The citizen group alliance campaigning for recalls, which are scheduled for July 26, and United Microelectronics Corp founder Robert Tsao (曹興誠) yesterday announced a 16-day march to “safeguard Taiwan” and invited pan-green political parties to join the activities.
The march is scheduled to start on Friday next week in Hualien County, where citizen groups and local residents are campaigning for the recall of Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus whip Fu Kun-chi (傅?萁), then head south to Taitung County to amass support for the recall motion against KMT Legislator Legislator Huang Chien-pin (黃建賓), the Safeguard Taiwan, Anti-Communist Alliance (反共護台聯盟) said at a news conference in Taipei.
They would then travel to central Taiwan and finish in Taipei on July 16, they said.
Photo: Chang Chia-ming, Taipei Times
The march would end with a big recall campaign rally outside the legislature to mark the first “Bluebird Movement” protest last year, when citizens protested against opposition legislators, they added.
The alliance referred to the march as a nationwide Rao Jing (遶境), patterned after a religious procession where worshipers walk on foot, and visit places to receive divine protection and good fortune.
It would ensure big success for the recall vote and safeguard Taiwan by removing pro-China KMT legislators, they said.
Tsao said that China was working through the KMT to disseminate disinformation and brainwash people, making people believe that Beijing would annex the nation and helping it rule over Taiwan.
“This is against the will of the people in Taiwan, and China would dismantle our freedom and democratic system, and many lives would be lost,” Tsao said. “Today, we see KMT lawmakers colluding with China to take away our freedom and basic human rights. These are toxins and impurities in Taiwan, and we must remove them through the recall vote, so we can say ‘no’ to China.”
Tsao also invited the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), President William Lai (賴清德) and small political parties to join in the final phase of recall campaigns next month.
“We wish to have Lai and DPP members appear together with us in the campaign rallies,” he said.
Given activists’ and citizen groups’ diligent work in collecting signatures and success in passing the second stage of the recall petition process, the DPP has an obligation and responsibility to be more proactive and to participate in the campaign, Tsao said, adding that they could oust a good number of KMT lawmakers and increase the likelihood of a DPP majority in the legislature.
DPP chief executive Rosalia Wu (吳思瑤) said that although the DPP understands that the recall vote should not become a showdown between political parties, Lai could join the recall campaign activities as party chairman, as this is a crucial fight to defend Taiwan’s democracy.
Lai and DPP members have much respect for citizen groups for their efforts in safeguarding Taiwan and protecting it against China, she said.
In related news, KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) said his party has gained permission to use Ketagalan Boulevard on July 25 and that they would hold a big rally urging people to cast “no” votes for the recall against KMT lawmakers.
“Our party also has plans to organize other events and rallies one and two weeks prior to the recall vote. Time is of the essence, as we only have less than one month, so we are organizing party events every week,” he added.
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
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