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TAIWAN LEFT OUT OF OLYMPRIC TORCH
RALLY…………………………………………7
The Democratic Progressive Party celebrated its 21st Anniversary on September 28th. The
noontime reception was attended by more than 60 ambassadors and representatives to Taiwan,
as well as hundreds of DPP party officials and representatives.
President Chen Shui-bian officially opened the event by reminiscing about the early days of the
DPP. Several pioneers, including Chairman You Si-kun, who at that time served as
Chairperson of the Assembly, willingly risked their lives by forming the first major opposition
party in Taiwan.
President Chen recounted the DPP’s essential role in promoting democratic reforms towards the
end of the KMT-imposed period of martial law in Taiwan. The country’s next tasks, he added,
are to push forward with “KMT illegally possessed party assets” as well as “Joining the United
Nations, under the name Taiwan.” The President emphasized that the DPP has never deviated
from its policy of "deepening Taiwan's democratic consolidation," pursuing "social justice," and
"strengthening Taiwan's national identity," all of which represent the party’s basic line and core
values. As long as the DPP adheres to the concept of following the right path and doing the right
thing, it will win the trust of the people and lead Taiwan toward becoming a normal, complete,
and great democratic country.
Premier Chang Chun-hsiung congratulated Taiwan on creating not only an economic miracle,
but a democratic miracle. He emphasized that a firm belief in Taiwanese sovereignty and a
strong desire to join the United Nations is now the mainstream public opinion in Taiwan.
Presidential Office Secretary-General Yeh Chu-lan also applauded the DDP’s ability to
transform Taiwan into a democratic nation, and stressed that the party must stabilize Taiwan’s
sovereign status in the international community.
2 DEMOCRACY & PROGRESS
DEMOCRACY &
PROGRESS
Department of
International Affairs
Democratic Progressive Party
Taipei, Taiwan
f. 886-2-23214527
e-mail: foreign@dpp.org.tw
web: http://www.dpp.org.tw
Director
Dr. Lai I-Chung
Editor:
Roger Lee Huang Celebrating the 21st birthday for the DPP, from Left to Right: DPP Secretary-General Lin
Chia-Lung, Secretary-General to the Presidential Office Yeh Chu-lan, National Human
Rights Commission member Huang Er-hsuan, Premier Chan Chun-hsiung, President Chen
Shui-bian, Vice President Annette Lu, former Legislator Chou Ching-yu, President of the
Examination Yuan Chia-Wen, and DPP Central Executive Committee Member Huang
Ching-lin.
Chairman You Si-kun recently contacted political party heads and leaders from all over the world, including
ambassadors to Taiwan, seeking their support for Taiwan’s application to the United Nations. In his letter, Chairman
You explained the importance of Taiwan’s UN membership, calling it a moral imperative as well as a practical and basic
right of Taiwan’s 23 million citizens.
Chairman You emphasized that the Taiwanese people have already expressed their collective will to join the United
Nations. As leader of the ruling party, he consequently believes it is his duty to achieve this goal. At the same time,
Chairman You requests that the KMT act responsibly and listen to the Taiwanese people, who have made it clear that
they seek to apply for UN membership under the name of Taiwan. Furthermore, they will tolerate neither Chinese
interference nor KMT collusion with China.
4 DEMOCRACY & PROGRESS
In his letter dated September 12th, Chairman You stated that as Taiwan’s democratically-elected ruling party, it is
the DPP’s responsibility to help Taiwan break free from its current international isolation. Joining the UN would
demonstrate Taiwan’s desire to become a responsible and productive member of the international community.
Friends and supporters from all over the world have already affirmed their support for Taiwan’s UN bid in response
to Chairman You’s international appeal, including the Ambassadors of The Gambia, Belize, Malawi, Palau, Honduras,
and Marshall Islands as well as freedom loving political parties all over the world.
Prolonged international isolation would have serious consequences for Taiwan, especially during times of crisis or
natural disaster. For example, when the destructive September 21, 1999 earthquake and the 2003 SARS Crisis hit
Taiwan, our country suffered from international neglect. When the people of Taiwan desperately needed the care and
attention of the international community, China interfered by manipulating the political situation, thus preventing
immediate assistance from the international community and disregarding the lives of the Taiwanese people.
