The 908 Taiwan Nation Movement, a local pro-independence group, announced yesterday that it will mobilize 3 million people to form a human chain around Taiwan on Feb. 28, 2008 to push for passage of a new "Taiwan Nation Constitution."
Wang Hsien-chi (王獻極), convener of the movement, told a news conference that last year's "1 million people human chain" activity helped President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) win re-election, but that it failed to realize the goal of enacting a new constitution for Taiwan and changing the nation's official title from the "Republic of China" to "Taiwan."
"We now plan to hold an even larger-scale activity to drum up support for our goal of writing a new constitution for Taiwan by mobilizing 3 million people to join hands to form a circle around Taiwan on Feb. 28, 2008 ahead of the next presidential election," Wang said, adding that the human chain activity will show the world the Taiwanese people's resolve to formulate a new constitution and establish a new "Taiwan Nation."
Following the end of the human chain activity, Wang said, his group will throw support behind the presidential candidate who explicitly backs its cause and promises to implement the new constitution if elected. The next presidential election is scheduled to be held in March 2008.
Wang said since two pro-unification Taiwan opposition heavyweights -- former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) and People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) -- made high-profile visits to China earlier this year, more Taiwanese people have leaned toward China.
Worse still, Wang said, the pro-China trend has become even more evident after charismatic Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) succeeded Lien as KMT chairman. Ma is widely seen as a shoo-in to win the 2008 presidential election.
The first global hotel Keys Selection by the Michelin Guide includes four hotels in Taiwan, Michelin announced yesterday. All four received the “Michelin One Key,” indicating guests are to experience a “very special stay” at any of the locations as the establishments are “a true gem with personality. Service always goes the extra mile, and the hotel provides much more than others in its price range.” Of the four hotels, three are located in Taipei and one in Taichung. In Taipei, the One Key accolades were awarded to the Capella Taipei, Kimpton Da An Taipei and Mandarin Oriental Taipei. Capella Taipei was described by
EVA Airways today confirmed the death of a flight attendant on Saturday upon their return to Taiwan and said an internal investigation has been launched, as criticism mounted over a social media post accusing the airline of failing to offer sufficient employee protections. According to the post, the flight attendant complained of feeling sick on board a flight, but was unable to take sick leave or access medical care. The crew member allegedly did not receive assistance from the chief purser, who failed to heed their requests for medical attention or call an ambulance once the flight landed, the post said. As sick
The Taichung District Court yesterday confirmed its final ruling that the marriage between teenage heir Lai (賴) and a man surnamed Hsia (夏) was legally invalid, preventing Hsia from inheriting Lai’s NT$500 million (US$16.37 million) estate. The court confirmed that Hsia chose not to appeal the civil judgement after the court handed down its ruling in June, making the decision final. In the June ruling, the court said that Lai, 18, and Hsia, 26, showed “no mutual admiration before the marriage” and that their interactions were “distant and unfamiliar.” The judge concluded that the couple lacked the “true intention of
A drunk woman was sexually assaulted inside a crowded concourse of Taipei Railway Station on Thursday last week before a foreign tourist notified police, leading to calls for better education on bystander intervention and review of security infrastructure. The man, surnamed Chiu (邱), was taken into custody on charges of sexual assault, taking advantage of the woman’s condition and public indecency. Police discovered that Chiu was a fugitive with prior convictions for vehicle theft. He has been taken into custody and is to complete his unserved six-month sentence, police said. On Thursday last week, Chiu was seen wearing a white
RSS