Taipei, Sept. 21 (CNA) More than 20 civic groups and non-government organizations called Friday -- the U.N. International Day of Peace -- for ethnic harmony in Taiwan and respect and acceptance of new immigrants.
Sept. 21 is a special day for the people of Taiwan because of the massive earthquake that shook the island and took more than 2,000 lives on that day in 1999. It is also important because it is an International Day of Peace, according to Chien Hsi-chieh, chief executive officer of the Peacetime Foundation of Taiwan.
The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by the U.N. and calls for "a 24-hour cessation of hostilities" on Sept. 21 and for a minute of silence to be observed around the world at noon.
Representatives from various organizations focused specifically on discrimination against new immigrants and migrant workers, listing 13 common forms of verbal abuse that are groundless accusations and misconceptions, said Kathy Ke, executive officer of the Pearl S. Buck Foundation.
Foreign spouses from Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam, China, the Philippines and Indonesia, have become the fifth ethnic group of Taiwan and have changed Taiwan's population landscape, Chien said, urging the people of Taiwan to accept them.
Citizens of Taiwan and the government should stop stigmatizing new immigrants, Ke said. For example, she said, the NT$410,000 financial certification required to obtain Taiwanese citizenship has kept many foreign spouses from receiving it, showing that discrimination is still rife in Taiwan.
The term "melting pot" is not a good word to describe an immigrant society like Taiwan, he said, adding that Taiwan is more like a "salad bowl" which allows every ethnic group to preserve its "true colors and flavor."
The civic groups also urged local politicians to stop mobilizing voters with ethnic issues and hatred.