wfn.org | Pro-independence supporters rally for Taiwan’s entry to the UN

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

>      Taiwan Church News

>3009 Edition

>October 26~November 1, 2009

Pro-independence supporters rally for Taiwan’s entry to the  UN

>Reported by Chiou Kuo-rong

>Written by Lydia Ma

Supporters of Taiwan independence organized a rally near the  Legislative Yuan on October

24 that included singing and performing many Taiwanese folk songs.  The purpose of such an

event was to rally together all those who support an independent  Taiwan and strengthen

grassroots support for Taiwan’s bid to rejoin the UN.

Besides private citizens, organizations such as Taiwan National  Committee and Taiwan

Association of University Professors also participated in the  rally. For the most part,

participants discussed topics such as “getting rid of the  illegitimate Republic of China

government and its system” and the rising trend among  Taiwanese who no longer identify

themselves as Chinese. To many present in the rally, this new  trend was an encouraging

>phenomenon.

 From the point of view of pro-independence supporters, the only  way for Taiwan to get back

on its feet after a disastrous year under the Ma administration is  to take a hard look at reality

and move toward building a new country. A good place to start is  by using international law to

affirm Taiwanese people’s right to self-determination and  hold a national referendum in 2011

on this issue under supervision from international organizations.

However, much remains to be done in awakening and strengthening  Taiwanese nationalism

though recent surveys have revealed that 70 percent of people  living in Taiwan consider

themselves as Taiwanese. Leaders from Taiwan National Committee  recently visited

Presbyterian Church in Taiwan leaders to seek support and  cooperation in future, common

>endeavors.

According to the secretary-general of an organization reaching out  to victims of “February 28

Incident”, it is unfortunate that pro-independence groups  have pitted themselves against each

other in recent days because of disagreements about strategies on  how to deal with the Ma

administration’s China-leaning and anti-Taiwan policies.

She urged the pro-independence camp to unite and accept different  means of reaching a

common goal, instead of allowing dissension to weaken the  pro-independence movement.

Whether the pro-independence movement will ultimately reach its  goals, it is in God’s hands

and we must pray for the future of the country.

She also highlighted the importance of increasing interaction with  other small countries around

the world and the importance of seeking their support, instead of  putting all eggs in one

basket, or placing all hopes in the USA. These small countries are  often UN members who

share similar geography and national history as Taiwan, and these  commonalities may enable

them to sympathize with Taiwan’s plight and be more  supportive of Taiwanese people’s

aspirations than big and powerful countries such as the USA.

Taiwan United Nations Alliance CEO Rev. J.K. Lo encouraged  Taiwanese people to stick

together and actively participate in events promoting  Taiwan’s bid to re-enter the UN. He also

announced his organization would sponsor bigger events in the near  future so that the

international community will not forget Taiwanese people’s  hopes of rejoining the UN.

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