Minority groups slam Chinese law

Aboriginal and Hakka representatives yesterday held a joint press conference to express their strong opposition to China's proposed "anti-secession" law and called on People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) to join in the demonstrations that are to take place today in opposing the law.

Voyu Yakumangana, head of the Taiwan Association for Aboriginal Policy, said the joint press conference was held to make known both Aboriginal and Hakka opposition to Beijing's plan to enact an "anti-secession" law.

"We call on PFP Chairman Soong to echo us in opposing China's `anti secession' law with action taken and take part in the protests," Yakumangana said.

Two mass rallies have been planned for today in opposition to the proposed law.

Former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) is slated to lead an estimated 50,000 marchers in Kaohsiung, while the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) plans to gather some 2,000 supporters for a rally in Taipei. While both President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) are not planning to attend the events, other political heavyweights such as Premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷), Presidential Office Secretary-General Yu Shyi-kun and DPP Chairman Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) are scheduled to take part in the rally in Taipei today.

Kaohsiung City Councilor Chao Tien-lin (趙天麟) of the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) yesterday called on Taiwanese citizens, regardless of political affiliation, age or gender, to come out to express their opposition to China's annexation threat, claiming that the rally is necessary for the safety of the next generation of Taiwanese people.

The TSU is expected to promote the passage of an "anti-annexation" law to counter China's "anti-secession" law at today rally in Kaohsiung.