Taiwan Tati Cultural and Educational Foundation

Sunflowers shine light of leadership

Taipei Times Editorial

A year ago yesterday, scores of university students and others, unarmed yet loaded with indignation over their futures being increasingly dictated by China and with a yearning for change, stormed into the Legislative Yuan’s main chamber in Taipei and started a 24-day occupation that has since been termed the Sunflower movement.

Rallies mark Sunflower anniversary

Taipei Times

Participants toss a huge balloon as they attend a rally in front of the Legislative Yuan in Taipei yesterday evening to mark the anniversary of the beginning of the Sunflower movement.
Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times

Multiple rallies were held across Taipei yesterday as the nation commemorated the first anniversary of the Sunflower movement, marking the day when student-led protesters first began to lay siege to the Legislative Yuan in the capital over the government’s handling of a proposed cross-strait service trade agreement.

The participants revisited demands made during last year’s landmark protests, in which activist groups occupied the Legislative Yuan’s main chamber for almost 23 days, while tens of thousands of demonstrators were encamped outside the legislative compound.

The Sunflower push to democracy

Huang Kuo-chang 黃國昌

It has been almost one year since the Sunflower movement began on March 18 last year. The movement has spawned numerous viewpoints and analyses regarding its significance and influence. These discussions are certain to continue for some time.

Among the many aspects of the Sunflower movement up for debate, one question frequently raised is: Who was the chief architect of the movement? To explore this issue, most lines of inquiry center on how the Sunflower movement was planned, organized and carried out. However, a more meaningful and perceptive approach is: Who lit the flame that kindled the movement?

Taiwan’s precarious position on global stage

Chen Chien-fu 陳建甫

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Department of Women’s Development director Lin Ching-yi (林靜儀) was recently invited to the UN to attend a meeting organized by the UN Commission on the Status of Women. Despite providing her invitation and non-governmental organization (NGO) accreditation, security refused Lin entry, saying: “A Taiwanese passport is not valid; it is policy.”

Lin’s passport was returned and she was unable to enter the venue as the representative of a Taiwanese NGO.

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