DPP programs aim to involve youth in politics

DEMOCRACY:Two new initiatives — Youth Power and Youth Council — aim to get young people voting and discussing political issues, DPP officials said
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday announced two youth-oriented programs aimed at encouraging the young to participate in politics, which it says is crucial to deepening Taiwan’s democracy and reforming the party.

The first program, Youth Power, encourages people aged 23 to 40 to participate in the November elections for township councilors and borough and village wardens.

Ex-DPP leader Lin launches a reform institute

PEOPLE RULE:Lin I-hsiung announced a foundation that intends to change the laws about referendums and recalls so that ‘people can determine their fate’
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

Former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairman Lin I-hsiung (林義雄) has established a new foundation to promote amending the Referendum Act (公民投票法), the Civil Servant Election and Recall Act (公職人員選舉罷免法) and the Constitution so that “Taiwanese people could determine their own fate through a democratic process.”

The People Rule Foundation (人民作主教育基金會) plans to launch its first official event — a march around the nation — in September, beginning in the eastern counties of Taitung and Hualien, the foundation said in its mission statement issued yesterday.

Zhang’s visit exposes all parties’ weaknesses: forum

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

Neither the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) nor Beijing came out as a winner in the just-concluded visit of China’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) Minister Zhang Zhijun (張志軍), panelists said in a symposium in Taipei yesterday.

Reviewing the first visit by a Chinese minister to Taiwan in more than six decades, which was dogged by protests during its four days, panelists told the forum organized by the pro-independence Taiwan Brain Trust that the trip was only a “publicity drive” for Zhang, with the Taiwanese government sidelined.

ECFA promises not delivered: DPP

DEMOCRACY AT RISK?The DPP said that cross-strait negotiations since the ECFA was signed have affected the economy and put the nation’s democracy at risk
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

The Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) has failed to bring promised prosperity for Taiwan and President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) administration was irresponsible in hastily pushing through the pact, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said yesterday on the fourth anniversary of the signing of the cross-strait pact.

Dubbed by international media as a “landmark agreement” upon its signing on June 29, 2009, it was signed without an impact assessment or sector-by-sector analysis, and the negotiation process was not monitored by the legislature, DPP spokesperson Hsu Chia-ching (徐佳青) said in a press release.

TAO visit shows fragility of democracy: symposium

YOUNG AND DISCONTENTED:：During the symposium participants said that the majority of protesters were young people which showed the changing political climate in Taiwan
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter
Mon, Jun 30, 2014 - Page 1

The recently concluded visit of China’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) Minister Zhang Zhijun (張志軍) exposed the danger of the President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) administration’s attempt to merge “two distinctively different civilizations and the fragility of Taiwan’s democracy and civic society,” panelists at a symposium said yesterday.

“Never think that the tragedy of the 228 Incident cannot happen in the 21st century,” retired National Taiwan University professor Kenneth Lin (林向愷) told the symposium, organized by the Taiwan Association of University Professors.

CROSSING THE STRAIT: Ma slams service pact critics, DPP in interview

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter
Fri, Jun 27, 2014 - Page 3

Those who oppose the cross-strait service trade agreement are in the minority, President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) said in an interview with English-language magazine Forbes Asia last week, in which he warned that the opposition pose a “major challenge” to the nation’s democracy.

The June 19 interview touched on a wide range of issues, including the divisive service trade pact, national security and the year-end elections. The magazine published an excerpt of the interview online yesterday, with the full version to be published in print on July 21.

DPP supports HK reform

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday urged Beijing to respect the result of an ongoing “illegal” referendum on democratic reform, that has drawn nearly 650,000 votes since it opened online, as it voiced support for Hong Kongers’ aspiration for democracy and reform. “As the referendum is ongoing, we think that more people will cast their votes. This has been a victory for all Hong Kongers. We call for Beijing to respect the result and Hong Kongers’ expression of their ideals in a peaceful and rational manner,” Department of China Affairs director Chao Tien-lin (趙天麟) said. The DPP has been watching the situation in Hong Kong closely, not only because Taiwan paid a dear price en route to attaining democracy but also because democracy, human rights and liberty are universal values, Chao said.

Lee Teng-hui favors presidential system of government for Taiwan, report says

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

Former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) said he favored presidentialism as the system of government for Taiwan, because a powerful president is more likely to push vital reforms, the Chinese-language Wealth magazine reported.

Asked to choose between the presidential system and parliamentary system, Lee said in an interview with the magazine that while the latter has advantages and is supported by many, the former would better fit Taiwan.

DPP tells Beijing to respect HK rights

PAPER TIGER:The party made the call after China’s State Council issued a paper on the limits to the territory’s freedom seen as a warning against a pro-democracy protest
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter with Reuters, HONG KONG

The Chinese government should respect the right of Hong Kongers to enjoy basic liberties and pursue freedoms, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said yesterday.

The DPP’s remarks came hours after China warned Hong Kong that there were limits to the territory’s freedom and said that it should adhere strictly to the law ahead of a planned pro-democracy protest that could end up shutting down part of the territory’s Central District.

DPP urges China to address Tiananmen issue, free prisoners

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

The Chinese government was advised to release all political prisoners and face the bloodstained Tiananmen Square Massacre with respect for human rights so that “the historic wounds would be healed,” the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said yesterday on the 25th anniversary of the watershed incident in modern Chinese history.

