Walking in Taiwan
(<- Previous Report) March 2, 1998 (Next Report ->)Back to Start
Visit to Chia-Yi city
Anwar Yusuf, Erkin Alptekin and Johngar Bache each left the delegation today for home but not before expressing their positive feelings about what has been accomplished on this trip. Alptekin summed up the general feeling by stating, "I'm very encouraged by the democratic people here working for the independence for Taiwan. After all these years of the Kuomintang refusing to work with us because we are asking them to get rid of the territorial claims on Eastern Turkistan, Tibet and Inner Mongolia, the DPP openly said that these people (Eastern Turkistanis, Tibetans and Inner Mongolians) have nothing to do with the Chinese, so why should we (DPP) continue to raise claims on these territories when we are ourselves running after independence. In this respect I think there is a basis for the future relationship if, of course, there is a sincere desire from their side."
In Chia-Yi city the remaining members of the delegation were greeted by a group of Presbyterian pastors who hosted a morning press conference and explained that the Presbyterian church has been, and continues to be, deeply involved in the Taiwanese independence movement.
Trong R. Chai, Ph.D. of Formosa Television was also present to welcome the group to his hometown and explained that in 1947 Chia-Yi city fought KMT troops on 228 and suffered the greatest losses of all Taiwan. "Due to this historical background," he said, "Chia-Yi city remains the most powerful opposition to the KMT ruling party."
During the press conference, while giving some history of the Chinese invasion of Tibet, Norbu warned the Taiwanese to be careful of what the Chinese government may say. "In July 1949 the Chinese communist government came to Tibet and their words were so nice. They said they came to liberate Tibet and help the Tibetans. Chinese words are like 'honey on the knife,' and if you eat these words you will cut your tongue out."
After the press conference the delegation had a brief meeting with the Chia-Yi city Mayor. A strong supporter of independence for Taiwan, she expressed her hope that one day Tibet, Eastern Turkistan and Inner Mongolia will one day be independent.
During a radio interview Jamyangling stated, "The PRC is so strong militarily and economically that we are no match to them at all, but no matter strong the PRC is I do not believe that they can ever kill or eliminate the human spirit. People like the Eastern Turkistanis, Inner Mongolians and Tibetans, one day they are going to rise up. It has been said before if you cover the entire world with concrete one day there will be a small crack and out of this crack there will be a blade of grass. One day the Chinese empire is going to crack and from this crack the Inner Mongolians will come up. The Eastern Turkistanis will come up. The Tibetans will come up, and we will win independence! The Eastern Turkistanis, the Inner Mongolians and the Tibetans are joining our hands with the people of Taiwan so that we all may become independent."
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