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Chen tells voters to bury nation's dictatorial past

President Chen Shui-bian, right, listens to a question during an interview with the Taipei Times in the Presidential Office yesterday. PHOTO: GEORGE TSORNG, TAIPEI TIMES

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) said yesterday his winning a second term is essential if the nation is to complete its evolution from an authoritarian state to a democracy.

"If I am re-elected, Taiwan will be the first country among Asia's democracies to successfully defeat its ancien regime in its evolution from authoritarianism to democracy," Chen told the Taipei Times.

"In the three global waves of democratization, many countries, including ones in Asia, completed the transfer of political power, but these countries are either still mired in commotion or the original authoritarian conservative political parties and forces have made a comeback because the people could not put up with the pain of reforms," Chen said.

"If the Taiwanese people can once again resist China's pressure and let A-bian and the Democratic Progressive Party [DPP], of whom Beijing is least supportive, win the election and let the first referendum in Taiwan's history be smoothly carried out, this will be important progress in the development of democracy," he said.

Chen said that even if he wins re-election, eight years are not enough to accomplish reforms to perfect Taiwan's internal welfare system, but added he hoped to create a legacy for the nation.

"I want to be the person who shapes Taiwanese awareness, the terminator of `black gold' politics, the promoter of democratic reforms, the defender of fairness and justice, and the creator of cross-strait peace," Chen said.

"I am confident that these credits will be how future generations come to know me."

Asked what measures he would like to implement in a second term to build a stronger Taiwanese consciousness, Chen said a new constitution that reflects the country's reality is his main mission over the next four years.

"During the past four years, Taiwanese awareness has risen dramatically. Over 50 percent of Taiwanese people now believe they are Taiwanese and not Chinese. This is the result of the DPP government's promotion of Taiwanese awareness, but it is still not enough," Chen said.

"Because quite a few people view the enemy country as their motherland and believe that Taiwan is a part of China," he said, "we must help people understand that, from the perspective of Taiwanese awareness, Chinese culture is only part of us."

Chen added that de-Sinicization is not the reason for the DPP's promotion of Taiwanese awareness. Rather, he said, the purpose is to let the Taiwanese people understand that the past colonial experience is only a part of Taiwanese culture.

He said the only way to turn Taiwan into a normal, complete, beautiful and great country is to create a new constitution by way of participation of the entire citizenry over the next four years.

"As a nation, there are still some abnormal and incomplete areas. I hope to hold a referendum on the Constitution in 2006 and to enact it in 2008," Chen said.

Asked whether the DPP will change the country's name, flag and anthem if a majority of people demand such changes or whether he would backtrack under international pressure, Chen said he would complete Taiwan's democratic reforms under the premise of "maintaining Taiwan's sovereign status quo."

"The `five noes' promise in my inauguration speech on May 20, 2000, will not change. I will abide by the principles and promises I made during the past four years," he said. "Therefore, I am confident that the international community, especially our allies and friends, will support Taiwan and put their trust in my administration."

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