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Ma inks 'ethnic harmony' agreement

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday signed an ethnic harmony protocol and promised to promote ethnic reconciliation and equality if elected president next month.

The agreement was drafted by several civic groups whose aim is to promote ethnic harmony and calls for the presidential candidates to place more importance on democracy and peace than independence or unification.

"Promoting mutual understanding between ethnic groups and avoiding ethnic confrontation have been my goals. I also agree that the issue of independence or unification is not the most important one that faces us at the moment," Ma said at his campaign headquarters.

Chien Hsi-chieh, director of the Taiwan Peace Foundation, and representatives from other civic groups, urged Ma to present a more comprehensive human rights platform and provide more assistance to Aborigines and other minority groups.

Ma promised to put more effort into preserving Aboriginal culture and to defend Aboriginal autonomy, however he stopped short when asked whether he would apologize to the nation's Aborigines such as Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd did when elected. He acknowledged that the nation should reflect upon its discrimination against Aboriginals, but declined to promise an apology.

"I will consider expressing our regrets in an appropriate way," he said.

Facing criticism that he had failed to provide practical solutions to Aboriginals' problems, Ma promised to prioritize the preservation of Aboriginal cultures and languages and allocate a budget of NT$50 billion (US$1.6 billion) over four years for restoration and construction in Aboriginal communities.

"Providing Aboriginals with basic services, including education and safe residence, however, is fundamental and crucial, too," he said.

Meanwhile, at a separate setting yesterday, Ma outlined his national security policy, called "SMART" -- "Soft power," "Military deterrence," "Assuring [sic] the `status quo,'" "Restoring mutual Trust" and "Taiwan."

Ma said the policy would be governed by the principles of a "defensive strategy."

He said he would attempt to convince the US to sell F-16C/D aircraft to the nation as soon as possible, improve facilities at seaports and airports and improve anti-missile systems.

He promised to make the national defense budget no less that 3 percent of the nation's GDP and to continue to buy arms from the US.

He also vowed to keep Taiwan nuclear weapons-free and not to develop offensive weapons.

Additional reporting by CNA
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