Taiwan’s democratic achievements lauded on World Freedom Day 2008

World Freedom Day is celebrated each year on Jan. 23, commemorating an event on Jan. 23, 1954, when a group of Chinese POWs captured in the Korean War returned to Taiwan. In fact, several Korean War veterans, now in their 80s, attended the celebrations yesterday, braving the cold winds of Yuan Shan, a small mountain on which the Grand Hotel is located.

World Freedom Day Celebrations are held each year by WLFD, which was founded in 1954 with the mission of fighting communism and promoting democracy and freedom.

With communist regimes crumbling in most parts of the world, WLFD has transformed into an important non-government organization (NGO) that has held on to the goals of pushing for democracy, freedom and human rights everywhere in the world.

Today, WLFD is the only Republic of China-founded NGO that has remained in the United Nations. It has chapters in many parts of the world. Its U.S. Chapter is headed by Mike Huckabee, who is currently seeking the nomination of the Republican Party to run in the U.S. presidential election in November. The head of WLFD's Paraguay Chapter, meanwhile, is also seeking his party's nomination in the country's presidential election.

Hundreds of overseas delegates representing 15 nations took part in the celebrations yesterday. In particular, a delegation of WFLD's Nepal Chapter caught the attention of guests and attendees, as the delegates were opposition leaders who successfully toppled the country's autocratic monarchical regime, creating a democratic society in the South Asian nation.

"It's our pleasure to see so many wonderful guests today," said Tseng Yung-chuan, president of WFLD ROC Chapter. "This indicates our efforts in spreading the message of democracy and freedom in many parts of the world have paid off."

The 52nd Annual Convention of the WLFD ROC Chapter was held in conjunction with the World Freedom Celebrations, this year under the theme of "Global Governance and Promotion of World Freedom and Democracy."

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