Taipei, Sept. 20 (CNA) A coalition of 10 Taiwanese non-government organizations (NGOs) called Wednesday for peace in Taiwan, East Asia and the world on the eve of United Nations International Day of Peace and the seventh anniversary of the 921 earthquake.
"And we also call for everyone in Taiwan to love instead of hate, and to respect the rule of law instead of venting anger with violence and provocation, " said coalition spokesman Tang Kuang-hua, referring to the latest political developments that have seen a small amount of violence in a tiny section of the anti-President Chen Shui-bian protests over the past two days.
In four appeals the coalition submitted, it called for all political parties and the media to stop the ethnic division and work together for harmony of race, class and gender to facilitate Taiwan's inner peace.
It also urged Taiwan and China to stop their arms race and respect each other's political systems. The coalition opposed North Korea's nuclear program and advocated a peaceful solution of the Korean peninsula issue.
For world peace, the coalition envisioned the cooperation of grassroots movements from different countries to help establish a war-prevention system.
The coalition does not rule out launching a document cosigned by all Taiwanese NGOs in the coming days and making a stronger statement regarding peace facilitation, said Ho Tsung-hsun, secretary-general of the Taiwan Environmental Protection Union (TEPU).
"Diversity is the biggest asset of Taiwan. We encourage a culture of respecting differences and diversity. Reconcile conflicts. Eliminate hatred, " Tang said.
Notable NGOs that form the coalition include TEPU, the National Union of Taiwan Women Association, the Constitutional Reform Alliance, the National Association for the Promotion of Community Colleges, PeaceIsland and the Garden of Hope Foundation.