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Taiwan also needs a Jasmine Revolution
By Chang Yeh-shen 張葉森
The “Jasmine Revolution” in Tunisia quickly spread to Algeria, Mauritania, Egypt
and Libya, as well as Bahrain, Iran and Yemen. Despite crackdowns by police and
military using tanks and fighter jets, democratic awareness among the Arabic
peoples has surged as they continue to fight a long-term battle.
The Jasmine Revolution has brought the democratic civic awareness of the Arab
world more in line with the international trend toward democracy.
Chinese Internet users have also tried to launch a Jasmine Revolution in 13
cities across China. Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) responded by ordering a
tightening of Internet censorship and surveillance. The Chinese government also
put hundreds of protesters under house arrest.
Taiwan deepened its democracy, freedom, human rights and economic development to
create a democratic miracle under former presidents Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) and Chen
Shui-bian (陳水扁). Products made in Taiwan achieved a better reputation
internationally.
However, ever since President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) came to power in 2008, his
government has acted irresponsibly despite the fact that his Chinese Nationalist
Party (KMT) holds a great legislative majority. Prices have skyrocketed, putting
pressure on the public, while the unemployment rate has seen a sharp increase.
With a government that only cares about big conglomerates, Taiwanese live in
hardship with no hope in sight, and the lower class passes their poverty on to
the next generation.
The government has also weakened our national defense, as key government
officials ally themselves with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) against Taiwan.
It has also belittled the nation’s sovereignty. For example, Taiwan’s delegation
to the Tokyo International Film Festival last year was bullied by the Chinese
delegation, and taekwondo athlete Yang Shu-chun (楊淑君) was controversially
disqualified during the Asian Games in China. More recently, the Philippines
deported 14 Taiwanese fraud suspects to China on Feb. 2, while Ma has had
nothing of merit to say.
Meanwhile, the government has interfered with the judiciary, and used political
oppression against those with dissenting views. It has replaced Taiwanese
history, geography and culture with Chinese in school textbooks, and tried to
eliminate the languages of ethnic minorities. It has attempted to perpetuate its
rule using vote-buying, gangsters, violence and even bullets. It has encouraged
Chinese students to study in Taiwan, thus threatening to limit Taiwanese
students’ educational and job opportunities.
The government has allowed politicians and big business to abuse residents in
Dapu Borough (大埔) of Jhunan Township (竹南) in Miaoli County, and those who live
on the land wanted for the Central Taiwan Science Park expansion project.
The Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement will only bring disaster to this
nation and her people, while further broadening the wealth gap. What is worse is
that the government has allowed Chinese colonial rule in Taiwan, as low-level
Chinese officials frequently visit for “inspection tours.”
The government has shaken the foundations of democratic Taiwan, bringing it to a
dead-end in which the lower class is forced to pass poverty from generation to
generation.
Taiwan’s situation today is not much better than that of the Arabic countries in
the throes of the Jasmine Revolution. We must use our votes to oust Ma to save
Taiwan and rebuild the country, perhaps through a “lily revolution.”
Chang Yeh-shen is vice chairman of the Northern Taiwan
Society.
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