Fierce infighting in the World League for Freedom and Democracy (WLFD), the only Taiwan-based organization accredited as a non-governmental organization (NGO) of the UN, heated up yesterday as two would-be leaders rallied for what they said was their "legitimate" position as president of the league.
During the past week, the league has held two meetings under the same title in Taipei.
The meetings, however, were arranged by two different groups of people who claim to be the legitimate leaders of the league, one headed by the Legislative Yuan's Vice Speaker Yao Eng-chi (
President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) delivered a speech at a meeting organized by Chang yesterday, marking the beginning of a four-day conference. Chang said the president's move was indicative of his support for Chang's "legitimate" position as the league's leader.
"Since there's a dispute about the WLFD in Taipei, the one which is recognized and chosen by the president to deliver a speech to is the one which is genuine, real and legal," Chang said before introducing Chen to the platform to deliver his speech, triggering a roomful applause among participants.
Chang also said later that Chen's endorsement of his position could be further evidenced by the president's scheduled tea party this afternoon to welcome the conference's participants.
"The president's endorsement means that we are the legitimate and the real WLFD," Chang said, adding that it's impossible for him to accept Yao's claim to be the new president of the league.
In earlier remarks at the conference, Chang expressed his determination to retain his post as the league's leader.
"Ever since Feb. 22, 1999, when I was unanimously elected to be the president of the current WLFD by all the members present at the WLFD Executive Committee Meeting, I have always remembered the significance of my mission," Chang said.
"Since I was elected to serve a four-year term, I will safeguard the mission and the dignity of the WLFD Charter," Chang said.
To defend his position, Yao held a press conference yesterday afternoon, claiming his position as the president of the NGO was in strict accordance with the league's charter.
"Yao took up the position as president of the league after two-thirds of the members of the WLFD's executive board agreed to the arrangement and after participants in the general conference of the League applauded to support the motion. The process was in accordance with the charter and was indeed legitimate," a press release stated.
Yao claimed Chang and he had agreed to hold the conference separately this year, and Chang would convene all the league's executive board members to settle the dispute after the end of the meetings.
But the strained atmosphere triggered by the infighting among the Taiwanese politicians was in no way diminishing as some participants remained either tight-lipped or reserved in commenting on the dispute.
"I am not sure if there is any dispute. But if there is a dispute, it really should be resolved by you Taiwanese," Ceferino Valdez Peralta, Paraguay's Ambassador to Taiwan, told the Taipei Times, during the meeting.
In his New Year press conference on Monday, Minister of Foreign Affairs Tien Hung-mao (田弘茂), also urged politicians and supporters behind the scenes that were involved in the dispute to resolve the issue as soon as possible.
The league has enjoyed a longstanding government subsidy throughout its 40-year history, and the current fiasco may pose a threat as to where the subsidy should go, further weakening the operations of the organization.
The stated mission of the global organization, comprised of 144 national chapters and affiliated international organizations, is to spotlight and encourage political freedom through the strengthening of democratic principles in all countries.
Japan has deployed long-range missiles in a southwestern region near China, the Japanese defense minister said yesterday, at a time when ties with Beijing are at their lowest in recent years. The missiles were installed in Kumamoto in the southern region of Kyushu, as Japan is attempting to shore up its military capacity as China steps up naval activity in the East China Sea. “Standoff defense capabilities enable us to counter the threat of enemy forces attempting to invade our country ... while ensuring the safety of our personnel,” Japanese Minister of Defense Shinjiro Koizumi said. “This is an extremely important initiative for
MORE POPULAR: Taiwan Pass sales increased by 59 percent during the first quarter compared with the same period last year, the Tourism Administration said The Tourism Administration yesterday said that it has streamlined the Taiwan Pass, with two versions available for purchase beginning today. The tourism agency has made the pass available to international tourists since 2024, allowing them to access the high-speed rail, Taiwan Railway Corp services, four MRT systems and four Taiwan Tourist Shuttles. Previously, five types of Taiwan Pass were available, but some tourists have said that the offerings were too complicated. The agency said only two types of Taiwan Pass would be available, starting from a three-day pass with the high-speed rail and a three-day pass with Taiwan Railway Corp. The former costs NT$2,800
POLLS CONCERNS: There are concerns within the KMT that a Cheng Li-wun-Xi Jinping meeting could trigger a voter backlash in elections in November Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) accepted an invitation from Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) to visit next month, her party and Chinese state media reported yesterday. Cheng, who took up her role in November last year, “gladly accepted” the invitation to lead a delegation to China, the KMT said in a statement, confirming a Xinhua news agency report. Cheng “looks forward to joint efforts by both parties to advance the peaceful development of cross-strait relations, promote cross-strait exchanges and cooperation, and work for peace in the Taiwan Strait and greater well-being for people on both sides,” the statement said. Chinese
SIGNIFICANT TO THE WORLD: The delegation’s visit aims to send a clear message that bipartisan support for Taiwan is consistent, US Senator Jeanne Shaheen said The US Senate’s bipartisan support for Taiwan remains strong and Taiwan-US ties would continue for decades to come, a US Senate delegation said in Taipei yesterday, while calling on the legislature to swiftly pass a special defense budget bill. A US delegation led by Democratic US Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Republican US Senator John Curtis — both members of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations — arrived in Taiwan yesterday for a two-day visit. The other senators of the delegation included Senate Taiwan Caucus cochair Thom Tillis and Senate Committee on Armed Services senior member Jacky Rosen. Shaheen told a news
RSS