Taiwan Church News 3240 Edition March 31 - April 6, 2014 Headline News Against Cross-Strait Service Trade Agreement, Over 500,000 Occupy Katagalan Boulevard Reported by Lin Yi-ying On March 30, hundreds of thousands citizens and youth wore in black emerged on the Taipei streets, they overwhelmingly occupied the Katagalan Boulevard before the President's Office Building. Leaders of the Sunflower Student Movement estimated there were over 500,000 people attended, yet some media even estimated the number probably over 700,000. Anyway, either from the mobilized population or the social meanings embedded, this rally would definitely be the most spectacular student movement ever in Taiwan history. "Turn Down CSSTA(Cross-Strait Service And Trade Agreement)!", and "Audit-Law First, Then Law-Making!" were slogans chanted vibrantly by these black shirts rallies. Lin Fei-fan, protest student leader, told to the crowd that students would keep occupying the congress as Ma Ying-jeou regime did not deliver any concrete response except empty words. Lin urged President Ma to submit himself to the command of the people, turn down CSSTA and establish audit-law for any future agreement between China and Taiwan. In a mega-choir singing the lyric, Island's Sunrise, this unprecedented crowd rally automatically mobilized within 3 days ended up in a warm, encouraging and peaceful aura. PCT General Assembly, together with the Sunflower Choir composed of local Presbyterian churches and affiliated institutes, like Chi-nan, Suan-lien and Yi-gon Presbyterian churches, Youth ministry of Paiwan Presbytery and Mackay Junior College of Medicine, Nursing and Management and etc, held a united service in front of the Legislative Yuan(Taiwan's congress) on 11:00 a.m. in March 30. Rev. Zeng Kuo-chong, pastor of Justice Action Church, delivering his sermon titled as "Tear Down the Government!", pointed out that once CSSTA could be allowed to pass, the Taiwan people's dream to become an "new and independent country" would absolutely dash away. Zeng urged PCT members to fight a good fight for God's justice and peace to be realized in Taiwan. Finally, Rev. Hsu Rong-fong, General Assembly Moderator, accomplished the service in his bless and prayer. Translated by Peter Wolfe |