Peng Ming-min Dies at 98 彭明敏辭世享耆壽98歲 政壇紛表不捨

Veteran pro-democracy activist Peng Ming-min has passed away at the age of 98. President Tsai Ing-wen said she was grateful for Peng's contributions to Taiwan's democratization movements.

Peng Ming-min (Oct. 20, 2018), Former Presidential Advisor: “Regardless of what criteria you look at, us Taiwanese people have the right to declare independence.”

In 2018, Peng Ming-min called for a referendum on declaring independence. Peng was known as the "godfather of Taiwan independence." 

Peng died on the morning of the 8th at the age of 98. President Tsai Ing-wen thanked Peng for watching over her and for his contributions to a democratic Taiwan.

Su Tseng-chang, ROC Premier: “I believe Taiwanese people will miss this very great fighter. We will continue following in his footsteps.”

Lee Yung-te, Culture Minister: “You could say Taiwan has freedom of speech and democratic movements because of him. We are extremely heartbroken by his passing.”

Peng survived a World War II boat bombing while studying in Japan in 1944, losing his left arm. In 1964, he was sentenced to eight years for publishing a manifesto calling for the government to be overthrown. In 1996, he unsuccessfully ran for president as the Democratic Progressive Party candidate. Frank Hsieh was his running mate. From 1970 to 1992, Peng lived in Europe and the U.S.

Peng Ming-min (Archive Footage), Former Presidential Advisor: “These whiskers are all real. It's more natural.”

In 2019, Peng and others at the Academia Sinica angered Tsai by publishing an open letter to her, telling her not to run for reelection. In his last published work, Peng wrote that "one China and one Taiwan has long been an ironclad reality."

Hsu Chih-chieh, Legislator (DPP): “These were never affiliated in the first place. So, in accordance with our mentor's final wishes, we have to continue fighting this fight.”

Peng's foundation has announced there won't be a funeral and Peng will be cremated and laid to rest at a Presbyterian cemetery in Kaohsiung's Yancheng.

前總統府資政彭明敏(2018.10.20)：「我們台灣人任何原因看起來，應該有獨立的權利。」

2018年，90多歲的前總統府資政彭明敏，在攙扶下上台呼籲讓台獨能夠成為公投的主題。彭明敏致力於獨立運動奮鬥，也被稱為「台獨教父」，今日清晨傳出辭世消息，享耆壽98歲，也讓政壇人士相當不捨，蔡英文表示感念彭明敏對他的叮囑，以及對台灣民主化的貢獻。

蘇貞昌表示：「相信台灣人會感念這一個非常偉大的人格者奮鬥者，我們後來者會繼續追隨他的腳步。」

文化部長李永得表示：「台灣可以說言論自由還有民主化運動的先驅，他的離世是一個，讓我們覺得非常悲痛的事情。」

彭明敏是國際法權威，1944在日本求學時搭船遭到轟炸，失去左臂裝上義肢，1964年因發表「台灣自救宣言」被判刑8年，1996年更與謝長廷代表民進黨參選總統。彭明敏1970年，變裝逃離台灣，流亡海外20多年，經歷相當傳奇。

彭明敏2019年曾與前中研院長等人一同發公開信，呼籲蔡英文不要競選連任，傳出對蔡英文相當不滿。彭明敏在最後出版的一本絕筆集書中的自序提到，「一個中國，一個台灣，早已是鐵一般的事實」，顯示他的堅定立場。

民進黨立委許智傑表示：「這個本來就互不隸屬，所以我們就是前輩的遺願，我們必須要繼續的努力。」

彭明敏文教基金會也發布訃告，表示謹遵囑，一切從簡，不辦任何形式的喪禮，入殮火化後埋葬於高雄鹽埕教會的鹽光墓園。