http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/ap20040228_385.html
Over a Million Form Human Chain in Taiwan
Estimated 1.2 Million People Link Hands in a Human Chain
the Length of Taiwan to Protest China
The Associated Press
TAIPEI, Taiwan Feb. 28 — An estimated 1.2 million
people linked hands in a human chain the length of the
island Saturday as President Chen Shui-bian urged
protesters to oppose China's military threats and create
the "Great Wall of Taiwan's democracy." The event was
the biggest islandwide demonstration in Taiwan's
history. The protesters hoped it would win the world's
sympathy for Taiwan in its struggle against China. But
it could end up further antagonizing the communist
giant.
The people power display was also designed to give Chen
a boost in the tight race ahead of the March 20
presidential election. Opposition parties refused to
join the human chain. They held rival events, including
a blood drive and a torch relay.
Chinese leaders insist self-ruled Taiwan belongs to
China, and they have repeatedly threatened to use force
to take over the island, 100 miles off the mainland.
China's massive military has nearly 500 short-range
missiles pointed at Taiwan.
Kicking off Saturday's event in the western county of
Miaoli, Chen told supporters, "Everyone should hold
hands and protect Taiwan's national sovereignty,
democratic development, economic prosperity and
permanent peace in the Taiwan Strait."
As people in the human chain cheered, Chen said, "I am
very happy that together we can write history. This is
the Great Wall of Taiwan's democracy."
Organizers said more than a million people formed the
human chain that stretched 303 miles from the northern
port of Keelung down the flat western coast to Pingtung
County near the island's southern tip. Local TV stations
that covered the event from helicopters said the chain
was complete.
In the capital, Taipei, people linked hands in front of
the red brick Presidential Office. They raised their
hands in the air, shouted "Taiwan Yes!" and released
heart-shaped balloons into the air as cars passed by and
honked their horns in support.
Retired dentist Wayne Wu, 68, said the event was
successful. "It was peaceful, short, and clear," he
said. "This was history, and I wanted to be part of it
because I am Taiwanese. I am not Chinese."
Standing nearby, accounting student Lisa Lu, 22, hoped
the protest would send a message to China.
"This is the best chance we have to tell China what the
people of Taiwan think," she said. "This is not only the
politicians talking. This is the whole people."
Ronald Wang, a 42-year-old engineer, added, "We must
show China this is our country. They have no right to
tell us what to do. Today, the whole world will
understand."
The president also used the protest to remind voters to
cast ballots in Taiwan's first islandwide referendum, to
be held on the same day as the presidential election.
Voters will be asked whether Taiwan should increase
anti-missile defenses if China refuses to withdraw the
missiles it has pointed at the island. The referendum
will also ask voters if Taiwan should hold talks with
China to normalize relations.
Beijing has criticized the referendum. Chinese leaders
worry it could set a precedent for a referendum on the
touchy unification issue.
The organizers chose Feb. 28 for the human chain to mark
the anniversary of an uprising in 1947, known as the
"228 Incident," when anti-corruption protests turned
violent. Soldiers with the former Nationalist government
put down the demonstrations, killing hundreds, maybe
thousands, of people.
photo credit and caption: A betel nut chewing man enjoys
holding hands with nearly ten thousand Taiwanese who
gathered on the old Hsilo Bridge during the island-wide
human chain, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2004 in Yunlin County,
central Taiwan. Taiwan government supporters claim to
have recruited more than 1 million people to form a
human chain over 487 kilometers (303 miles) _ from the
northern port of Keelung to Pingtung County near the
island's southern tip. Organizers and participants of
'Hand in Hand to Protect Taiwan' hope the display of
people power will focus global attention on the island's
threat of nearly 500 missiles pointed at the island from
China. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)
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