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Lee meets independence advocate

Veteran independence campaigner Shih Ming cuts a birthday cake with former president Lee Teng-hui during yesterday's opening ceremony of the Shih Ming Educational Foundation. Yesterday was Shih's 83rd birthday. PHOTO: CHEN CHENG-CHANG, TAIPEI TIMES

Although taking different political paths, former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) said yesterday that he shared political ideologies and feelings toward Taiwan with Su Beng (史明), a lifelong campaigner for Taiwan's independence.

In their first meeting, the two political icons -- who have both advocated Taiwan independence, each in their own way -- lauded each other for what they have done for their motherland.

"After reading the book Taiwan's 400-year History (台灣人四百年史) penned by Su, I know that Su's thoughts and beliefs are identical to mine," Lee said while attending the opening ceremony for the Su Beng Educational Foundation.

The ceremony was organized to promote Taiwanese culture and elevate national awareness.

"He is a revolutionary, and I am an activist. We chose different paths, yet we have something in common -- the spirit to fight for Taiwan's future."

Dubbed "the founding father of Taiwan" by the foundation, Lee said that now he could talk to his heart's content as a "a free individual."

Lee told the audience that "it is high time that Taiwanese voice their opinions" for localization and democratization.

After Lee's speech, Su took to the podium, giving a speech full of praise for Lee.

"Originally I considered him as an enemy. But after witnessing what he has done for the past 12 years [as Taiwan's president], I think he has the heart of a true Taiwanese," the 83-year-old Su said.

"I hope [Lee] can make further progress," he continued.

"We have to shout loudly to demand Taiwan's independence."

Lee responded with a smile.

Yesterday's event culminated as the two of them cut a cake for Su's 83th birthday.

The icing on the cake depicted China and Taiwan, and Lee and Su sliced the dessert down the center of the Taiwan Strait, suggesting that the two "will be separate countries from now on."

Su was born in 1918 in Taipei. Greatly influenced by socialism, Su joined the Red Army near Shanghai in 1942 after graduating from Waseda University in Japan, but found himself disillusioned by Marxism seven years later. He returned poor and disheartened to Taiwan in 1949.

After his return, his distress intensified as he saw the nation devastated by KMT rule. Su was later charged with forming the Revolutionary Armed forces for Taiwan Independence. However, he managed to sneak into Japan, and lived there for more than 40 years.

Su returned to Taiwan in 1993 and was immediately arrested, but was released on bail later that year.

Su is known for his stoicism as he wrote Taiwan's 400-year History while earning a meager income running a small noodle shop in Tokyo.
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