3141 Edition
May 7-13, 2012
General Assembly New

"Lord Jesus, save us! We are suffering deeply" sit-in demonstration across Taiwan to last one month

Reported by Sam Lee

Written by Lydia Ma

PCT’s 57th General Assembly Executive Committee held its first meeting on May 1,2012 and passed a motion to start a social movement called “Tell the Ma administration about the suffering of the people and oppose a movement against price hike.” The purpose of the motion and movement is to call upon the government to freeze the price of electricity and fuel for 2 years, ban import of beef containing ractopamine, and amend the Referendum Act so that the people can initiate a referendum and pass it more easily.

Responding to the motion passed by the executive committee and proposed by the Church and Society Committee, General Assembly Moderator Pusin Tali said that the Ma administration’s sudden decision to increase the price of electricity and fuel had created much misery among Taiwanese. As a church that believes in entering into people’s suffering and being with the people, much like God drew near his people through the Incarnation of Christ, he said that this statement of faith had prompted the PCT to spearhead this new movement against price hikes. He added that several NGO’s had also initiated a recall of legislators and the PCT would also take part in those initiatives.

The theme of this movement against price hikes is “Lord Jesus, save us! We are suffering deeply” and the movement will start with a press conference chaired by Pusin Tali and PCT General Secretary Andrew Chang on Ketagalan Boulevard on May 16, 2012. At that press conference, PCT leaders will outline the motive and demands of this movement.

Beginning from May 21 until June 20, there will be 12 sit-in demonstrations held throughout Taiwan, each scheduled from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. PCT pastors and members, as well as the general public, are welcome to attend these sit-in protests, which will include prayers and speeches. Light gruel will be served for lunch and dinner during these events to symbolize that, in face of soaring inflation, Taiwanese people can only afford to eat light gruel and they are having a hard time making a living.

In other matters, the executive committee also confirmed during their first meeting that the next General Assembly Annual Convention will be held on April 9-12, 2013. The venue of the convention will likely be Mackay Memorial Hospital, located in Taipei.