure that the future looks good for the people of Taiwan," he said.


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