A number of pro-localization groups including the Taiwan Society (台灣社) will jointly stage a parade on Aug. 30 to protest against President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) China-leaning policies.
The date of the protest was chosen to coincide with the Ma administration’s 100th day in office.
In addition to demanding a healthier economy and protection for Taiwan’s sovereignty, the parade will also demand that the government first obtain public consent through referendum on any major cross-strait agreements in the future, the groups said, adding that Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) has also expressed the same view in the past.
The parade is slated to begin at 3pm on Aug. 30 with a grand finale in front of the Presidential Office.
A Central News Agency report, however, said that over one hundred people have backed out from the event after allegations surfaced about money-laundering by former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) on Thursday.
A Kaohsiung City Councilor and member of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Cheng Kwang-fen (鄭光峰), said he had received lots of angry feedback from the grassroots party members. He expressed concerns that the four buses he scheduled to bring people to the event might not be filled to capacity.
Another DPP Kaohsiung City Councilor, Lee Wen-liang (李文良), also lamented yesterday over the sudden pull-out and feared that the party’s efforts to recruit permanent members — who are required to pay NT$10,000 in dues — will be tougher than ever.
While acknowledging that the recent scandal surrounding the former president’s alleged money laundering activities has impacted the morale of the pan-green camp, the Taiwan Society said the allegations against Chen and Ma’s problematic leadership are two separate issues.
The goal of the protest, the group said, is to shun the pro-China direction that the administration espouses.
If the public fails to stand up and safeguard Taiwan’s survival and sovereignty, the problem will only escalate, the group said.
DPP Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) is a confirmed participant of the rally and agreed to help mobilize the protesters. Former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) will not attend the parade.
When asked by reporters yesterday whether he would attend the rally, Lee said he would not attend any “political activities.”
Additional reporting by Mo Yan-chih
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