Saturday's protest in Taipei initiated by the Democratic
Progressive Party and other secessionist groups has aroused
complaints among Taiwanese, who blame the politicians for blowing
the people's money on a "political carnival" that "makes no
sense."
Some participants in the march shouted themselves hoarse to fan
hostility against the mainland. Leading figures of Taiwan
authorities and "Taiwan independence" secessionists, including
former Taiwan leader Lee Teng-hui, were among the marchers.
Wang Hsiaopo, professor of National Taiwan University, said the
Anti-Secession
Law is induced by the wild advocacy of "one country on each
side" and "rectification of Taiwan's name" through amending the
constitution by Taiwan authorities.
"Now the DPP is organizing the march to oppose the law. Isn't it
duping the Taiwan people?" said Wang.
Hsu Wen-lung, former chairman of one of Taiwan's largest
conglomerates Chi-Mei Corp., said Taiwan's economic development
depended on the mainland. "Promoting independence will only lead
Taiwan to war and drag Taiwan people into a disaster," he said.
"We pay a lot of attention to President
Hu Jintao's recent speech and the promulgation of the
Anti-Secession?Law. We feel more at ease after learning the
contents of the speech and the law," said Hsu.
Taiwan's opposition parties refused to take part in Saturday's
protest, saying "It is improper for leaders of the authorities to
appear in the street protest."
Several Taiwan-based civilian organizations, including the
Alliance for China Reunification, the Association of the Chinese
Professor, Democratic Solidarity, the Chinese Peaceful Unification
Association and the New Alliance, published announcements
expressing their opposition to the protest in the past few
days.
"The Anti-Secession Law is forced by Taiwan authorities," said
one of the announcements. "If Taiwan authorities could abide by
their pledges of 'five no's' policy, why should they fear the
law?"
Pledges in the "five no's" policy include no declaration of
Taiwan independence, no incorporation of "two states" into its
constitution, no change of the so-called country's name and no
referendum on Taiwan independence.
Both Hu's speech on March 4 and the Anti-Secession Law expressed
the message that the Chinese people will do their best to seek
peaceful reunification of the motherland but will never tolerate
"Taiwan independence."
Organizers said it might take at least 80 million new Taiwan
dollars (US$2.54 million) to mobilize the people to take to the
streets in Taipei to protest against the Anti-Secession Law adopted
by China's National People's Congress on March 14.
(Xinhua News Agency March 27, 2005)