Dear Mr. Kofi A. Annan,
Mr. Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi,
It's the last journey down the campaign trail for the man who
brought democracy to Taiwan; and President Lee Teng-hui is making
the most of it. Lee is putting on a lively show as he stumps
across Taiwan, helping fellow Nationalist Party politicians
campaign in legislative and mayoral races ahead of Saturday's
election (Dec. 5, 1998).
Lee says he will retire when his term ends. He will conclude
a career in politics during which he changed with the times,
moving from giving long policy speeches to courting voters with
flashy gimmicks. But Lee still pushes the message that made
him a giant of Taiwanese politics; the island will
be governed by the will of people. President Lee
Teng-hui said (Dec. 2, 1998) the "new Taiwanese" is
the only way to overcome ethnic boundaries.
He advocated that voters consider themselves "new Taiwanese"
first and foremost --- meaning that they live in Taiwan and
consider this identity as primary --- as opposed a mainland
immigrant, Hakka, aboriginal or a locally-born Taiwanese.
In Taiwan "three in one election", most reporters
coming to cover the elections are from the United States, Japan
and Europe. The government information office will also host
a press conference for domestic and foreign journalists on Sunday
(Nov. 30, 1998). Besides reporters, a large number of scholars
and political figures --- including Hong Kong's Martin Lee ---
and democracy activists from the United States and China, will
be on hand to observe the elections.
For about 100 newspaper and television reporters from around
the world, from CNN, and BBC, NHK, and others will arrive in
this week. Democratic Taiwan have revealed opening
and public election, we are all like to see the sign of election's
chaos under democracy.
Taiwan need your support.