Print

Mail

wiki links

Pan-green camp plans mass march for change

The pan-green camp plans a march to be held next Saturday in Kaohsiung to campaign for referendum legislation and the establishment of a new constitution. From left, DPP Legislator Chiu Yeong-jen, DPP Secretary General Chang Chun-hsiung, DPP Legislator Trong Chai and TSU Secretary General Lin Chi-chia pose at a press conference yesterday to promote the march. PHOTO: SEAN CHAO, TAIPEI TIMES

More than 200,000 people are expected to take to the streets in the southern port city of Kaohsiung next Saturday to campaign for referendum legislation and the establishment of a new constitution.

The march will be a big boost to the pan-green camp's efforts to pass legislation to pave way for a number of national reforms, such as the creation of a new constitution and changing the country's political system.

The planned march is being organized by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU), the Alliance for Legislating a Plebiscite Law, the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan and 24 other private organizations.

"When we started, we hoped to have 150,000 people to join the march. But judging from the enthusiastic registration we received from our supporters, the number of people joining the march will far exceed 200,000," said DPP Legislator Trong Chai (蔡同榮), who is the convener-general of the march.

"We hope that with the massive show of people power, the opposition parties can be prompted to expedite the referendum legislation," Chai said.

DPP Secretary General Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) said that the people's participation in a referendum is no longer a political dream but a reality that will be exercised in Taiwan soon.

"It is going to be a major milestone for democratic achievements in Taiwan," Chang said.

The massive rally is expected to demonstrate again the solidarity of the pan-green camp, including the DPP, its strategic partner the TSU and other private organizations advocating Taiwan independence.

Leading up to the rally, two torch-relay marathons will be carried out in northern and southern Taiwan.

In the north, former DPP chairman Lin I-hsiung (林義雄) -- a long-time activist who pushed for a public vote on the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant -- will light up the torch in Kungliao tomorrow.

In the south, Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) will light up the torch in Oluanpi (鵝鸞鼻), in the southernmost tip of Pingtung County, on Thursday.

The torch marathons from the north and south are expected to converge in Kaohsiung next Saturay, the day of the march. That event will be the climax of the march, where President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) is expected to deliver a speech and join the rally.
This story has been viewed 2079 times.