For Immediate Release
Washington DC – March 10, 2008
Contact: (202) 547-3686
Taiwan Caucus Co-Chairs Express Dismay About Administration’s Opposition To Taiwan’s Referendum Plans
In a letter to President Bush dated March 5, 2008 three co-chairs of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus urge the President to “remain silent on [Taiwan’s UN referendum] for the remainder of the ongoing presidential election campaign in Taiwan. The US should not be perceived as taking sides, and should let the democratic process in Taiwan run its course.”
Reps. Shelley Berkley (D-NV), Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) and Steve Chabot (R-OH) state: “We are […] disturbed by the fact that over the last few months of 2007, several senior officials of your Administration made statements in which they expressed opposition to Taiwan’s planned referendum, calling it ‘provocative’ and ‘a mistake’.”
They conclude: “Only by standing firmly with democratic Taiwan will we uphold our principles in promoting freedom worldwide.”
FAPA President Bob Yang, PhD, states: “The 23 million people of Taiwan have a right to hold such a referendum. And clearly, Taiwan’s Referendum is not a ‘provocation’, except to those who view it through China’s lenses. Referendum is a peaceful exercise of the purest form of democracy as seen in many countries around the world. We therefore urge every eligible voter in Taiwan to participate in this important democratic exercise.”
眾議院台灣連線主席對美行政部門反對台灣入聯公投深表失望
眾議院台灣連線主席於上週(5日)聯署致函布希總統，呼籲布希總統不要就台灣即將舉行的入聯公投表示任何反對意見。他們在信中表示：「美國不應該被視為選邊站，應該讓民主程序順其自然地發展。」
柏克麗、羅拉巴克與夏波議員表示：「對於去年年底數位行政部門數位官員一再強烈反對台灣的入聯公投，宣稱此舉挑釁並是一個錯誤，我們感到困擾。」「只有堅定地與民主的台灣站在一起，我們才能謹守（美國）提倡世界自由的原則。」
FAPA會長楊英育表示：「台灣兩千三百萬人民有權利舉行公投。只有透過中國的菱鏡來看，才會認為此舉是挑釁的行為；世界各國早已舉行過無數次公民投票，因為這是民主體制中最基本的一個表彰。我們誠摯呼籲台灣的選民能支持這個重要的民主程序。」
