Taiwan Church News 3271 Edition November 3 - 9, 2014 Headline News PCT, Local Residents And Civil Groups Protest Against Daan Matsu Cultural Park To Locate In Greater Taichung City Reported by Simon Lin Even though many civil groups have publicly protested many times, warning Taichung City Government(TCG) would waste taxpayers' money at NTD 1.2 billion(about USD 40 millions) dollars to build an illegal and unnecessary Daan Matsu Cultural Park(DMCP), an opening ceremony of this park building project is still arranged to hold on November 1, in spite of the public's suspicion about buying vote for the campaigning Mayor Jason Hu, breaching the constitutional stipulation on religion equality and escaping environmental impact assessment. Outside the opening ceremony of DMCP site, local residents and several civil groups demonstrate their angers -"Kidnap Matsu, Escape Environmental Impact Assessment!" - with their placards. But, Mayor Jason Hu obviously won't pay any attention to their appeals. In addition, Rev. Wang Jin-chai, Director of Church and Society Committee of PCT Taichung Presbytery and environmental lawyer Ko Le-jen are barred by police force from entering into the protection site. Rev. Wang Jin-chai laments that the anti-DMCP statements, signed by more than 4000 Taichung citizens one by one, were sent to Mayor Hu in the end 0f May, 2014, yet still without any response from him. Rev. Wang reiterates the project of building DMCP has breached the constitution, which stipulates the government should treat all religions equal, and should not encourage or limit the particular religion. Therefore, says Rev. Wang, the government should spend the taxpayers' money on the social welfare or infra-structures beneficial to all citizens, but not particular religion or party. Lawyer Ko Le-jen remarks that, as the commissioned legal agent for PCT Taichung Presbytery, she has officially submitted the citizen advise, with the concurrent signature from many civil groups like Matsu's Fish Conservation Union, Taiwan Academy of Ecology and etc., asking TCG to stop construction of DMCP immediately. If this request is not responded from TCG within due date, the lawsuit of executive accusation would be launched automatically. Rev. Wang also wish this problem constitutional breach could be exposed through righteous legal process, as he believes: "Righteousness exalts the nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people"(Proverb 14:30). Translated by Peter Wolfe |