For Immediate Release
Washington DC – August 19, 2013
Contact: (202) 547-3686
Taiwanese-American Organizations Urge President Ma To listen To The Voice Of The Taiwanese People
Today a group of twenty-one major Taiwanese-American organizations published an Open Letter to President Ma Ying-jeou, who is stopping in Los Angeles on his way back from a visit to several countries in the Caribbean.
In the letter they expressed concern about recent actions and decisions by the Ma government, and voiced support for the recent mass protests in Taiwan organized by civic organizations.
The groups applauded the fact that Taiwan had made a momentous transition to democracy only some 25 years ago, and stated that their hopes for Taiwan were high “… when under former Presidents Lee Teng-hui and Chen Shui-bian, Taiwan moved towards a vibrant democracy, and gained acceptance in the international community as a free and democratic nation.”
However, the groups said, during the past five years, under the rule of President Ma, “…Taiwan has increasingly drifted in the direction of a repressive China, at the expense of freedom and democracy in Taiwan.”
The twenty-one organizations applauded the fact that at the present time “… the people in Taiwan – from all sides of the political spectrum — are not accepting this, and are now taking to the streets to express their opposition to the wrong-headed policies and heavy-handed practices of your administration.”
The organizations referred to the massive demonstrations which have taken place in Taiwan over the past few months, covering a wide range of issues, such as the death of conscript Hung Chung-chiu on July 4th 2013 while undergoing excessive disciplinary measures in military detention; The signing of the Services Trade Agreement with China on June 21st 2013, and the plans by the Ma government to push through completion of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant at Kungliao.
The organizations stated that “Taken together, these demonstrations show that the people of Taiwan are angry and upset about the incompetence in your government, the gradual drift into the shadow of China, and the increase in heavy-handed policies and practices reminiscent of the days of the repressive Martial Law, which remained in effect from the time the Kuomintang came over from China after World War II until 1987.”
The organizations urged the Ma government “… to listen to the voice of the Taiwanese, and move towards policies that are in the interest of Taiwan itself.” They also appealed to the United States government and Congress to pay close attention to the developments in Taiwan, and to support those who fight for freedom and democracy.
The organizations concluded: “A stable, free, and democratic Taiwan can only be ensured if the people have a fully free choice in running their own lives, and if they have a free choice on their future. This is only served if Taiwan has open and transparent policies that serve the interest of the people in the country.”
FAPA President Mark Kao adds: “We will relay the concerns expressed at the protests in Taiwan to the US Congress and US Government, so they will be aware of these developments and pursue policies in support of a truly free and democratic Taiwan.”
台灣人公共事務會呼籲馬總統傾聽台灣人的心聲
馬總統在結束「賀誼專案」後，今日回國途中於洛杉磯停留之際，21個台美人組織共同簽署一封給馬總統的公開信。
信中表達對馬政府近來的政策的憂心，並對最近台灣公民團體所發起的大規模抗議行動表示支持。
信中讚許台灣在25年前得以開始轉變為民主國家，並述說當李前總統與陳前總統當政時，台灣的民主逐漸活絡，而在國際社會中更被視為一個自由的民主國家，使他們對台灣的前途充滿希望。
然而，過去五年來在馬政府的執政下，台灣逐漸向中國傾斜，而這個轉變的代價，便是台灣的民主與自由。
信中也說道，現在台灣的人民，不分黨派，皆不願接受這樣的改變，並在街頭上表達對馬政府錯誤政策及強硬手段的不滿。
信中並提道過去幾個月中抗議行動的訴求主旨，包括陸軍下士洪仲丘過度操練致死案、「兩岸服務業貿易協議」簽定，以及政府欲強行通過核四續建案。
「這幾波抗議行動，已展現出台灣人民對於您政府的無能、政策的傾中，以及如戒嚴時期般的強硬壓制手段的憤怒與不滿。」
這21個台美人組織呼籲馬政府傾聽台灣人的聲音，並制定符合台灣利益的政策。他們並促請美國政府與國會持續關注台灣的發展，並支持那些為民主自由而戰的人士。
信中最後總結道：「穩定、自由、民主的台灣，唯有在台灣人民可以自由選擇自己的生活與未來的情形下才能維持，而只有公開透明且符合台灣人利益的政策才能確保台灣自由民主的永續發展。」
台灣人公共事務會會長高龍榮博士表示：「我們會將這些抗議行動中的訴求轉達給美國國會與美國政府，讓他們知道這些議題在台灣的發展，並制定支持台灣自由民主的政策。」
Joint Letter to President Ma
President Ma Ying-jeou Washington, August 19th, 2013
Office of the President
Taipei, Taiwan
President Ma,
The undersigned Taiwanese-American organizations hereby want to express concern about recent actions and decisions by your government, and support for the recent mass protests in Taiwan organized by civic organizations.
