The right to hold referendums is a fundamental political and civil right that has been pursued by this country for a long time. It is also a right that is available in other democratic countries.
However, since this country began to push for this right, it has encountered obstruction and misunderstanding from many people, both in our country and outside it.
Some of these people have acted in their own self-interest and others have acted out of misconceptions about the right to hold referendums.
If we can clear up the misunderstandings that people have, people who have opposed our right to hold referendums out of their own self-interest will be exposed.
Recently, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) has said that the presidential election is the best way to reveal the popular will.
Lien said that all other proposals can be depicted as "self-created problems." If this is Lien and his party's view of the civil rights underlying the referendum, we are truly disappointed.
If the pan-blue parties hold views such as this, then they should not have spearheaded the passage of the rubber-stamp Referendum Law (公民投票法), through which they tried to deceive people that the pan-blue camp supported the right to hold referendums.
Legislative representatives are elected by the people to make policy decisions on their behalf. While this governmental system may be efficient, it has at least two flaws.
One, at election time, people cannot votes on specific issues. They can only make decisions based on the collective differences among candidates and parties. Therefore, the views of those who are elected are not always reflective of the views of the majority of the voters.
Two, representatives can change their behavior or views after they are elected. Therefore, their conduct at times might not reflect the people's will.
These flaws have caused people with foresight to propose measures such as referendums to address the weaknesses inherent in representative democracy.
As the chairman of the KMT, and the holder of a doctorate in political science, Lien has no excuse for not understanding logic so simple.
Another important function of referendums is to demonstrate popular will. People should not forget that an important factor bringing about the movement in favor of referendum rights has been China's blows against this country during the SARS crisis last year.
The goal of the upcoming referendum is to express through peaceful means our wish not to be isolated or become second-class citizens of the world . We hope to join the World Health Organization (WHO) and to live free of threats.
Some foreign friends believe that we should not try to change the cross-strait status quo, and some even believe that the referendum by itself is a provocation. Others believe the it is the unilateral obligation of Taiwan to maintain the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. We have always been grateful for the support of our foreign friends, and have never ceased to work hard to maintain the status quo. President Chen Shui-bian's (
However, China has not reciprocated with goodwill in terms of maintaining the status quo. The continued increase in the number of missiles it is aiming at Taiwan is an obvious provocation.
We want to conduct a referendum to make the world understand that Taiwan is the one that wishes to maintain the status quo and that China is the one trying to disrupt the cross-strait status quo.
It is truly unfair that even a peaceful expression of our wish not to be further threatened is being deemed a provocation.
In the past 30 years, we have withdrawn from the UN and many other international organizations. In 1997, at the height of the Asian financial crisis, we tried to help other countries but were kept from doing so by Chinese opposition.
Last year, as SARS swept through the region, we desperately needed the assistance of the WHO but were unable to receive it as a result of Chinese opposition.
Some Chinese officials even taunted us by saying "who cares about you?"
We can't help others and others can't help us.
Now China is targeting Taiwan with close to 500 missiles, yet our wish to express our desire for peace is considered a threat to the status quo. What is left of democracy and freedom in Taiwan?
Actually, our interests and views align with those of the US. The US does not want to see peace disrupted in the Taiwan Strait and has warned China never to make trouble in the Taiwan Strait.
The US has not simply chosen to chastise Taiwan. Instead, it has demanded the same things of both sides. This is something that should not be missed by the people.
China is plotting to engulf Taiwan. The number of missiles and submarines targeting Taiwan has been increasing. This is real provocation, and a real change in the status quo.
Through a referendum, the people are simply trying to express their opposition to the threat of unilateral change by China.
Yet they face so much misunderstanding and pressure. This is truly pathetic.
However, even more sad is the fact that more than a few of our foreign friends have apparently been misled by the words of the pro-China faction within Taiwan. The pro-China faction continues to twist the referendum's purpose -- opposing Chinese missiles -- to generate the impression that the referendum is a change in the status quo. They also invite China to join the chorus by making threats.
If Taiwan's foreign friends do not see through these tactics, which are typical of China and it allies -- opposing the freedom of the people to express their will and asking them to endure the increasing missile threat, which would strip them of their freedom to live free of fear -- how can there be any hope that peace and liberty can be maintained in the world?
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