December 5-11, 2011
Headline News
PCT remembers Human Rights Day with “Prayer for Taiwan” rally and urges people to vote wisely in upcoming elections
Reported by Sam Lee
Written by Lydia Ma
To commemorate Human Rights Day this year, PCT held a “Pray for Taiwan” rally on the evening of December 9, 2011, in Taipei to pray for the state of human rights and national sovereignty in Taiwan. That PCT should sponsor such an event comes as no surprise in view of the social issues that this church has focused on throughout 2011, some of which include judicial reform, death penalty, immigrant rights, and freedom of speech.
Human rights has always been a forefront issue of concern for the PCT. Taiwan Theological College and Seminary History Professor Rev. Cheng Yang-en explained that because humans are created in God’s image, therefore, PCT believes that concern for human rights has theological grounding. As stated in its profession of faith, PCT believes that “God has given human beings dignity, talent, and a homeland, so that they may share in God’s creation, and have responsibility with Him for taking care of the world.”
Participants taking part in the “Prayer for Taiwan” rally prayed specifically on four themes or challenges prevalent in today’s Taiwanese society, which include livelihood challenges, environmental problems, land rights violations, and the uncertain future of the country.
Livelihood challenges refer to issues such as high tuition, mandatory-but-unpaid leave, high unemployment, and a widening gap between rich and poor.
Environmental problems refer to issues such as recent disturbing policies and trends, including illegal construction of Meiliwan Resort, East Coast Development Act proposal, and attempts to build nuclear plants and nuclear waste disposal plants.
Prayers against land rights violations refers to issues such as government-sanctioned appropriation of agricultural lands by corporations, Kuokuang Petrochemical Plant project, and violation of various indigenous people’s land rights.
As for the future of Taiwan, participants prayed for the sovereignty and independence of Taiwan in view of President Ma’s signing of the ECFA agreement with China, and his proposal to sign a peace treaty with China if elected.
In related news, three presbyteries in southern Taiwan convened a press conference at PCT Kaohsiung Mission Center on December 3, 2011, to voice support for presidential candidates that “act justly, love mercy, and forsake unification in support of protecting Taiwan’s independence.”
Kaohsiung, Shoushan, and South Bunun presbytery leaders urged voters to support presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen and 9 other legislators. They also urged Christians to use their votes to stop corrupt regimes, strengthen Taiwan’s democracy, and protect Taiwan’s sovereignty.
The three presbyteries underscored at this press conference that Christians and churches cannot shirk from the upcoming elections on January 14 – especially in view of the Ma administration’s China-leaning platform. Churches must clearly state their positions and pray for Taiwan.
Former PCT General Secretary Rev. C.M. Kao was present at this conference and was invited to speak. He said that Taiwan’s present circumstances are more dire compared to 40 years ago when PCT first issued its “Statement On Our National Fate”. If this election turns out right, there will be hope in the horizon, but if the wrong candidate is elected, Taiwan’s future is doomed. He urged voters to vote for Tsai who fully identifies with Taiwan and supports a “Taiwan consensus”.
