Taiwan Church News 3287 Edition February 23 - March 1, 2015 Headline News To Practise True Democracy, A Movement of Constitutional Reform Is LaunchedReported by Chiu Kuo-rong A press conference by many citizen groups for constitutional reform is held in the afternoon on February 10 at the petition room inside Taiwan's congress, Legislative Yuan. Professor Ku Chung-hwa, executive Director of Citizen Congress Watch, which is the chief organizer of this press conference, remarks that Taiwan need to engage an environment mature enough with diverse thoughts and ideas to build up a solid citizen society. Ku says this would greatly enhance Taiwan's democracy, avoiding our efforts to build a nation failed in vain. Mr Cheng Jien-yuan, representative of New School for Democracy, emphasizes that Taiwan is an exemplary model of democratic development for the Chinese society. So, Taiwan has a very extraordinary duty to convince the Chinese about the treasured values of democracy, human rights and rule of law. "Just like the Republic of Formosa, which is the first republic state on Taiwan island, we need to make a social contract to realize our ideal democracy and become the democracy model for the global Chinese societies," said Zeng. Against the mindset of a constitutional reform among lots of citizen groups, Mr Zeng Wen-long, Chairman of Taiwan Jury Association and also a renown defense lawyer of former President Chen Sui-bian, proposes that a brand new and independent constitution is required. Zeng says, based on a literal reading, a constitutional reform has to be proceeded under the constitution of the Republic of China(ROC). And this means the Taiwanese after constitutional reform is still reigned by ROC statues. "If Taiwan wants to escape the destiny of colonization by the powers", said Zeng, "we should not play the old game of constitutional reform heading for nowhere, but should draw a new and independent constitution!". Translated by Peter Wolfe |