Independent activists push for referendum

http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2007/09/09/121772/Independent%2Dactivists.htm

Independent activists push for referendum

Sunday, September 9, 2007
By Dimitri Bruyas, Special to The China Post

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Members of the "908 Taiwan Republic" movement unveiled yesterday their version of the national flag and the national anthem during an event next to Taipei City Hall. They also claimed their support for the planned referendum on entering the U.N. under the name of Taiwan.

On a make-belief roof of Taipei 101 tower, organizers of the event staged a flag-raising ceremony while the crowd of supporters chanted the "new" Taiwan national anthem: "Green Taiwan."

"The new national flag -- a green Taiwan on a white background -- was designed during by the World Taiwanese Confederation in 2000," said Koh Sebo, central committee member of the World United Formosans for Independence. "We cannot accept the Kuomintang (KMT) flag because of its associated victims and bad memories."

The crowd shouted "Taiwan Republic! Great!"

"The Republic of China has already ceased to exist," said Yu Shyi-kun, chairman of the ruling Democratic Progressive party (DPP). "It is not an extreme view anymore to support a new country because it is consistent with the will of the population." According to the DPP's statistics, seven in 10 people believe that they are Taiwanese, while only two in 10 think that they are Chinese.

"The party candidate in the next presidential election that does not support Taiwan independence or Taiwan-centric movement will not be able to get elected President," said Yu, directly hinting at Ma Ying-Jeou from the KMT.

It was drizzling when the more than 100,000 people strong protest walked toward the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), while chanting "Green Taiwan" and waving "UN for Taiwan" flags. Only minor clashes erupted with the riot police stationed in front of the AIT.

"The United States said that Taiwan is not a country but in the past, the KMT also lied to us with its 'one China, different interpretations' principle," said Yu. "Long ago, the national territory encompassed Xinjiang and Mongolia, but the fact is that the Republic of China ceased to exist in 1971. now, the Taiwan Republic has entered the arena."

Also that morning, a former U.S. official said however that opposing the planned referendum on entering the United Nations was not equal to opposing Democracy, while he attended the World Taiwanese Congress.

"U.S.-Taiwan relationship is not geopolitical but political," said James Steinberg, former deputy national security advisor to Bill Clinton during his second administration.

Regarding the signature of a Free Trade agreement between Taiwan and the U.S. for example, Steinberg said that bilateral agreements should not have the priority over multilateral agreements because it would not be in Taiwan's favor.

Steinberg then said that Taiwan should join international organizations in a practical rather than emotional manner.

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