Thu, Sep 21, 2006 page8

• Editorial: Cancel Double Ten day

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  After many years of celebrating the founding of the Republic of China (ROC) on Taiwan, this year's national day -- or Double Ten National Day -- looks like it will be marred by political protests and, perhaps ironically, by a core of pan-blue politicians who have long claimed steadfast loyalty to the ROC.

  Shih Ming-teh (施明德), leader of the campaign seeking to oust President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), announced on Monday that he will lead thousands of protesters in another siege on the Presidential Office building on Double Ten day, blocking the front and rear entrances of the building to turn up the heat on Chen. He claimed that this was necessary to let the whole world know that the president must step down.

  The anti-Chen protest is a PR move aimed at putting Chen on the spot as he plays host to a cohort of foreign diplomats and visitors, but the truth of the matter is that by doing this, Shih and his followers are simply bringing shame to everyone.

  Taiwan already has its fair share of foreign policy difficulties. Under these circumstances, is it appropriate or acceptable to use this occasion to make a laughing stock of the nation in the international community? Is the Shih campaign's hatred toward Chen so deep that it is willing to embarrass him at the expense of the collective dignity?

  This does not even mention the hint of violence that pervades the campaign -- organizers are calling it a "universal siege."

  Chien Hsi-chieh, deputy head of the Shih camp, stressed that the event would be carried out in a peaceful manner. This is disingenuous: The campaign needs violence to retain the media's attention.

  Will the Shih camp shoulder responsibility for such stupidity, or merely dismiss it as the "acts of a few over-enthusiastic individuals" as it did when reports of violent clashes between pro and anti-Chen protesters took place on Monday night in Kaohsiung and Tuesday night in Tainan?

  The "universal siege" has gained the support of People First Party Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜), who has long objected to the Chen administration's would-be attempts to shed the symbols of the ROC. It is instructive that he has chosen to join forces with Shih's red-clad throng to humiliate the ROC on the occasion of its national day.

  Double Ten day celebrates the start of the Wuchang Uprising on Oct. 10, 1911, which, under the leadership of Sun Yat-sen (孫中山), led to the final collapse of the Qing Dynasty.

  Given the Shih camp's determination to hold the "siege" on the ROC's national day, the DPP government might as well just call off the celebration altogether.

  After all, what does the Wuchang Uprising have to do with Taiwan? Why celebrate an event in China that has only vague relevance for the lives of the vast majority of Taiwanese?

  The ROC came into being at a time when Taiwan didn't even fall under its jurisdiction. In 1912, the nation was subject to another imperial power -- Japan. Celebrating Double Ten day here is akin to Taiwanese celebrating Thanksgiving -- it may once have been an important day in the world calender, but it's hardly ours.

  Given that Shih and his followers couldn't care less about this year's national day, the public might as well take the chance to ponder when exactly Taiwan should hold its national celebration.
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