Sat, Aug 21, 2004 page3

• DPP amends party charter to promote ethnic accord, unity

  • By Chang Yun-ping / STAFF REPORTER
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  The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) announced a new charter resolution yesterday to promote ethnic diversity and national unity as a response to ethnic conflicts since the March 20 presidential election.

  The Resolution on Ethnic Diversity and National Unity (族群多元, 國家一體) is the third such DPP charter resolution.

  DPP Secretary General Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) yesterday said the resolution is aimed at underscoring the spirit of ethnic diversity already present in the party charter, as well as promoting reconciliation to resolve political differences among all ethnic groups.

  Chang said that given the Mainlander group's political distrust toward the government since the March 20 election, the DPP administration must face the ethnic problem and encourage harmony.

  The new resolution will seek to restore the image of the Mainlander group, which is usually considered a privileged group that has oppressed the development of other ethnic groups such as the Hoklo and Hakka people and Aborigines.

  Summarizing the resolution, Chang said, "The past ethnic oppression was caused by a very few privileged groups in the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) regime. It should not become an original sin of all the Mainlander people."

  "If the Mainlanders' national identity in the Republic of China is based on their defense of Taiwan's democracy and the desire to contribute to Taiwan's development, their expressions for such a national identity should not be interpreted as a cause for ethnic conflict; rather they should be accepted, as they are just a different way of expressing the same idea," he said.

  The resolution will also seek to recognize the equal status of all ethnic groups in Taiwan, including alien residents.

  "All these ethnic groups have helped contribute to the consolidation of the Taiwan-centered values, cultural diversities and the shaping of the national unity," the resolution said.

  The resolution also promotes a civil awareness transcending the previous social preoccupation with ethnic origin.

  The Resolution on Ethnic Diversity and National Unity came from a month-long effort by a party development committee established in July to resolve the post-election political turmoil.

  The committee also determined that the party will choose its own leader through a direct election by all party members, should the president decide not to serve concurrently as the party chairman.

  In addition, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) will no longer have the power to designate three members of the Central Standing Committee (CSC) if he steps down as the party chairman. Instead, the posts of the three designated CSC members will be taken up by the vice president, the premier and the presidential office secretary-general, as required by the party rules.

  However, if the party is not in power, the slots will go to three of the party's legislative caucus leaders as well as one city or county chief.

  Under a revision of a 2001 party regulation, Chen serves as the party chairman in order to enhance the coordination of the party and administration. After winning this year's presidential election, Chen said he wishes to step down from the party post to maintain a neutral role in reworking the nation's Constitution.
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