2006/9/7
- Statement from the Million Voices Against Corruption - Chen Must Go Movement
Thank you all so much for being here to witness Taiwanese political history in the making. We believe that Taiwan has the most vibrant democracy in Greater China. This is due, in large part, to the efforts of democracy pioneers like Mr Shih Ming-teh and his associates who braved martial law and political repression to fight for democracy and basic political rights for their fellow citizens. These brave young men and young women paid for their commitment by languishing for decades in prisons as political prisoners or, in many cases, dying for their beliefs.
In the end they persevered and democracy was born, not just in Taiwan but in all of China. In 1996 ordinary Taiwanese citizens, for the first time in all of Chinese history, selected their leader through the ballot box. In 2000 the first peaceful transition of power was achieved between rival political entities with the accession of President Chen Shui-bian to the presidency. Since then democracy in Taiwan has survived close elections, threats of attack from China and worries of economic uncertainty to grow stronger and more mature.
But now we believe that our democracy is in jeopardy. It is in jeopardy not from external invasion nor from internal repression. Rather it is in jeopardy from something even more insidious, something that if not checked, could destroy the very foundations of public trust that a democracy needs to stay legitimate. This threat is official corruption and the inappropriate use of power for personal gain.
This political corruption and misuse of power for personal enrichment and the muzzling of criticism has started to permeate our political system. For this we blame greedy politicians and businesses willing to corrupt society for their own benefit. But most of all, we blame President Chen Shui-bian, his family and his closest associates. We blame them for using the power given them by the people to benefit themselves and through their corruption and greed, to defile and degrade the sacred trust between elected government and its electorate.
It is in reaction to this blatant corruption and wholesale disregard for the ideals of democracy that we have decided to come out in protest of this president and his family and cohorts. Beginning on September 9th, we will start making history with people? first-ever grass-roots campaign to peacefully oust a leader and force, through moral imperative, a fundamental change in the way politics is conducted in Taiwan.
We launched this campaign with a simple idea: Anyone who is disheartened, sickened and fed-up with the current President and his government please express your desire for change by donating 100 hundred NT Dollars. The response was overwhelming and surprised even the skeptics. Within less than a week over One Million Taiwanese had spoken with their donations.
Now we will act on these personal acts of commitment. Volunteers from all walks of life and all parts of the political spectrum have come forward to help organize this campaign. The main kick-off event will be a sit-in held in front of the Presidential Palace on September 9th. On Katagelan Boulevard we will set up chairs for around the clock, non-stop sit-in, until our demands are heard. We will urge everyone attending the rally to dress in red, as a symbol of their anger. Huge billboards with the Chinese characters representing the traditional values of Propriety (?i?, Righteousness (?i?, Integrity (?ien?, and Honor (?hih? will be erected on the Great South Gate in front of the presidential palace to remind people what was lost. The ?hih?character will face the presidential office.
We will also start a million letter campaign, prompting citizens to write to prosecutors to show support for an independent judicial system and a fair investigation of the current scandals. We do not believe that the results should be predetermined, we only ask the judicial branch to look into all details and hand down logical and legally sound verdicts.
We have no personal stakes in this event. None of us will gain financially nor will any of us seek public office. Every one is replaceable and can be replaced, including Mr. Shih Ming-teh. The only unshakable element is our determination to see this campaign to its very end. When we succeed in gaining President Chen? resignation, we will support the constitutional order of succession that stipulates Vice President Annette Lu take office. We ask the whole free world to be our witness in this peaceful and upbeat campaign in which we shall persist until its successful conclusion.
Media
Link
Background
Audio
Visuals
Press
Releases