The shadow of the haunting memory has not gone away after a quarter of century despite China being an emerging global power with great influence over regional and global affairs, DPP Secretary-General Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) told a press conference, at which the party released an official statement on the incident.

China needs tolerance of dissidents: Ma

STRONG CRITICISM:：The DPP said that the president had made a long-overdue comment on China, although he needed to do more in response to Beijing’s actions
By Alison Hsiao and Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter
Thu, Jun 05, 2014 - Page 3

Beijing displaying a tolerant attitude toward political dissidents is a better way to bridge the psychological divide between the nations on either side of the Taiwan Strait than China’s “yielding benefits” on the economic front, President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) said yesterday.

Ma made the remark in a written statement issued to reflect on the 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre yesterday. He has issued a statement on each of the massacre’s anniversaries since he came into office.

Ma must support Chinese democracy, advocates say

‘HE IS A LIAR’:Activists said although Chinese democracy is crucial for Taiwan’s future, Ma has toned down any criticism when marking the Tiananmen Square Massacre anniversary
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

Advocates yesterday called on Taiwanese, President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) in particular, to show strong support for China’s democratization on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre, saying that China’s democratic movement will be crucial to Taiwan’s future.

“No democratic country in the world would stand on the sidelines as its neighbors abuse human rights. In the case of Taiwan, China’s democratization matters for Taiwan’s future,” Association of Taiwan Students’ Promotion of Chinese Democratization director Henry Kwok (郭豫謙) told a press conference in Taipei.

Tiananmen poets launch book ahead of anniversary

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

The collected works of more than 100 poets from Taiwan, China and Hong Kong have been published ahead of the 25th anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre.

The authors have condemned China’s attempt to erase the brutal event from people’s memories, saying that they intend to use poetry to forever etch the event in history.

DPP cautious on parliament model, but debate needed

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) on Friday outlined seven key areas that the party is proposing for constitutional reform.

The DPP also said that the replacement of the nation’s current semi-presidential system with a parliamentary system merited debate, because more Taiwanese support the model, the party said, but it cautioned that this would be a complicated and ambitious initiative.

DPP voices concern over pre-June 4 clampdown in PRC

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday expressed concern over Beijing’s detention and conviction of several dissidents before the 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre.

“Liberty, democracy and human rights are universal values that know no borders... The people of Taiwan will be watching [Beijing],” Honigmann Hong (洪財隆), director of the DPP’s Department of China Affairs, said in a press release.

Lin ends anti-nuclear hunger strike

‘UNPRECEDENTED STRUGGLE’:：The antinuclear activist thanked all those who backed his fast and opposed a controversial power plant, but said more fights are ahead
By Chris Wang and Lee I-chia  /  Staff reporter
Thu, May 01, 2014 - Page 1

Former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairman Lin I-hsiung (林義雄) yesterday afternoon announced the end of his hunger strike against the continued construction of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant and said he was grateful for the “phenomenal antinuclear effort” of Taiwanese over the past two weeks.

Lin said he would continue to fight what he called the injustice of President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) administration.

TRADE PACT SIEGE: Jiang accused of false reporting

CRACKDOWN:：A lawmaker said that even if it were true that more police were injured, the wounds inflicted on protesters were to the head, a more fragile part of the body
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter
Sat, Mar 29, 2014 - Page 3

Lawmakers and activists yesterday accused Premier Jiang Yi-huah (江宜樺) of repeatedly lying about injury reports and the violent nature of the crackdown on protesters on Monday, saying that government and police officials in charge of the action should be held responsible.

Jiang has repeatedly cited questionable injury reports in his press conferences and tried to create the perception that police had sustained more injuries than protesters, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) told a press conference.

TRADE PACT SIEGE: Council condemns KMT actions over service agreement

By Chris Wang and William Lowther  /  Staff reporters in Taipei and Washington

The Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) yesterday said in a press release that it was extremely concerned about and alarmed by the manner in which the cross-strait service trade agreement passed the legislative review stage.

CALD chairman Sam Rainsy expressed concern over the President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) administration’s decision to cut short a deliberation process in the Legislative Yuan on March 17 and the ensuing student movement that occupied the legislative chamber two days later, calling for Ma to hold a citizens’ constitutional conference, reject the pact and establish a monitoring mechanism for cross-strait negotiations.

TRADE PACT SIEGE: Money for ‘NYT,’ ‘Apple Daily’ ads raised by netizens

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

Netizens nationwide yesterday raised NT$6.74 million (US$221,000) in three hours on a crowdfunding Web site to pay for advertisements in the New York Times (NYT) and the Chinese-language Apple Daily explaining the opposition to the cross-strait service trade agreement.

The money will be used for a front-page ad in today’s Apple Daily, which will cost about NT$1.5 million, and a full-page ad in the Times’ international edition, which costs US$153,014, according to FlyingV.cc, a Taiwan-based crowdfunding Web site.

EDITORIAL: A sad yet great day for Taiwan

March 24, 2014, is guaranteed to go down as one of the days permanently etched into the history of Taiwan’s democratic movement. It was a very sad, but also a great day for the nation.

In a crackdown on thousands of students and citizens who occupied the Executive Yuan compound, riot police evicted the protesters with water cannons and excessive force, injuring dozens.