wfn.org | Presbyterian Church in Taiwan General Assembly Executive Committee Passes Important Motions

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Taiwan Church News       2955 Edition (October 13~19, 2008)

Presbyterian Church in Taiwan General Assembly Executive Committee  Passes Important Motions

>Reported by: Yi-ying Lin

>Written by: Lydia Ma

During the fourth session of the 53rd Annual Meeting of the General  Assembly Executive Committee of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan passed  a motion to hold a “National and Human Rights Prayer Meeting”.  The date of the prayer meeting was tentatively scheduled on December 6,  2008. Furthermore, in light of the impending visit from the director of  the Association for Relations across the Taiwan Straits, Yunli Chen, the  executive committee also voted to create a committee headed by the PCT  General Assembly focusing on the national situation. These motions were  called and passed due to Taiwan’s recent social, economic,  political turmoil. Taiwan continues to face external pressure from China  as in previous years. However, from government policies catering to  China to Taiwan’s Misery Index rising to unprecedented levels,  internal problems have engulfed the country in recent weeks as well.

December 10 will mark the 60th anniversary of Human Rights Day. This day  also coincides with the 29th anniversary of the Kaohsiung Incident.  Therefore, the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan has tentatively scheduled  the prayer meeting at the site where the Kaohsiung Incident occurred.  The event will be held outside of Formosa Boulevard station of  Kaohsiung’s Mass Rapid Transit (KMRT) system in the Democracy Plaza  across from the station. The purpose for holding a “National and  Human Rights Prayer Meeting” is to remind the Taiwanese society of  how their predecessors participated in the fight for democracy because  of their strong religious convictions. These heroes sacrificed their  lives during an era of martial law so that their countrymen could enjoy  democracy today. However, Taiwan’s national security and democracy  is currently in peril in light of the Ma administration’s open  policy toward China, which is the leading cause for the tainted milk  powder controversy. The new administrations’ rapprochement with  China is also the reason for Chen’s visit. It is believed that  direct charter flights and food safety issues will be at the top of the  discussion agenda. The Ma administration’s actions and its implicit  pro-unification stand have raised many eyebrows and its approval ratings  have tumbled to less than 24%.

The committee headed by the PCT General Assembly will also be  responsible for issuing public statements and monitoring developments in  national security and autonomy. Some fear that the Ma administration  will sign the Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) during  Chen’s visit to Taiwan. Signing CEPA would inevitably lead Taiwan  onto the path of “one country, two systems” or “one  country, two governments” and Taiwan’s fate would mirror Hong  Kong’s destiny before long.

For more information visit the PCT website:  http://www.pct.org.tw/indexe.html