Taiwan Tati Cultural and Educational Foundation

Sensitive spots dampen Ma’s dream

Paul Lin 林保華

To the excitement of democracies and democracy activists around the world, Liu Xiaobo (劉曉波), the well-known, currently imprisoned Chinese dissident, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last week. In democratic Taiwan, however, President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) merely offered a hollow statement saying the award was of historic significance.

In contrast to the US president, the German chancellor, the Japanese prime minister and others who called on the Chinese government to free Liu and allow him to receive the prize in person, Ma needed more than 24 hours to consider his response. Not until the evening after the prize was awarded did he issue a statement expressing a “hope that Liu Xiaobo will be released and allowed to regain his freedom as soon as possible.”

Aborigines demonstrate for secret ballot rights

Taipei Times

Saying that their right to secret voting is not properly protected, a group of Aboriginal voters yesterday staged a demonstration outside the Council of Indigenous Peoples (CIP), asking it to help negotiate for a better system.

“CIP please help out! Give us back the right to secret voting,” dozens of demonstrators mobilized by Kumu Hacio, an independent candidate for the mountain Aborigine seat on the Greater Tainan City Council shouted as they stood outside the council.

Chen draws from ‘Tea Party’ ideas

Taipei Times

Former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) drew comparisons between his “One Side, One Country” Alliance and the US “Tea Party” movement yesterday, saying that they both “insist on the most basic principles” and defend fundamental ideas.

In a statement that will be released by the Neo Formosa Magazine on Wednesday, he says the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) failed to stand against the cross-strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) and suggests his alliance is a growing political movement.

Youth look for identity as Ma runs from flags

Taipei Times Editorial

A few days ago, several students at Taoyuan County’s Kainan University, host of this year’s Asian University Basketball Championship, flew Republic of China (ROC) flags around the university sports arena in protest at the confiscation of ROC flags during a basketball game with a Chinese team the previous day. Behind this action is a burgeoning identification with Taiwan, a shared sense of patriotism and a feeling of unity among the younger generation. It represents a rejection of President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) untenable concept of “one China.”

When they talk of their identification with the ROC, they are actually talking about their identification with Taiwan, distinct from the China on the other side of the Taiwan Strait. One country on either side, each with its own separate identity.

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