http://www.demdigest.net/blog/regions/asia/govt-taking-the-democracy-out-of-taiwan-foundation-for-democracy.html Democracy Digest provides news, analysis and information on democracy promotion and related matters. The Digest is produced at the National Endowment for Democracy. Wed, 10 Mar 2010 02:22:23 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 http://www.demdigest.net/blog/regions/asia/govt-taking-the-democracy-out-of-taiwan-foundation-for-democracy.html/comment-page-1#comment-3691 Julian Baum Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:07:46 +0000 http://www.demdigest.net/blog/?p=2785#comment-3691 The TFD is the canary in the coal mine for democracy in Taiwan. As one of the previous commentors said, this is not a partisan issue, but a matter of principle. For more than a generation, the KMT has been conflicted about democracy. Its unification ideology is fundamentally incompatible with democractic practice by Taiwan's citizens, with the idea of popular sovereignty and the right of self-determination. Those contradictions simmered during the 1990s when reformers lead by Lee Teng-hui temporarily gained control of the party. But with the Ma government, the barons of unification have resurfaced, along with their resistance to authentic democratic practice. The establishment of the TFD was the natural outcome of the social and political reforms of the Lee era, and the generous impulse to spread those ideals. But the conflict with the KMT's reactionary unification agenda and its preference for a single-party state have resurfaced with a vengeance. The TFD could become an early casualty of this conflict, unless the remaining democrats in the KMT get some backbone, and international pressure can shame Ma into reversing his intention to turn back the clock. The TFD is the canary in the coal mine for democracy in Taiwan. As one of the previous commentors said, this is not a partisan issue, but a matter of principle. For more than a generation, the KMT has been conflicted about democracy. Its unification ideology is fundamentally incompatible with democractic practice by Taiwan’s citizens, with the idea of popular sovereignty and the right of self-determination. Those contradictions simmered during the 1990s when reformers lead by Lee Teng-hui temporarily gained control of the party. But with the Ma government, the barons of unification have resurfaced, along with their resistance to authentic democratic practice. The establishment of the TFD was the natural outcome of the social and political reforms of the Lee era, and the generous impulse to spread those ideals. But the conflict with the KMT’s reactionary unification agenda and its preference for a single-party state have resurfaced with a vengeance. The TFD could become an early casualty of this conflict, unless the remaining democrats in the KMT get some backbone, and international pressure can shame Ma into reversing his intention to turn back the clock.

]]> http://www.demdigest.net/blog/regions/asia/govt-taking-the-democracy-out-of-taiwan-foundation-for-democracy.html/comment-page-1#comment-3686 June Teufel Dreyer Fri, 19 Jun 2009 12:13:05 +0000 http://www.demdigest.net/blog/?p=2785#comment-3686 The Ma administration has set Taiwan on a backward trajectory that, left unchecked, will undo the democratic gains that were an integral part of the Taiwan miracle and return the nation to the autocratic ways of the past. What is happening to the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy is a microcosm of what is happening elsewhere in society: the media are being muzzled, officials of the previous administration have been indicted on what appear to be bogus charges accompanied by convenient leaks from the prosecutor's office, and a controversial new Assembly and Parade law is being considered that would severely restrict the right of protestors to demonstrate. Even Ma's former professor at Harvard Law School has been moved to publicly protest. A nation that took pride in being a lighthouse for democracy in Asia seems about to have its beacon extinguished. The Ma administration has set Taiwan on a backward trajectory that, left unchecked, will undo the democratic gains that were an integral part of the Taiwan miracle and return the nation to the autocratic ways of the past. What is happening to the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy is a microcosm of what is happening elsewhere in society: the media are being muzzled, officials of the previous administration have been indicted on what appear to be bogus charges accompanied by convenient leaks from the prosecutor’s office, and a controversial new Assembly and Parade law is being considered that would severely restrict the right of protestors to demonstrate. Even Ma’s former professor at Harvard Law School has been moved to publicly protest. A nation that took pride in being a lighthouse for democracy in Asia seems about to have its beacon extinguished.

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