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March will feature two 15m high `spiritual forts'

Chen Chuan-yueh, center, chairman of the ``Democracy, Peace and Defend Taiwan Alliance,'' extends an invitation to Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng yesterday to participate in Saturday's march to protest China's ``Anti-Secession'' Law. PHOTO: GEORGE TSORNG, TAIPEI TIMES

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) will announce today whether he will participate in the march slated for Saturday to protest China's "Anti-Secession" Law, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairman Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) said yesterday.

Chen will make his decision known when he receives the organizers of the march at the Presidential Office, he said after a news conference at which the march organizer, the "Democracy, Peace and Defend Taiwan Alliance" (民主和平護台灣大聯盟), unveiled models of two 15m high "spiritual forts" that will be erected on Ketagelan Boulevard in front of the Presidential Office.

One model is a white globe that Su called a "shining pearl," signifying Taiwan's love of peace and insistence on democracy. The other is a red globe with long spikes, resembling a sea urchin and symbolizing China's violence-oriented autocracy, according to Su.

The two "spiritual forts" signify the strong contrast between the natures of Taiwan and China, Su said.

"The red sea urchin with long pointed spikes also symbolizes China's missiles targeted at Taiwan and the SARS virus spreading to Taiwan, which both convey an uncomfortable feeling of suppression, evil and danger. It is an impression that China has given Taiwan and the whole world," Su added.

At yesterday's news conference, presidential adviser Lee Yuan-chen (李元貞) and the former president of the Taiwan Junior Chamber (國際青年商會), Tsai Shih-yin (蔡世寅), joined fellow alliance members in piercing red balloons resembling sea urchins.

They said the action represents resistance to an invasion by China.

Meanwhile, the alliance has prepared about a dozen mobile phone messages that can be downloaded from its Web site and sent to young people to encourage them to take part in the march.

"We know that young people love using mobile messages to communicate with their friends, and we hope these messages will promote their participation in the march," Cheng Wen-tsan (鄭文燦) of the DPP's information and culture department said.

Later yesterday, Cheng, DPP caucus whip Peter Lin (林進興) and other alliance members visited Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) and Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) to invite them to join the rally.

Wang did not give an answer immediately, saying he needed more time to think about it.

Taipei City spokesman Yu Tze-hsiang (游梓翔) said that Ma would not attend, because he has to attend to municipal activities.
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