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Editorial: Choose a rally, make yourself heard

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) will each stage a rally on Sept.15 to drum up support for their respective referendum proposals.

The DPP said its UN referendum rally is expected to attract 500,000 people, while the KMT, holding its own rally in Taichung, expects to draw a crowd of hundreds of thousands.

KMT Secretary-General Wu Den-yih (吳敦義) said that his party would go ahead with the rally despite media reports that Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) has sent a letter to KMT presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) voicing his objection to the KMT's campaign to hold a referendum on the UN bid. There has been speculation that the KMT, using an excuse other than Chinese pressure, might decide to cancel its rally at the last minute.

Regardless of this, people should be encouraged to take part in the rally of their choice.

The KMT's version of the referendum -- suggesting that the nation use the name "Republic of China" (ROC), or any other "practical" title that would uphold the country's dignity, to "return" to the UN -- does not make any sense. The China seat in the UN was long ago taken over by the People's Republic of China and for Taiwan to "rejoin" the UN under the name ROC is a fantasy. However, people who prefer this version to that of the DPP are welcome to take their support and enthusiasm to Taichung.

On the other hand, people who favor the DPP's UN referendum proposal -- suggesting the nation apply for UN membership under the name "Taiwan" -- should take their passion and zeal for the bid to Kaohsiung.

At this point, it is no longer a popularity contest over which rally on the day attracts the largest turnout. It is not even about the DPP or the KMT anymore, but rather the collective voice of Taiwanese being heard by the international community, regardless of their political affiliation, in their joint desire that their nation be admitted to the UN.

Taiwan's claim is an unpopular one. But that does not mean the dignity and desires of Taiwanese should be neglected and brushed aside by others in the international community. Just because Taiwan is being ostracized -- and has the unfortunate fate of being situated next to a vicious neighbor -- does not mean Taiwanese have to stay mute in the face of China's saber-rattling.

The rallies to be staged on Sept. 15 offer a great opportunity for China, as well as the rest of the world, to hear the collective voice and desires of Taiwanese. What they want is to be treated with the same respect and be afforded the same human rights as peoples who already have representation at the UN.
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