wfn.org | Anti-ECFA march focuses on inalienable human rights and democracy

["Taiwan Church News" <enews@pctpress.org>]

>      Taiwan Church News

>3044 Edition

>June 28~July 4, 2010

Anti-ECFA march focuses on inalienable human rights and democracy

>Reported by Lin Yi-ying, Chiou Kuo-rong

>Written by Lydia Ma

More than 150,000 people took part in a mass rally on June 26 to  oppose the 
signing of an

economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) with China and  demand the Ma

administration put such a treaty to a referendum.

The “Referendum on ECFA” march began at 3:30 p.m. at 3  locations – Wanhua 
Station,

Dinghao Plaza, and outside of the Legislative Yuan building –  before 
demonstrators

converged on Ketagalan Boulevard in front of the Presidential  Office Building.

Led by PCT General Assembly Moderator Rev. Lai Hsien-chang, PCT  members 
received

much attention and applause for their presence at this march and  as they 
called out,

“Referendum for ECFA! Let the people decide!”

According to Lai, some Christians may question whether it’s  appropriate for 
churches to

participate in political activities. However, he believes  it’s only right that 
every policy affecting

Taiwan be decided by Taiwanese people and a referendum is the most  basic right 
in a

>democratic society.

“Since God gave every person human rights, we ought to live  out our statement 
of faith,” he said.

Lai added that regardless of whether one supported or opposed  ECFA, PCT 
members ought

to know that everyone has the right to voice their opinions  through a vote. He 
further clarified

that such a gesture shouldn’t be taken as opposing a  government, but as 
publicly declaring

>one’s views on an issue.

"Taiwanese people can decide for themselves their country's  future!” said PCT 
Associate

General Secretary Rev. Lyim Hong-tiong. He added that the kind of  trade 
agreement the Ma

administration planned to sign with China would only endanger  people's rights 
and

>compromise Taiwan's sovereignty.

Lyim emphasized if ECFA could be decided by President Ma alone,  then, the 
President

wouldn't be a public servant. But since ECFA would ultimately  affect every 
person in the

country, Taiwan needed a referendum on whether or not to sign an  ECFA with 
China.

PCT Church and Society Chairman Rev. Chen Ching-fa remarked that  the march was 
a

protest against a government for not taking care of Taiwan’s  poorest and 
weakest members

and ignoring national sovereignty. It was especially a protest  against the 
government's

contempt and disregard for people's rights in the decision-making  process.

According to PCT Church and Society Committee Secretary Rev. Huang  Che-yen, 
it’s the

PCT’s responsibility to protect Taiwan against a convoluted  agreement shrouded 
in secrecy

and tell the Ma administration that such an important policy ought  to be 
decided by the people through a referendum.

Former WARC President, Rev. C.S. Song, was also present at the  march. He urged 
everyone

to use their vote in the upcoming election to unleash a  “peaceful revolution” 
and depose the

China-leaning KMT. This would be the only way of possibly changing  Taiwan’s 
future.

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