As Taiwanese-Americans we cherish the freedom and democracy we enjoy in the United States, and applaud the fact that the country of our birth, Taiwan, made a momentous transition to democracy only some 25 years ago.
Our hopes were high when under former Presidents Lee Teng-hui and Chen Shui-bian, Taiwan moved towards a vibrant democracy, and gained acceptance in the international community as a free and democratic nation.
However, during the past five years, under your rule, Taiwan has increasingly drifted in the direction of a repressive China, at the expense of freedom and democracy in Taiwan.
Fortunately, the people in Taiwan – from all sides of the political spectrum — are not accepting this, and are now taking to the streets to express their opposition to the wrong-headed policies and heavy-handed practices of your administration. Over the past few months, we have seen massive demonstrations in Taiwan on a wide range of issues:
- The death of conscript Hung Chung-chiu on July 4th 2013 while undergoing excessive disciplinary measures in military detention;
- The signing of the Services Trade Agreement with China on June 21st 2013;
- The plans by your government to push through completion of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant at Kungliao; and
- The forced demolition of homes in Taipei and Miaoli.
Taken together, these demonstrations show that the people of Taiwan are angry and upset about the incompetence in your government, the gradual drift into the shadow of China, and the increase in heavy-handed policies and practices reminiscent of the days of the repressive Martial Law, which remained in effect from the time the Kuomintang came over from China after World War II until 1987.
We urge our friends and families in Taiwan to continue the pressure for justice, freedom and democracy;
We urge your government in Taiwan to listen to the voice of the Taiwanese, and move towards policies that are in the interest of Taiwan itself;
We appeal to the United States government and Congress to pay close attention to the developments in Taiwan, and to support those who fight for freedom and democracy.
A stable, free, and democratic Taiwan can only be ensured if the people have a fully free choice in running their own lives, and if they have a free choice on their future. This is only served if Taiwan has open and transparent policies that serve the interest of the people in the country.
Sincerely yours,
- Dr. Wang Kang-Lu Memorial Foundation
- Formosan Association for Human Rights
- Formosan Association for Public Affairs
- Friends For Taiwan
- North America Taiwanese Professors’ Association
- North America Taiwanese Women’s Association
- North America Taiwanese Women’s Association – St. Louis Chapter
- North American Taiwanese Engineers’ Association
- Professor Chen Wen-Chen’s Memorial Foundation
- Taiwan Hakka Association for Public Affairs in North America
- Taiwanese American Center – Northern California
- Taiwanese Association of America
- Taiwanese Association of America – Cincinnati
- Taiwanese Association of America – Eastern Tennessee
- Taiwanese Association of America – Las Vegas
- Taiwanese Association of America – Northern New Jersey
- Taiwanese Association of America – Greater Orlando
- Taiwanese Association of America – Richmond
- Taiwanese Association of America – Richmond
- World Taiwanese Congress
- World United Formosans for Independence – USA
馬英九總統鈞鑒：
簽署本信之台美社團，特此表達對您近來的政策的憂心，並對最近台灣公民團體所發啟的大規模抗議行動表示支持。
身為台美人，我們非常珍惜在美國所享有的民主自由，同時也讚許我們的母國－台灣，在25年前得以開始轉變為民主國家。
當李前總統與陳前總統當政時，台灣的民主逐漸活絡，而在國際社會中更被視為一個自由的民主國家，我們對台灣的前途也充滿希望。
然而，過去五年中，在您的執政之下，台灣逐漸向中國傾斜，而這個轉變的代價，便是台灣的民主與自由。
所幸，台灣的人民，不分黨派，皆不願接受這樣的改變，並在街頭上表達對您的錯誤政策及強硬手段的不滿。過去幾個月中，我們看到許多針對不同議題的街頭抗議活動：
一、 2013年7月4日，陸軍下士洪仲丘於禁閉室中，遭過度操練致死案；
二、 2013年6月21日，「兩岸服務業貿易協議」的簽署；
三、 政府欲強行通過核四續建案；
四、 台北市及苗栗縣民宅遭強行拆除案。
這幾波抗議行動，已展現出台灣人民對於您政府的無能、政策的傾中，以及如戒嚴時期般的強硬壓制手段的憤怒與不滿。
我們呼籲我們在台灣的親友持續施壓，要求正義、自由，與民主。
我們呼籲台灣的政府傾聽台灣人的聲音，並制定符合台灣利益的政策。
我們促請美國政府與國會持續關注台灣的發展，並支持那些為民主自由而戰的人士。
穩定、自由、民主的台灣，唯有在台灣人民可以自由選擇自己的生活與未來的情形下才能維持，而只有公開透明且符合台灣人利益的政策才能確保台灣自由民主的永續發展。
敬請 鈞安
