DPP seeks referendum support

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday urged each of the 2 million people who participated in the Feb. 28 human-chain rally to get five more people to vote in the referendum.

The party wants to ensure the minimum 10 million votes required for a valid referendum are achieved.

With the election is less than 20 days away, the DPP has started to focus on the referendum campaign to keep up the momentum generated by the 228 Hand-in-Hand Rally.

DPP spokesman Wu Nai-jen (吳乃仁) said that with the successful completion of the 500km human chain, which received widespread international publicity, the core issue with which the international community is concerned is whether Taiwan could pass the referendum.

Wu said the March 20 referendum will be the first such vote in Taiwan's history and that its historic meaning is undeniable.

He said that if the referendum is a success, Taiwan's international standing will improve and the international community will pay more attention to the voice of the Taiwanese people.

Taking a stand

"The 228 Hand-in-Hand rally was an unprecedented success and marked the start of when people began to take actions to protect Taiwan. The success of the referendum, however, will be the concrete fruit of these efforts to protect Taiwan," Wu said.

Meanwhile, the DPP yesterday announced it will host the annual Asia regional conference of Liberal International and the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) in Kaohsiung City from tomorrow to Saturday.

More than 100 representatives from 32 countries will attend the conference to discuss democracy consolidation and the role of political parties.

At the CALD convention, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) is expected to become rotary chairman of the group, making it the first time a national leader from Taiwan has chaired an international political organization.

The director of the DPP's International Affairs Department, Legislator Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴), said yesterday the delegates from Liberal International and CALD will not only participate in the conference but also observe the upcoming presidential election.

International support

Hsiao said the convention, which coincides with the presidential election campaign and the runup to the referendum, is a good opportunity to promote Taiwan's referendum plan.

"We hope to use this opportunity to introduce Taiwan," Hsiao said.

She said neighboring countries, such as the Philippines, have been using referendums to conduct major national reforms including the creation of a new constitution.

Liberal International has supported Taiwan's entry into international organizations and passed a resolution last year to support the country's bid to join the World Health Organization. It also supports the people of Taiwan's right to use self-determination to decide the country's future.

Last month, the the group passed a resolution opposing the EU's lifting of its arms embargo against China and condemned French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder for their proposal to lift the embargo.

Liberal International is a federation of liberal political parties. Founded in 1947 it has become the pre-eminent network of liberal parties and aims to strengthen liberal democracy around the world. The DPP joined Liberal International in 2001.