English Open Forum |
FAPA News & UNCA panel discussion on 6/18/03
Just a brief report to you about my attending the panel discussion
in the UN about Taiwan today from 2:30 - 3:40pm in the UN press club.
I was invited as a guest by the president of UNCA (United Nations
Correspondent Association) Tony Jenkins to attend this discussion.
The topic of this discussion was changed several times within a week.
The final one seemed to be: The Applicability of International Law on
Self-determination and decolonization for Taiwan"
As you might know the 3 original participants of the panel were
supposed to be Professor Lung-chi Chen, Nancy Soderberg and the
Ambassador of Nicaragua to the UN. But the Ambassador of Nicaragua
was not able to make it at the last minute, therefore Tony Jenkins replaced
the spot himself. Mr. Jenkins was also the MC of this discussion, and he did
a great job by starting out with a disclaimer. Then Nancy Soderberg, the former
US ambassador to the UN and presently the Director of NY office of International
Crisis Group (ICG), touched upon Taiwan's cautious de facto independence moving
slowly toward a de jure independence and how to prevent the "provocative"
confrontation with China. She also introduced the recent ICG report on Taiwan.
Dr. Lung-chi Chen did a super job recounting the history of Taiwan and
started his speech with, "Taiwan is Taiwan, Taiwan is not a part of China."
Dr. Chen denounced the "One China " policy as the blackmail of China toward Taiwan.
He also cited the ROC's illegal occupation and the longest martial law KMT imposed
on the people of Taiwan that hindered the democratization and de jure independence
of Taiwan. Professor Chen went on to say that neither PRC nor ROC has a legal claim
on the sovereignty of Taiwan because San Francisco Peace Treaty did not render both
the ownership of Taiwan. Of course he mentioned LTH and Chen SB and ended with
calling for the international support for the de facto independence of Taiwan and
the pending de jure independence.
Because of the good will of Tony Jenkins who opened the forum to the floor and not
limited to the journalists, some of the audience spoke. They either asked some
questions or voiced their support for Taiwan. Among the people who spoke out
were some Ambassadors and me. I responded to Ambassador Nancy Soderburg's
word about "provocative." My point was to disassociate provocation from independence
of Taiwan. What I said was to confirm Taiwanese Independence is not supposed
to be a so-called "provocative" act but a democratic process. Because we (Taiwanese)
are not seeking physical confrontation but to reconfirm the reality of a de facto independence. (The wording were not exactly the same as here but that was what
I said) Professor Chen Lung-chi graciously recapped what I said for me, and after
the meeting he told me that he appreciated that I brought that good point up.
I am glad that SARS may have brought something good for Taiwan. As they said
from every crisis there is an opportunity. Though I mourned for the lost life in Taiwan
due to SARS, I have a triumphant feeling after I came out from the UN building
because I see the light beyond the dark tunnel for Taiwan.
May God guide the future of Taiwan. May the de jure Independence of Taiwan come
soon.
Best regards,
Michael Yeun
台灣獨立建國聯盟網站／WUFI Web-site
WUFI Open-Forum is open to anyone who wishes to express his/her viewpoints,
Michael Yeun 2003/06/19
NJ
World United Formosans for Independence
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