XDPP WELCOMES SPRING
 2007……………….…1 March 2007

XWITH JUSTICE WE CURE

THIS
NATION.......………….3

XDPP PREPARES FOR
PRIMARIES..................4

democracy


&


progress
A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER PUBLISHED BY THE DPP’S
DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

DPP welcomes spring 2007

The Hung Sheng Lion Dance Theater performed a dance performance for foreign diplomats and representatives
at the DPP reception on March 2
2 DEMOCRACY & PROGRESS

DPP hosts reception for foreign diplomats to

DEMOCRACY &
welcome spring 2007
PROGRESS
Department of International The DPP hosted a reception for foreign diplomats and representatives living in
Affairs Taiwan to welcome spring 2007.
Democratic Progressive Party
8F, No. 30, Pei-Ping East Rd.
Taipei, Taiwan
t. 886-2-23929989 ext. 305
f. 886-2-23214527
e-mail: foreign@dpp.org.tw
web: http://www.dpp.org.tw

Director
Winston Dang

Editor-in-Chief:
Michael Fonte

Editor:
Ping-Ya Hsu

DPP Chairman You Si-kun and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Jacques
Sawadogo, hold gifts presented by the lions to wish them good luck for the
Year of the Golden Pig.

“Last year has been the most difficult year for us since our party was
established. It has been a year of continual political wrangling at home and
provocative behavior from across the Strait. Despite the numerous conflicts
among parties at home, during which the opposition party called for the
president’s impeachment three times, Taiwan’s democracy still keeps going
forward, proving its solidity,” said DPP Chairman You si-kun (You has
changed the spelling of his name).
Chairman You also said, “Before 2000 we emphasized the democratization
of our politics; after 2000 when the DPP started ruling the country, we
achieved the localization of political powers. Next, we are going to push for
the normalization of Taiwan as a nation. Taiwan is an important hub for
enhancing democracy in the world as well as a key to advancing China’s
democratization. I believe that all the democratic countries in the world, not
least our friends here, will definitely give Taiwan the firmest support.”
Ambassador Sawadogo, who delivered the guest of honor speech, wished
the DPP success ahead, and praised the DPP for been active in undertaking
diplomatic initiatives in international relations.
Ambassador Sawadogo also thanked the DPP for contributing to the
international arena in the values of democracy and human rights by sharing
Taiwan’s experience to the rest of the world.
3 DEMOCRACY & PROGRESS
With Justice We Cure This Nation
This year, Taiwan celebrated the 60th
Anniversary of the 228 Incident. The Hand-in-
Hand Alliance to Protect Taiwan held a series of
activities on this day to remind us not to forget this
fateful day in Taiwanese history and to
commemorate those who unfortunately lost their
loved ones.
The “228 60th Anniversary Concert” was
held at the 228 Peace Park where everyone
gathered to sing in a community chorus,
expressing peace and love for Taiwan. TRA Music
Company and the Taiwan Independent Music
Association hosted a rock concert at Chung Shan
Football Stadium, gathering approximately 5,000
young people. Titled “With Justice We Cure This
Nation Concert”, big-time British rock band Muse
served as the main attraction. Plastic People of the
Universe from the Czech Republic and Strike
Anywhere from the United States were also
invited to share the stage. This concert was one of
the biggest rock concerts for a humanitarian cause
held in Taiwan.
Every year, Taiwan commemorates the 228
Incident, the darkest period of Taiwanese history
when, in 1947, the KMT authoritarian government
ordered the massacre of Taiwanese people. This
year, the focus of the 228 Incident not only
emphasized the past, but what Taiwan needs to do
for the future, which is to deal with the issue of
transitional justice.
A pledge was drafted, which called for all
political figures of Taiwan to make a commitment
to deal with transitional justice. President Chen
Shui-bian, Premier Su Tseng-chang, Legislative
Yuan President Wang Jin-pyng and Former
Premier Hsieh Chang-ting signed the pledge.
US officials must understand 228
Many US policy makers and officials do not
understand the 228 Incident in Taiwan. As Randall
Schriver shows in his recent article “The 228 Incident
and American perceptions”, there is a disconnect
between Taiwan and Washington because both sides’
grasp of the 228 Incident historical significance is
different.
For Taiwanese, the 228 Incident and the
ensuing White Terror was the darkest period in
Taiwanese history. Members of Taiwanese elite were
massacred in order for the leaders from the KMT to
exert their domination over Taiwan and ultimately
control the government of the island. More than
28,000 people died, freedom of expression was
banned, and Taiwan fell under the management of the
KMT authoritarian government.
For most Taiwanese, seeing the DPP in
government was a restoration of their rights because,
for the first time, a Taiwanese political party was
democratically elected. Most Taiwanese believe it is
their natural right to push for elements that transform
Taiwan into a full democracy, such as a new
constitution, the right to referendum and the right to
claim its place in the international arena.
Meanwhile, as Randall Shriver states, “By
failing to appreciate the tremendous significance of
228 for Taiwanese to this day, US officials operate in
a policy environment characterized by a huge
disconnect between those in Taiwan (for whom 228
continues to loom large) and those in Washington (for
whom 228 means very little).”
“This disconnect can be consequential in the
management of US-Taiwan bilateral relations, and in
shaping respective views on the cross strait situation,”
Schriver says.
The DPP believes that in order to understand
Taiwan, it is important for US officials to learn about
the 228 Incident in Taiwan. The DPP, since its
foundation, has collaborated with civic groups to make
everyone aware, not only Taiwanese but also the
international public, about the 228 Incident. Since the
DPP took office, the DPP has taken active steps to
remember 228, such as the renaming of the park to
228 Peace Memorial Park, and the implementation of
the 228 Memorial Holiday on February 28 of every
year.
 4 DEMOCRACY & PROGRESS

DPP primary candidates for the 2008 presidential election register their candidacy.
Four candidates registered, which are: Lu Hsiu-lian,Hsieh Chang-ting, You Si-kun and Su Tseng-chang.
DPP members will vote at the end of May.

DPP prepares for primaries

The DPP will hold its primary for presidential candidates starting in March. From March 5 to 9,
registration was held for candidates wishing to enter the primary. In May, party members will vote for
their favorite candidates and at the end of May, the DPP will announce the primary winner.
The current primary candidates are Vice President Lu Hsiu-lian, Premier Su Tseng-chang, Former
Premier and Former Kaohsiung City Mayor Frank Hsieh and DPP Chairman You Si-kun.
From March 12 to 16, the registration for legislative candidates will be held and following that, on May
6, there will be a double-vote with DPP members voting for both presidential and legislative candidates.
From May 7 to 28, there will be a poll conducted by the DPP Survey Center on the presidential
candidate and from May 11 to June 17, the poll for legislative candidates will be held.
On May 30, the presidential winner of the primary will be announced and on June 20, the legislative
candidates will be announced.