Su Beng's disapproval of Chen Chu's visit to China

Su Beng (史明) recently wrote an editorial article expressing his disapproval of the mayor of Kaohsiung, Chen Chu’s (陳菊) recent visit to China. With the help of my mother, I have translated his editorial, which was originally written in Chinese.

On May 17 there were protests in Kaohsiung and Taipei for an independent Taiwan, and to criticize of the government’s cross-strait policies. The protests concluded in Taipei with an overnight sit-in protest (May 18-19) for reform of the Assembly and Parade Act (集會遊行法). Prior to the protests, Chen Chu (陳菊) had announced that she would be canceling her trip to China. But on May 21, just days after the protests, Chen Chu (陳菊) reversed her decision, announcing that she would be going ahead with her trip to China.

Having spent seven years in China (1942-1949), dealing with the inner workings of the Chinese Communist Party, Su Beng (史明) believes that the politicians of Taiwan, especially members of the Democratic Progressive Party (民進黨) are ill-equipped to deal with the Chinese Communist Party. While China has over 2000 ballistic missiles aimed at Taiwan and refuses to acknowledge Taiwan’s sovereignty, the emerging trend of engagement between the politicians of Taiwan and China is troubling to him.

Here is the English translation of Su Beng's (史明) editorial article:

Chen Chu (陳菊) Has Betrayed the Taiwan Independence Movement
By Su Beng (史明)

In the early 1970s, Chen Chu (陳菊), the current mayor of Kaohsiung city, was the secretary of Guo Yu Xin (郭雨新) (former leader of the opposition to the Kuomintang (國民黨) during the 1970s).

Mr. Guo (郭雨新) was my father’s friend. Since I was in junior high school I’d visit Mr. Guo’s (郭雨新) house (on Zhong Shan Bei Road 中山北路). From the end of 1960 to the beginning of 1970, I was in Japan continuing my work for the Taiwan independence movement, by working outside of the Republic of China (中華民國) political framework. At the same time, Mr. Guo (郭雨新) was in Taiwan working to promote democracy under the Kuomintang (國民黨) colonial regime; he and I had some secret communications then.

At the end of the 1970s, Chen Chu (陳菊) was working for the opposition movement in Taiwan. Because of this, she was arrested twice. Towards the end of 1978 Chen Chu (陳菊) was released from jail early. After her release, the Kuomintang (國民黨) gave her special treatment, by taking her to visit Kimen (金門, which was a restricted military zone at the time). After returning from Kimen (金門), at the end of 1978, the Kuomintang (國民黨) granted Chen Chu (陳菊) permission to travel abroad.

Chen Chu (陳菊) went to Japan and came to see me. The next spring, she came to Japan during a stopover on her way to the U.S. She traveled all over the U.S. visiting overseas Taiwanese students, to promote Taiwan independence and to fundraise for the movement. Soon she became a famous activist for the Taiwan independence movement. After that visit, she often came to Tokyo to stay at my noodle shop. We often discussed strategies for the Taiwan independence movement.

In 1986, the Democratic Progressive Party (民進黨) was formed. Chen Chu (陳菊) was one of the founders of the party. Many people saw her as a key person for the Taiwan independence movement.

After Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁, the Democratic Progressive Party (民進黨) candidate for the presidency) was elected as the President in 2000, Chen Chu (陳菊) and the Democratic Progressive Party (民進黨) had to work within the Republic of China (中華民國) political framework. When Chen Chu (陳菊) was appointed to the position of Labor Minister, she became a high-ranking bureaucrat within the Republic of China (中華民國) political framework, which is against Taiwan’s independence.

Although Chen Chu (陳菊) had become famous for her work with the Taiwan independence movement, when she went to visit China as the mayor of Kaohsiung, she kowtowed to China, which has threatened to invade Taiwan. In doing so, she betrayed Taiwan.

Historically, China has claimed that Taiwan is a part of China, within its territorial borders and disparaged Taiwan by describing it as a remote, barren land. Now they have over 2000 ballistic missiles aimed at Taiwan, putting Taiwan under eminent military threat. China has cut off Taiwan’s lifeline to the international community. China is totally against Taiwan’s independence and nation building efforts. However, Chen Chu (陳菊), a major figure, who had consistently advocated Taiwan’s independence, went to China, under the guise of recruiting Chinese athletes and spectators for the 2009 World Games, and promoting Kaohsiung (the host of the 2009 World Games). But she ended up prostrating herself to China. While in China, Chen Chu (陳菊) referred to the Republic of China (中華民國) as the central government of Taiwan (while China refers to the Republic of China (中華民國) as “Taiwan authority”) and she referred to Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) as President (while China refers to him as Mr. Ma (馬英九)). With this choice of words, she has kissed the Koumintang’s (國民黨) ass. She has thrown away her principles and turned her back on her years of dedication to the Taiwan independence movement, and diverged from the path of Taiwan’s ancestors, who have struggled for over 400 years, to stand up to become the masters of their own fate, and to break the shackles of colonial rule. Which is more important, the development of Kaohsiung or Taiwan’s future?

