A pro-independence group yesterday advocated setting Sept. 8 as the day to commemorate Taiwan's independence, and promoted a campaign to establish the "Republic of Taiwan."
Sept. 8 should be set aside to mark Taiwan's independence since the date recalls Japan's signing of the San Francisco Peace Treaty in 1951, in which it relinquished its claim to Taiwan, the leader of the 908 Taiwan Republic Campaign, Peter Wang (
"And since that day Taiwan has been an independent nation and Taiwan's sovereignty has belonged to all the people of Taiwan," Wang said.
"I think all the people of Taiwan should recognize this reality and come to join our activities to know more about history," he added.
Wang also said that the 908 Taiwan Republic Campaign will continue to promote changing the nation's name as well as adopting a new constitution.
"Hopefully our new Taiwan president in 2008 will announce the scrapping of the Constitution of Republic of China and adopt a new one that fits the Republic of Taiwan," Wang said.
On Sept. 8, a flag-raising ceremony for the "Republic of Taiwan" will be held at Ketagelan Boulevard at 9am and a rally will take place in front of Lungshan Temple at 7pm (龍山寺), according to Wang.
To promote the campaign to establish the "Republic of Taiwan," Wang, as well as other supporters -- mostly women accompanied by their kids -- yesterday handed out campaign leaflets in front of Lungshan Temple to both passersby and visitors, and also invited them to join in the Sept. 8 events.
Meanwhile, Wang also expressed approval of the Presidential Office's decision to change the title of its official Web site, saying that the addition of the word "Taiwan" after the words the "Republic of China" on the site was encouraging.
Wang, however, thought it was not enough.
"I think the Presidential Office should directly change the Web site's title to the "Republic of Taiwan and lead Taiwan to participate in international organizations with that new name," Wang said. "Only by using a clear and adequate official name can Taiwan's national status be properly conveyed and can the dignity of the people of Taiwan in the global village be ensured."
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