Leaders and representatives of groups advocating Taiwanese independence and civil liberties have launched a movement that aims to defeat Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) candidates in next year’s combined presidential and legislative elections.
The Showdown 2016 — On Guard to Win Back Taiwan Action Alliance (決戰2016光護台灣行動聯盟), is a pro-Taiwan movement headed by Peter Wang (王獻極), director of the 908 Taiwan Republic Campaign, and Yang Sen-hong (楊憲宏), chairman of Taiwan Association for China Human Rights.
Wang said at the launch event on Wednesday that more than a hundred non-governmental organizations and other groups had signed up for the alliance as affiliated members or networking partners, with the focus on “terminating KMT rule in Taiwan.”
“The presidential and legislative elections on Jan. 16 next year are very crucial for Taiwanese,” Wang said. “It is time for vigorous action to defend our nation in the showdown against Chinese forces. We must stand up to win back Taiwan and end the political power of the KMT once and for all.”
Wang called for nationwide coordinated action early next year.
“We will light up large lanterns at all 228 train stations throughout Taiwan. The illuminating light of the lanterns will protect the citizens of this nation, energizing and empowering Taiwanese to win the elections,” he said.
The alliance has organized several events, including a “Solidarity Rally for All Taiwan’s Five Major Ethnic Groups,” a week-long walk around the nation starting on July 4, raising the “Taiwan flag” in front of the Presidential Office Building on Sept. 8 and an “On Guard To Win Back Taiwan” series of activities starting on Oct. 25.
Wang said he supports ending the KMT’s rule and he urged Taiwanese to support Democratic Progressive Party Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) to that end.
The alliance said its main objectives are defeating the KMT, demanding that the KMT give up its illegitimate party assets and a new constitution to assert Taiwanese sovereignty by allowing Taiwanese to decide their own future.
“The pan-green camp and pro-independence candidates must fight to win more than half of the legislative seats. This is the only way we can deny the KMT political power and force it to come clean and return to the people its illegitimate party assets,” Northern Taiwan Society chairman Chang Yeh-shen (張葉森) said.
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