960409

Beaten Taiwan

candidate vows

to seek independence

TAIPEI: Peng Ming-min, a defeated candidate in Taiwan's March 23 presidential election, launched an organisation on Tuesday aiming at furthering the cause of the island's independence from rival China.

"Only by building our own country will Taiwanese people avoid the fate of being China's slaves," Peng, candidate for the independence-seeking opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in the presidential election, said in a statement.

Peng, 72, said his Formosa Association would promote Taiwan independence by conducting civil activities and holding seminars.

"Establishing our own country is a very difficult task which needs long-term devotion. I will devote the rest of my life into this holy task, putting together the people's power to jointly establish our own country," Peng said.

"Let us unify under this organisation and make our dreams come true through active moves," he added.

Some analysts said Peng's open support for independence might have been the key reason for his failure in the election.

Beijing, which saw the poll as a plot to move closer to independence, held three rounds of large-scale military exercises near the island between March 8 and 25 to warn Taiwanese voters not to drop a pledge for reunification.

China has viewed Taiwan as a renegade province since the end of a civil war in 1949 and Beijing threatens to attack if the island opts for independence.

Both governments say they want reunification, but under very different terms.

President Lee Teng-hui, who has said he does not want independence for Taiwan although he vows to seek a greater international profile for the island, won the election with 54 percent of the vote, followed by Peng who gained 21 percent.-Reuter