Former Congressman Steve Solarz and FAPA

Former Congressman from Brooklin, Steve Solarz, passed away from esophageal cancer at age of 70.  He, along with other members in the congress and the senate, were the best friends and the strongest supporters of Taiwan.

He once said of FAPA (Formosan Association of Public Affairs) in a D.C. rally:

"... never has a small group of Americans contributing so much to this great country with their skills and work ethics and yet ask so little in return for themselves from this country.  All they want is not for themselves but for the people they left behind to have just a little of what they enjoy here in this country - freedom and democracy.."  .

Yes, that's what we FAPA does, with great pride, trying to keep Taiwan free from the influence of a backward authoritarian neighbor. While many cringed, winced, and relinquished in the face of this powerful 18th Century nation, we shall continue to fight for the freedom, democracy, and justice in Taiwan!  I am convinced that we shall prevail, as it did in all civilized countries around the world !

下面是FAPA 的 press release:

Formosan Association for Public Affairs   552 7th Street. SE. Washington, DC 20003, USA

Support Democracy, Support Taiwan For immediate release Washington DC -  November 11th  2010 Contact: (202) 547-3686 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (202) 547-3686      end_of_the_skype_highlighting   Taiwanese Americans mourn death of former Congressman Stephen Solarz, lauding his contributions to Taiwan’s democracy On Monday November 29, long-time friend of Taiwan, former Rep. Steve Solarz (D-NY) passed away in George Washington University Hospital. Born in Manhattan, Solarz served in the New York State Assembly from 1969 to 1975. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives as a Democrat to the 94th and to the eight succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1975–January 3, 1993). The Congressman pioneered major pieces of Taiwan related legislation advancing freedom, human rights and international participation for the people of Taiwan. Taiwanese Americans  best remember the late Congressman spearheading actions in championing Taiwan's democracy and human rights in the U.S. Congress in the 80s and early nineties. As the Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Asian And Pacific Affairs he played a crucial role in Taiwan's early democratization. With his colleagues Rep. Jim Leach, Senators Ted Kennedy and Claiborne Pell (better known as "The Gang of Four") Solarz contributed greatly to the lifting of Taiwan's Martial Law in 1987. Their work laid the foundation for democratic reforms in Taiwan, the abolishment of martial law, and the release of political prisoners, such as Reverend Kao Chun-ming and Lin Yi-Hsiung. FAPA President Bob Yang states: "It can be argued that without Steve Solarz, it would have been hard for Taiwan to achieve the democratic values the country enjoys today." Additionally, in his capacity of Chairman of the influential House Subcommittee on Asian and Pacific Affairs Rep. Solarz held hearings in 1992 calling for the abolishment of the blacklist maintained by the ruling Kuomintang. The blacklist barred scores of Taiwanese Americans (and international supporters of Taiwan’s democracy) from returning home to Taiwan. At a rally on Capitol Hill in the early nineties, Rep. Solarz applauded the contributions of Taiwanese Americans stating that he felt that no other group of dedicated Americans had contributed so much to this great country with their skills and work ethics, "and yet asked so little in return for themselves."    He emphasized that they did not work this hard for themselves but for the people they had left behind - to just have "a little of what they themselves enjoy here in this country - freedom and democracy.."  FAPA and other Taiwanese-American organizations join leaders and citizens around the world in mourning the passing of Rep. Steve Solarz. * * * * * * * * * * *

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