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Updated Sunday, September 16, 2007 0:00 am TWN, CNA

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Civic groups blast referendums on bid for United Nations membership

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- As the ruling and opposition parties held large rallies in central and southern Taiwan Saturday to drum up support for the nation’s membership in the United Nations, several civic groups voiced opposition to the move that same day.

An action alliance against a referendum on the nation’s membership of the United Nations protested at the Presidential Office and sprayed graffiti, inviting a warning from the police. The protesters had a brief scuffle with police before moving to a park to continue the protest. Organizers estimated that around 1,000 took part in the protest.

Independent Legislator Lee Ao also came to the park to lend his support to the activists.

Lee said that whether it is the DPP’s referendum on the nation’s membership in the U.N. under the name Taiwan or the KMT’s referendum to bid for a return to the world body under the nation’s official name, the Republic of China, or any other names, none of them are grounded in reality.

Lee noted that a member of the United Nations must have statehood as a requirement.

Since Taiwan is not a country, if it really wants to enter the world body, it will have to hold a referendum on Taiwan independence, which he said the DPP would not dare to do.

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