Chen Chu’s (陳菊) actions are shameful. What is troubling is that the case of Chen Chu (陳菊) could be the first in a long line of Taiwanese politicians who will surrender to the tactics of Communist China.

I hope that the people of Taiwan know right from wrong, insist on protecting Taiwan’s sovereignty, and will not be misled by Chen Chu’s (陳菊) reprehensible dealings with the devil.

Translated by Felicia C. Lin and Mei-Ling Lin

Three's a charm

It's been very productive week, having talked to Su Beng via Skype three times in the past week. The first two times, there were some technical difficulties with the web cam on his end, so we just went on with the call without video. But on the third try, today, we got the video working!

Su Beng or bust

Back in April of 2007, I blogged about Mr. Lin, a sculptor and longtime friend of Su Beng who was working on a bronze bust of Su Beng here. When I was in Taiwan last year (from February to May of 2008), the bronze casting of the bust still hadn't been completed.

I wondered what had happened, so I asked Su Beng during one of our recent Skype conversations. It turns out that the bust was completed in July 2009 and his assistant Bing Hong emailed me this photograph of Su Beng with the finished product.

Stay tuned for the reopening Su Beng's noodle shop

For the past year, Su Beng has been in Tokyo overseeing some much needed renovations on his noodle shop, which he opened in the mid-1950s. This photo of Su Beng's noodle shop, currently closed for business, was taken in March 2009 by Freddy Lim.

It’s been a bit of a financial hardship for Su Beng to have to have had the noodle shop closed for a year. There have been complications and delays due to Japan’s strict building codes. The New Gourmet (新珍味) noodle shop, located near the Ikebukuro train stop, is a historic relic- it was the place where underground operatives from Taiwan were invited to be trained by Su Beng; it was the place that once generated a steady stream of income which Su Beng funneled back through his underground channels to Taiwan, the funds were for activists fighting for Taiwan’s independence. And it was the place where Su Beng wrote both the Japanese language and Chinese language versions of “Taiwan’s 400 Year of History.” It is also where Su Beng lived and worked during most of his over forty years of exile from Taiwan. Now if only the walls of this noodle shop could talk!

I was fortunate enough to have visited the noodle shop in 2005. This is how the noodle shop looked back then:









The noodle shop is located near Tokyo's Ikebukuro train stop, here you can see the address if you'd like to make a visit in the future:


Now that Su Beng has been back in Taiwan for about a month and has returned from the month long march with the Taiwan Alliance of Referendum for Taiwan, I have been able to schedule some Skype calls with him about the biography. Though exhausted, the 92 year old is upbeat and anxious to return to Japan to reopen his noodle shop.

Over the past year, I have increasingly come away from my interviews with Su Beng feeling as though I am mining for precious gems. As Su Beng fills in the details, it is as if I am making all these small, but significant discoveries that will enrich the telling of this man's amazing life.

May 17: Su Beng arrives in Taipei with the Alliance of Referendum for Taiwan

The Taiwan Independence Action Motorcade arrives.

Su Beng in one of the Taiwan Independence Action Motorcade "propaganda trucks."

Su Beng talks to television news reporters.

Review of Assembly and Parade Law postponed again

Su Beng at a protest of the Assembly and Parade Law- Taipei, May 5, 2009
What could be more compelling than images of this ninety-something year old activist still getting out there and fighting for what he believes in?

Su Beng speaks at the May 5th protest of the Assembly and Parade Law

David on Formosa sent me these photos he snapped of Su Beng at another protest regarding the Assembly and Parade Law in front of the Legislative Yuan Building in Taipei on May 5th. Why another protest? The vote on the Assembly and Parade Law has been postponed yet again.

Read about it here on the Taipei Times: http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2009/05/06/2003442879

Day 12: The Taiwan Independence Action motorcade on the trail of the Alliance of Referendum of Taiwan march

Su Beng's Taiwan Independence Action (獨立台灣會) motorcade in Chiayi (嘉義), Taiwan- on the trail of the month-long march with the Alliance of Referendum of Taiwan. (Photo courtesy of: http://picasaweb.google.com.tw/twjessie/DAY12#)

Protesting the Assembly and Parade Law

Activists protested the Assembly and Parade Law at the Legislative Yuan Building on April 28, 2009. Su Beng is amongst them front row center in his blue denim shirt. Su Beng rouses the crowd just past the two minute mark in this video.

