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TSU LAUNCHES PETITION DRIVE AGAINST BEIJING'S 'ANTI-SECESSION LAW'

Central News Agency

2005-02-28 18:46:35

    Taipei, Feb. 28 (CNA) The pro-independence Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) launched an islandwide 10,000-person petition drive Monday to highlight its call for the people of Taiwan to oppose mainland China's proposed "anti-secession law."

    The one-day signature drive on 228 Peace Memorial Day was held in about 30 places around Taiwan and was called "oppose annexation, protect Taiwan."

    TSU Chairman Su Chin-chiang led party officials and legislators to Lungshan Temple, one of the designated places in Taipei to solicit signatures, and used a bullhorn to call for the public to join the drive.

    TSU officials said that Beijing is attempting to use the "anti-secession law" to lay a legal basis to employ force against Taiwan should the island declare independence.

    For this reason, it is urgent to define clearly the status of Taiwan and mainland China and laws governing the rights and obligations of those participating in bilateral exchanges, they said.

    The TSU will propose an "anti-annexation law" to counter Beijing's "anti-secession law," they added.

    The "anti-secession law" will soon be put to review and is expected to be passed by the National People's Congress, Beijing's rubber-stamp parliament, when it meets in early March.

    Su said that Taiwan faces the threat of annexation from mainland China, and the only way to counter this is for Taiwan to stand up against the proposed law.

    He also said that two million people took part in the hand-in-hand campaign for peace on Feb. 28 last year, and the theme of this year's activity was still peace, but he wondered why some political figures who took part in last year's movement didn't come out this year.

    The TSU's Youth Department officials also performed skits to ridicule some political figures in Taiwan as seriously tilting toward mainland China and not standing on the same side as the people.

    TSU Legislator Huang Shih-chou said that the TSU wants to make the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) aware that the TSU will rigorously monitor the administration and actively promote a new constitution and the rectification of the nation's name.

    TSU Secretary-General Chen Chien-ming also said that the TSU will prove with action that it will by no means accept mainland China's attempt to annex Taiwan.

(By Lilian Wu)

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