Taiwan Tati Cultural and Educational Foundation

Farmers rally in Taipei to protest land seizures

Taipei Times

There was music and cries, laughter and tears, placards and banners as more than 2,000 people — including farmers, farming activists and their supporters — protested on Ketagalan Boulevard in front of the Presidential Office last night, voicing their opposition to a series of recent land takeovers by the government.

“Farmers from Dapu [大埔], raise your hands! Farmers from Wanbao [灣寶], raise your hands! Farmers from Erchongpu [二重埔], raise your hands! Farmers from Jhubei [竹北], raise your hands! Farmers from Siangsiliao [相思寮], raise your hands! Farmers from Tucheng [土城], raise your hands!” called out Taiwan Rural Front spokeswoman Tsai Pei-hui (蔡培慧).

Lobbyists' merger leaves Taiwan out in the cold

Taipei Times

Taiwan has lost out to China in the merger of two Washington-based lobbying companies.

While the details are being kept secret, the giant Patton Boggs has in effect taken over the boutique Breaux Lott Leadership Group.

Both companies make a living by “lobbying” or persuading members of the US Congress and other politicians to adopt policies promoted by their clients.

China ends $35,000 per month job for ROC lobbyist Trent Lott

Michael Richardson

The merger of two top Washington lobbying firms, Patton Boggs and Breaux Lott Leadership Group, spells the end of a tidy $35,000 per month contract between former Senator Trent Lott, Republican from Mississippi, and the Republic of China in-exile.

Lott and fellow rainmaker John Breaux, a former Democrat Senator from Louisiana, signed a contract in May of 2009 to lobby for the ROC as a registered foreign agent with the United States government. Former 1996 Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole has also been a longtime paid mouthpiece of the ROC.

The DPP and the crisis of democracy in Taiwan

Taiwan News Editorial

The opposition Democratic Progressive Party faces a major crossroads Sunday when delegates to a party congress will select a new party leadership and officially launch its campaign for the Nov. 27 special municipality mayoral elections.

After leading her party out of the morass of debacle in back to back legislative and presidential elections in early 2008 and scoring major gains in city and county mayoral polls and a series of wins in legislative by-elections, DPP Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen was re-elected in an landslide May 24.

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