The assembly law stipulates that people must first obtain a permit from the police precinct where the assembly is to take place. The police at the precinct level therefore have the power to permit or deny all applications for assembly and protest activities, and they are charged with maintaining order during the marches and driving away protesters if things get too rowdy. (Source: Taiwan Journal)

In 2006, Su Beng was charged with violating the Assembly and Parade Law. You can read more about that here: http://writingblock.blogspot.com/2006/09/anachronistic-assembly-and-parade-law.html

This anachronistic law has been the subject of much debate in Taiwan lately. On November 6, 2008, the Wild Strawberry student group began protesting the excessive use of force by police against protesters during the visit of Chinese envoy Chen Yunlin, and urging the Ma government to revise the Assembly and Parade Law. The Wild Strawberry student group's requests are that:

1. President Ma Ying-jeou and Premier Liu Chao-shiuan must publicly apologize to all citizens.

2. National Police Agency Director-General Wang Cho-chiun and National Security Bureau Director Tsai Chaoming must step down.

3. The Legislative Yuan must revise the Parade and Assembly Law, which currently restricts the rights of the people.

To read their entire protest statement, click here: http://taiwanstudentmovement2008.blogspot.com/2008/11/protest-statement.html

Su Beng on month-long march with the Alliance of Referendum for Taiwan

Here's a video that's been posted on YouTube and on the blog of The Alliance of Referendum for Taiwan. There are shots of Su Beng and his Taiwan Independence Action (獨立台灣會) motorcade propaganda trucks.

The Alliance of Referendum for Taiwan has a blog with updates on their month long march from Heng Chun to Taipei here: http://taiwanra.blogspot.com/

Why a month long march?

Michael Richardson of the Boston Examiner brought this video to my attention; it's a video of Su Beng at a roadside rest stop talking about the month long march from Heng Chun to Taipei, which has been posted on www.taiwanus.net.

Unfortunately the sound quality of the video clip is not very good and there is a lot of background noise from traffic going by. I will offer my best efforts of a translation highlighting the main points of what Su Beng has said in the video clip here:

Interviewer: Su Beng, excuse me could I trouble you in asking you some questions? How old are you this year?

SB: I am 92 years old.

Interviewer: Oh you are up there in age now. Now where did you going to start walking from?

SB: Heng Chun to Taipei.

Interviewer: That will take several days…

SB: A month.

[I've skipped translating some of the interviewer's comments and Su Beng's responses, which follow since they were unclear. What follows below is a summary of highlights of what Su Beng said in the rest of the video clip.]

Interviewer: Why are you walking?

SB: We are walking in the footsteps of our ancestors. Secondly, the Taiwanese people must be unified, have solidarity and bravely stand up to be their own masters, to build their own country.

Interviewer: What do you think are the future prospects of Taiwan/the Taiwanese building a new nation for Taiwan? What’s your hope for that? What are your opinions on that?

SB: Taiwan will be independent. The entire world will support Taiwan’s independence. The problem that the Taiwanese haven’t worked hard enough or bravely enough to build a new nation and that will delay the road to independence. What we should be most afraid of is, if China tries to take over Taiwan. If the Taiwanese people don’t work hard for their future, if you don’t fight for yourself then how could you expect the rest of the world support you? What’s important for Taiwan is that everyone must forcefully declare that Taiwan is not a part of the China. The Taiwanese have to say that Taiwan is not the same as China or the Republic of China; it is the Republic of Taiwan. We must prevent or stop China from taking over Taiwan. The Taiwanese people have not worked hard enough for themselves.

[Su Beng starts conversing with another person in the video here]

SB: The Taiwanese consist of Holo, and Hakka people, who are basically of Han ancestry, and some aboriginal people of Polynesian decent, but when the enemy comes, they will target all the people on the island. That the Taiwanese are still pulling each other’s legs is troubling.

We need to put things in black and white terms. Yes or no, right or wrong, it’s black and white. We need to be clear about what is right and wrong. People need to know right from wrong. There are universal standards.

Su Beng offers some opinions of the Roger Lin case:
[Note: If you'd like to know more about the Roger Lin case, click here]

SB: This is a political tool. Their chance of success with this may be low but any methods that move us towards Taiwan’s independence are good. This is a good method, but the most important thing is that the Taiwanese must stand in solidarity and fight for independence themselves.

To view and listen to the entire video clip for yourself, click on this link: http://www.taiwanus.net/news/press/2009/200904261324101594.htm