Tens of thousands of residents in Taiwan rallied Saturday
afternoon against US$18.2 billion plan to purchase advanced weapons
from the United States, which was proposed by Taiwan
authorities.
Despite rains, the protesters chanted "No to weapons purchases,
Save Taiwan."
Demonstrators called for the authorities to use the money
instead to help the unemployed and students.
People from all walks of life, students to teachers to artists,
joined the rally, whose major organizer is Democracy Action
Alliance, a non-governmental organization.
The protesters marched for about three hours before they
gathered before a square of the office of the leaders of Taiwan
authorities.
Taiwan authorities approved the special budget of 610 billion
New Taiwan dollars (US$18.2 billion) for the purchase of advanced
weaponry shortly after local election of leaders of Taiwan
authorities in March.?
The plan to purchase 388 "Patriot" missiles, eight submarines,
12 anti-submarine planes and other weapons from the United States
was unveiled on June 2. Authorities planned to raise the money by
selling stocks, land and bonds.
The plan outraged thousands of local residents and prompted
criticism from the general public.
Recently, 11 academicians from the "Central Research Academy" in
Taiwan and nearly 200 retired generals signed a petition in protest
against the procurement plan. They were later joined by several
university presidents and a dozen of non-governmental
organizations.
Academician Lin Yu-Sheng said the society in Taiwan should
protest the drastic move by the authorities before it is too late.
Another academician Hsu Cho-Yun said the authorities should spend
the huge amount of money on improving cross-Straits relations and
the economy, not on armaments.
(Xinhua News Agency September 26, 2004)
