Goddess may be broken for scrap
TAIWAN port authorities have threatened to break up for scrap the Goddess of Democracy, a ship which once symbolished the pro-democracy movement in China.
The authorities in Anping Port near Tainan in southern Taiwan have written to the ship's owner claiming that the rusting hulk is blocking re-development of the port.
'The relevant authorities suggest that the Goddess of Democracy broadcasting ship should be broken up on site, in line with the development of Anping Port,' said the letter, dated about two weeks ago and released by the ship's owner yesterday.
Supporters of the pro-democracy movement in China sailed the 1,200-tonne ship from France to waters off China in the spring of 1990.
They intended to use the ship to broadcast pro-democracy radio programmes into China.
When the project collapsed in May 1990, the Goddess of Democracy was sold to Taiwanese businessman Wu Meng-wu, who planned to use it as an exhibition hall in memory of the pro-democracy movement.
Mr Wu yesterday accused the Taiwan Government of trying to arrange the ship's destruction.
'It's become an embarrassment to them, because they want to arrange a reconciliation with China.
'The Government should preserve it, not break it up,' he said. 'It's a treasure.'