holding of national referendums on key issues such as Taiwan's bid to join the United Nations (U.N.), and therefore he would like to join the young people to realize the dream of carrying out a national referendum on the island's U.N. bid. Chen made the remarks while speaking at a gathering of participants in national youth conferences on statement affairs held in the past four years, organized by the Cabinet-level National Youth Commission (NYC).
Chen, who is deemed the catalyst of such a conference, was invited by the NYC to share the views and expectations of young people.
The president said that he had to extend special gratitude to the Lily Students Movement, initiated in 1990, which has laid a solid foundation for the development of democracy in Taiwan. He added that this democracy can be shown via the holding of a national referendum.
The students movement has, over the past 15 years, had several significant achievements, including scrapping the National Assembly and enacting the national referendum bill to make it part of the ROC Institution. "I'm deeply touched by the efforts of young students," Chen said.
On the same occasion, Cheng Li-chun, chairwoman of the NYC, stressed that every young generation has their own way to demonstrate their passion for democracy, adding that the national youth conference on state affairs is virtually a kind of "coming of age" event for young people.
In 2004, Cheng continued, President Chen instructed her commission to organize the national youth confab on state affairs, making it the top platform for the youth to contribute their proposals to government policies. "This has marked a great progress in Taiwan's democracy development history," Cheng emphasized.
Cheng added that her commission will move to make the national youth conference on state affairs an annual event. The 2007 edition of the meeting was held Sept. 8-9.
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