Lee Chia-tung (
Although Lee believes that Chen should step down, he also provided examples of past experiences in other countries to show that in the absence of legitimate procedures, forcing a president out of office will only lead to national instability.
I think those who support Shih's "one million people to depose President Chen Shui-bian" campaign should seriously consider the consequences of their emotionally wrought move and what price they are willing to pay for their cause.
In 1979, the Kaohsiung Incident was sparked by a democracy movement initiated by dangwai (黨外) political activists striving to lift the ban on political parties, advocating new legislative elections and pushing for direct local elections.
On May 20, 1988, a movement staged by farmers demanded that the government deal with imports of foreign produce, implement a comprehensive farmers insurance scheme and a develop a systematic program for purchasing rice.
In 1990, the Wild Lily Student Movement (野百合學運) was launched in an efoort to force government officials to dismiss the National Assembly, abolish the temporary provisions that became effective during the period of Communist Rebellion, hold a high-level national policy conference and draw up a reform timetable.
In 1991, the "100 Action Alliance" (一百行動聯盟) was founded to oppose and abolish Article 100 of the Criminal Code (刑法) in order to grant Taiwanese the freedoms of thought, speech and association.
These movements were of great importance and significance in the course of the development of Taiwan's democratic political system. Their objective was to strive for a sustainable political system.
However, Shih's campaign to unseat the president is directed at Chen rather than at establishing a sustainable political system.
Instead, Shih should raise the level of his discourse about political corruption by also touching on the need for a "sunshine law" that would require all public functionaries to disclose their financial assets to the Control Yuan, require all party assets to be reported and demand that government officials who receive illegal political donations forfeit their right to hold public office.
If Shih is instead only hell-bent on taking his anti-Chen campaign to the streets, he will harm the nation's democratic development. This kind of political campaign simply takes advantage of the media (who also benefit), regardless of the legal procedures to recall or impeach a president.
Shih clearly harbors a deliberate intention to force Chen out of office. How could Shih not be aware of the possibility that Taiwan could devolve into a third- world nation, and that his movement could plunge the country into turmoil, instability and mutual suspicion?
People have the power to cast ballots and limit the terms of elected representatives, thereby determining the government's composition and balancing its power. But Shih's need to be a martyr may destroy the nation's democratic gains, end any semblance of "responsible politics" and divert Taiwan from its course of becoming a normal country.
At this juncture, unlike Shih, the public should keep their cool to avoid further confrontation among them.
Chiu Li-li is a Tainan City councilor.
Translated by Lin Ya-ti
The gutting of Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia (RFA) by US President Donald Trump’s administration poses a serious threat to the global voice of freedom, particularly for those living under authoritarian regimes such as China. The US — hailed as the model of liberal democracy — has the moral responsibility to uphold the values it champions. In undermining these institutions, the US risks diminishing its “soft power,” a pivotal pillar of its global influence. VOA Tibetan and RFA Tibetan played an enormous role in promoting the strong image of the US in and outside Tibet. On VOA Tibetan,
Sung Chien-liang (宋建樑), the leader of the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) efforts to recall Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Lee Kun-cheng (李坤城), caused a national outrage and drew diplomatic condemnation on Tuesday after he arrived at the New Taipei City District Prosecutors’ Office dressed in a Nazi uniform. Sung performed a Nazi salute and carried a copy of Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf as he arrived to be questioned over allegations of signature forgery in the recall petition. The KMT’s response to the incident has shown a striking lack of contrition and decency. Rather than apologizing and distancing itself from Sung’s actions,
US President Trump weighed into the state of America’s semiconductor manufacturing when he declared, “They [Taiwan] stole it from us. They took it from us, and I don’t blame them. I give them credit.” At a prior White House event President Trump hosted TSMC chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家), head of the world’s largest and most advanced chip manufacturer, to announce a commitment to invest US$100 billion in America. The president then shifted his previously critical rhetoric on Taiwan and put off tariffs on its chips. Now we learn that the Trump Administration is conducting a “trade investigation” on semiconductors which
By now, most of Taiwan has heard Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an’s (蔣萬安) threats to initiate a vote of no confidence against the Cabinet. His rationale is that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)-led government’s investigation into alleged signature forgery in the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) recall campaign constitutes “political persecution.” I sincerely hope he goes through with it. The opposition currently holds a majority in the Legislative Yuan, so the initiation of a no-confidence motion and its passage should be entirely within reach. If Chiang truly believes that the government is overreaching, abusing its power and targeting political opponents — then
RSS