Conservation helps national bird

WATCH THE BIRDIE: Although an official study has not been done, bird watchers are noticing an upswing in the number of Formosan blue magpie sightings

STAFF WRITER, WITH CNA
Thursday, Jan 03, 2008, Page 2
　

The country's efforts to save an endemic rare bird, the Formosan blue magpie, have borne fruit, a local conservationist said yesterday.

Liao Shi-ching (廖世卿), president of the Taiwan International Birding Association, made the remarks after he took a picture of seven Formosan blue magpies looking for food together along the Southern Cross-Island Highway in the southeastern county of Taitung recently.

"It is rare to see so many of these birds together," Liao said, adding that the scene could serve as evidence of Taiwan's achievement in conserving the endangered bird species.

"The picture really indicates that Taiwan's conservation work is going very well," Liao said, "I have even seen families of Formosan blue magpies near Taipei city."

Liao and other members of the birding association are frequently out in areas where the birds are known to visit and rarely do they see so many birds at the same time.

However, Liao declined to say whether this was a clear indication that the birds' numbers have significantly increased. He said a proper study should be undertaken by the Council of Agriculture.

But Liao said he believed the numbers are "increasing" because of the introduction of the Wildlife Protection Act in 1991 and increasing public awareness of the need to protect the birds.

The Formosan blue magpie, also known as the "Long-tailed mountain lady" is one of Taiwan's 14 endemic bird species. It lives in the mountains at elevations of 300m to 1,200m.

Although one of the main threats to the survival of Formosan blue magpies is illegal capture, Liao said reports of such cases are decreasing because of rising awareness of preservation.

The Formosan blue magpie was named Taiwan's national bird last year.

DPP calls on voters to ditch TSU

IN TIME OF NEED: Facing a united pan-blue camp, the DPP says that a divided pan-green camp could result in a landslide defeat in the coming legislative elections

By Ko Shu-Ling
STAFF REPORTER
Thursday, Jan 03, 2008, Page 3

With the legislative elections only 10 days away, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday called on voters to cast their second ballots with the DPP rather than its political ally, the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU).

Yu Shyi-kun, who heads the DPP electoral campaign, said that more than 10 pro-Taiwan groups had launched a signature drive calling for support of the DPP.

The groups are expected to hold a press conference today, he said.

"A divided pan-green camp [risks] a landslide defeat in the face of a pan-blue alliance," Yu said. "The final week of [the campaign] is key. We must find ways to motivate DPP supporters to come out and vote. We still stand a good chance of winning if we make every effort."

Yu made the remarks after the party's closed-door Central Standing Committee meeting yesterday.

Yu said he had called for unity during the meeting because the nation was finding itself in an unfavorable position because of collaboration between Beijing and the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), especially after KMT presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) was cleared of corruption charges by the Taiwan High Court last week.

Ma's acquittal gave the KMT a big boost, Yu said, adding that Beijing could now rest easy because the KMT is against democracy and referendums and acts as Beijing's pawn and mouthpiece in the legislature.

"If we do not unite, the KMT is likely to hand over Taiwan to China on a plate," Yu said.

DPP Legislator Shen Fa-hui (沈發惠), who doubles as the executive director of the DPP's Policy Committee, said the signature drive initiated by the pro-Taiwan groups was voluntary and that the party was uncertain about how the campaign was progressing.

Asked whether the TSU was still a DPP ally, Shen said that any party that supports democracy and localization was an ally.

DPP Cultural and Information Department Director Hsieh Hsin-ni (謝欣霓) said that the party was confident it could secure 50 seats in the legislature, including 35 district legislators.

In a bid to garner support, she said President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), DPP presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) and vice presidential candidate Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) would redouble their electioneering efforts for the party's legislative candidates in the run-up to Jan. 12.

At a separate setting yesterday, TSU spokeswoman Chou Mei-li (周美里) criticized the DPP for capitalizing on its political advantage and manipulating pro-Taiwan organizations for electoral gains.

Chou said the DPP's decision to distance itself from the TSU only highlighted its anxiety about the elections and showed that it put the needs of the party before those of the nation.

Can the KMT exist without China?


Thursday, Jan 03, 2008, Page 8

The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) tends to get agitated whenever its opponents accuse it of being pro-China.

By taking a long, hard look at its recent conduct, however, party moderates would perhaps understand why.

Late last week, the KMT called on voters not to vote in the two referendums -- one proposed by the Democratic Progressive Party and the other its own -- that are to be held simultaneously with legislative elections on Jan. 12.

The KMT said the boycott would represent a way for voters to vent their dissatisfaction with the Central Election Commission, which the party has accused of engaging in "unfair maneuverings."

The KMT can argue all it wants to justify the boycott, but the essence of its actions remains consistent with Beijing's agenda -- discouraging people from exercising their right to have a direct say in public matters.

The last thing Beijing wants is to give Taiwanese the political space to hold referendums, lest that lead, in future, to a referendum on the question of independence itself.

During his New Year address on Monday, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) said that China now has more than 1,300 missiles deployed against Taiwan. The number was a substantial increase from the 200 or so targeting Taiwan in 2000.

True to form, the KMT and its friends in the pan-blue camp had not a single word of condemnation for China's military belligerence.

The same day, Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) did express regret, but at something else: Chen's directive to light up the "2008 Taiwan" message on Taipei 101 two hours before the fireworks show on New Year's Day.

The Taipei City Government may have nominal authority over what is displayed on the building and at what time, but what could be controversial about displaying the name "Taiwan," especially when the central government paid for it? Is it just a coincidence that the latest bout of KMT city government-DPP central government squabbling involved the prominence of the name?

When most of what the KMT says and does overlaps with Chinese Communist Party objectives, it is difficult not to believe that they drink from the same cup.

Though the KMT has been in Taiwan for more than 60 years, it continues to issue rhetorical signals that mark it as a stranger in this land. It is still struggling to decide on which side of the Strait its heart lies.

In the end, if the KMT wants to be taken seriously on this issue by a broad majority of voters, then the solution is simple -- ditch the "one China" policy and abandon, once and for all, the autocratic philosophy that requires China to be Taiwan's past, present and future motherland.

Only by genuinely becoming a local party in word and practice -- one that identifies with explicitly Taiwanese interests -- will it be able to put to rest suspicions that its ultimate function is to act as Beijing's fifth column.