1992 ‘Nonsensus’
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) is right when she asks why the administration of President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) wants to resume cross-strait negotiations based on the so-called “1992 consensus” without clarifying what the consensus is (“Tsai rejects independence criticism,” June 4, page 3).
As a matter of fact, the whole notion of the “1992 consensus” should immediately be thrown on the ash heap of history. Not just because its meaning and content are unclear, but because the concept dates from 1992 — well before Taiwan became a democracy.
In 1992, Taiwan was still a one-party state. It was four years before its first direct presidential election took place, eight years before the first peaceful transfer of power in the nation’s history and only six years after the DPP was born. The so-called “consensus” therefore could not have had the backing of the people.
The moment Taiwan became a democracy, all previously concluded agreements had to be swept off the table.
The “1992 nonsensus” would be a more appropriate name for this so-called “agreement.”
COEN BLAAUW
Washington
Let’s clean up our act first
For sure the hype and hoopla surrounding the 2009 World Games in Kaohsiung has led to some worthwhile projects in the south that will benefit all for many years to come.
The active promotion of English programs aimed at providing a tourist-friendly environment and the MRT are just a few examples. However, the idea of the government spending NT$3 billion (US$98.8 million) in tax dollars on a cable car system in Kaohsiung needs to be re-examined.
First, what will visitors see as they glide over the emerald green hills of Shoushan (壽山)? No doubt a large swath of clear-cut land, where trees were felled to make way for the cable car system. They may even catch a glimpse of the protected — but now displaced — Taiwanese macaques. Was this not one of the reasons environmentalists challenged the original plan back in 2002?
Second, as visitors are carried over the cityscape, they will undoubtedly see streets filled with litter for lack of a viable public trash collection system. Is it grand time we began providing public garbage cans on busy urban street corners.
The real Sentosa is in Singapore, a city-state that prides itself on cleanliness and a rubbish-free environment held together through education programs that focus on protecting the environment and strict laws that utilize steep fines as a deterrent for litter bugs.
Residents of Kaohsiung would be better served if their tax dollars were used toward promoting these long-term ideals. This would not only give the visitors of the World Games, but also future generations, something to cheer about.
PAUL OLIVEE
Niaosung,
Kaohsiung County
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