Chairman You also pointed out that supporting Taiwan’s UN membership is a moral imperative. Taiwan’s UN
membership application was twice rejected by UN Secretary Ban Ki-moon on the basis of the events of 1971 and
Resolution 2758. However, given that the text of this resolution addresses solely the issue of representation of China,
and does not address Taiwan’s representation, we must apply to the UN under the name ‘Taiwan.’ It is unjust that the
UN has not seen fit to grant UN membership to a politically free and economically robust nation such as Taiwan.
Therefore, it is our responsibility to continue to support Taiwan’s UN bid and lobby our friends and allies to bring up
Taiwan’s cause in the 62nd General Assembly.
The Democratic Progressive Party condemns the Burmese junta’s ongoing repression of the Burmese people, and calls
for the return of freedom and human rights in Burma. Beginning on September 26, after weeks of peaceful protests, the
Burmese government resorted to brutal force and crushed the monk-led opposition.
President Chen Shui-bian expressed regret over the violent actions of the Burmese government, and added that he
personally and “solemnly called on international society to take note of the essence of the Chinese dictatorial rule and its
terrible human rights and pay close attention to China’s military intimidation, diplomatic suppression and political
‘united front’ campaign against Taiwan.”
Department of International Affairs Director Lai I-Chung also condemned the military government’s use of violence to
suppress the local populace, and called for an immediate end to the repression. He likewise demanded that leaders grant
freedom of assembly and association to the Burmese people and arrange for the immediate release of all political
prisoners, including National League for Democracy (NLD) leader Aung Sung Suu Kyi. Director Lai decried the
Chinese government's support for the military, which has subsequently harmed the democracy movement in Burma.
Director Lai stressed that the junta has long relied on Chinese support to resist growing international pressure for a
regime change. He called upon leaders in Beijing to stop granting foreign aid to the military junta, without which they
could not perpetuate their regime.
"Democracy is a universal value,” said Director Lai. He emphasized that even though Taiwan was once deeply
authoritarian, the people made many sacrifices to help Taiwan become a democratic country. Thus, the people of Taiwan
will give their full support to the Burmese populace, so that they might likewise pursue democratic reforms and gain
their freedom.
The Democratic Progressive Party and The National Council of the Union of Burma (NCUB) are both members of the
Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) The DPP recently supported CALD Resolution No. 5 S, which
openly proclaimed its support for a free and democratic Burma and condemned the repressive regime.
6 DEMOCRACY & PROGRESS
Recently, surveys conducted by the Democratic Progressive Party found that over 70% of the
Taiwanese people wish to join the United Nations using the name ‘Taiwan.’ The people made their
voices clear by participating in the ‘UN for Taiwan’ event in Kaohsiung on September 15th, 2007.
Over half a million people took part in a march through Kaohsiung, which culminated in a massive
rally that evening. President Chen Shui-bian, VP Annette Lu, DPP Presidential Candidate Frank
Hsieh and other luminaries spoke passionately to the crowd about Taiwan’s UN bid. The rally also
featured video footage of similar rallies all over the world. Participants sent a unified message to
the United Nations: Taiwan is a productive, democratic member of the international community
and deserves membership in the UN!
The entire controversy first began last April, when Beijing released its
plans for the torch relay route. The Chinese Government arranged for
the torch to travel from Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City to Taiwan before
arriving in Hong Kong. Democratic Progressive Party leaders and
government officials immediately condemned the plan, which
envisioned Taiwan as the beginning of the domestic leg of the route.
They refused to accept any subsequent agreement denying or
downgrading Taiwan’s status as a sovereign country.
Not only is this last minute change a direct provocation and disregard of
the dignity of the people of Taiwan, it is also a deliberate hostile act
ensuring that logistics will not allow the torch to come to Taiwan.
In a separate statement issued the following day, Chairman You expressed his
deep love of Taiwan, as well as his hope that his children would one day see
Taiwan fully integrated into the international community. The Chairman
believed that his resignation best suited the needs of the party at this time,
which faces many challenges ahead and needs to remain unified.
to one another, nor is one country under the jurisdiction of the other. However,
China has displayed blatant aggression towards Taiwan in the form of military,
China has unilaterally altered the status quo in the Taiwan Strait, thus
KMT regime, along with its suppression and stigmatization of local culture, has
national identity.
Unequal treatment of certain social groups over time by the KMT regime has
DPP shall move forward and respond on the basis of our “Taiwan
following plan:
system.
justice on every front. It will rid the nation of the politically symbolic
investigation, and prosecution systems, and ensure that the KMT return
of the oppression which took place during the White Terror period.
The Democratic Progressive Party believes that Taiwan must move forward
with the times. Taiwan must therefore break away from the bonds of power