For Immediate Release
Washington DC – February 9, 2008
Contact: (202) 547-3686
67 Taiwanese American Groups Call For U.S. Support For Taiwan Referendum In Washington Post Ad
On Sunday February 10, 67 Taiwanese American sponsors will place a half page advertisement in the Washington Post seeking support for Taiwan’s upcoming UN referendum. The ad will appear in the Post’s “Outlook” section, the must-read section for political pundits and for readers interested in foreign policy.
The ad expresses the sentiment of a vast roster of Taiwanese American organizations that strongly support the democratic referendum plans.
Deeply disturbed by the fact that over the last few months of 2007 several high officials of the Bush Administration made statements in which they express opposition to Taiwan’s planned referendum, calling it “provocative” and “a mistake,” the organizations felt that time for action is now.
In the ad the organizations not only urge the United States government to support Taiwan’s full membership in international organizations, they also urge President Bush to “trust the people of Taiwan to choose a future of freedom and peace,” by supporting Taiwan’s upcoming democratic referendum.
FAPA President Bob Yang states: “We believe that US repeated high-volume opposition to the referendum casts doubt upon the US willingness to stand up for democracy, and undermines the US position as a champion of democracy in East Asia.”
Dr. Yang concludes: “We ask that the US support Taiwan’s upcoming referendum. And if -for whatever reason- they are unable to support it, we ask that they at least keep quiet and let Taiwan’s democratic process run its course.”
The organizations urge President Bush to make good on his words when he said in his Second Inaugural address in 2004: “So it is the policy of the United States to seek and support the growth of democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture…” Also, when he stated in his recent State of the Union Address on January 28th 2008: “Our foreign policy is based on a clear premise: We trust that people, when given the chance, will choose a future of freedom and peace.”
The ad concludes: “There can be no double standard when it comes to supporting democracy.”
六十七個台美人團體聯登華郵廣告，呼籲美國政府支持台灣入聯公投
六十七個台美人社團將於二月十日在對美國政界最具影響力的華盛頓郵報聯登半版廣告，尋求美國各界對台灣三月入聯公投的支持。台美團體特地選在華郵每週日的「展望」專輯刊登此廣告，主要是有鑑於「展望」專輯是美國政界人士與關心外交事務民眾必讀的專欄。
過去幾個月以來，美國行政部門官員一再公開反對台灣的入聯公投，批評入聯公投是一挑釁、錯誤的舉動，廣泛引起台美社團的不滿，因而決定直接訴諸美國讀者，以刊登廣告的方式表達眾多台美團體支持民主公投的強烈意願。
這個廣告不只呼籲美國政府支持台灣在國際組織裡的完整會員籍，並呼籲布希總統應支持台灣民主投票以展現他信任台灣人民將會「選擇一個自由與和平的未來」。
廣告裡引用布希總統2004年的第二任就職演說，「美國政策旨在尋找與支持各個國家和文化裡的民主運動與制度的成長⋯⋯」；廣告接著並引用日前布希總統任內最後一次的國情諮文：「我們的外交政策是建構在一個清楚的前提之下，那就是我們相信人民，在給予選擇機會時，會『選擇一個自由與和平的未來』。」廣告最後並以「支持民主不能有雙重標準」為結尾。
FAPA會長楊英育表示：「美國持續高分貝地反對入聯公投，不僅令人懷疑美國是否真心有意支持民主，並且有損美國在東亞為民主捍衛者的的聲譽。」
楊英育繼續表示：「我們希望美國能支持入聯公投。但無論是什麼原因導致美國無法支持入聯公投時，我們要求美國至少能選擇不再公開出聲反對，尊重並讓台灣的民主程序順其自然發展。」
