DPP Newsletter Nov2006

8/7/2019 DPP Newsletter Nov2006

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A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER PUBLISHED BY THE DPPS

DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

SPECIAL REPORT: KAOHSIUNG & TAIPEI ELECTION

November 2006

democrac &rogress

ALSO IN THIS EDITION:

CHAIRMAN MA IS KEYFOR A SMOOTH ARMS

PACKAGE.........5

WITH LOVE, WE CANMAKE A BEAUTIFUL

ISLAND........................ 6

The Kaohsiung and Taipei Mayoral Elections are almost one month away. Former premier of Taiwan, Hsieh

Chang-ting (Frank Hsieh) and former minister of the Council of Labor Affairs (CLA), Chen Chu, intend torun as DPP candidates, bringing their wealth of experience to the two major cities of Taiwan.

Chen Chu seen here with former human rights activist, Lei Chen, in 1977

Chen Chu intends to implement a strategy of continuing to pursue the prosperity of Kaohsiung City as an

international cosmopolitan city. Chen Chu uses the campaign slogan love for Kaohsiung to win the hearts

of Kaohsiung City voters, who have seen the advancements and opportunities that the DPP has created in

Kaohsiung City.

Chen Chu for Kaohsiung CityChen Chu became involved in politics when

she joined the group of democracy activists

to pursue democratization of Taiwan. Chenwas arrested in 1979 for her involvement in

the Kaohsiung Incident. After spending six

years in prison, Chen Chu spent her political

career working for disadvantagedcommunities in Taiwan that did not enjoy the

benefits of Taiwans economic growth. She

had worked in the Kaohsiung and Taipei citygovernments until she was appointed

Minister of the Council of Labor Affairs in

2000.


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2 DEMOCRACY&PROGRESS

Chen Chu is seen here energizing a campaign rally in Kaohsiung City.

She plans to continue Kaohsiungs development as an international

cosmopolitan city.

Frank Hsieh for Taipei CityFrank Hsieh is currently one of the most experienced candidates running for

Taipei City mayor. His qualifications and administration skills both in

Taipei City and the rest of Taiwan are extensive, starting as a Taipei Citycouncilor, legislator, mayor of Kaohsiung and finally, premier of Taiwan.

Hsieh plans to implement concrete solutions to many of Taipei City

problems that Mayor Ma Ying-jeou has not tackled or has ignored. Forexample, the rivers bordering Taipei City, such as Tamshui River, arecompletely polluted and the fish that live in these rivers have died one by

one and continue to perish with more pollution.

DEMOCRACY&PROGRESS

Department of InternationalAffairs

Democratic Progressive Party8F, No. 30, Pei-Ping East Rd.

Taipei, Taiwant. 886-2-23929989 ext. 305

f. 886-2-23214527e-mail: [email protected]

web: http://www.dpp.org.tw

DirectorWinston Dang

Editor-in-Chief:Michael Fonte

Editor:

Ping-Ya Hsu
mailto:[email protected]://www.dpp.org.tw/http://www.dpp.org.tw/mailto:[email protected]


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The fish in Tamshui River have been dying one by one due to pollution and bad administration. Frank Hsieh

says, With this kind of administration in Taipei City, how is our environment going to improve? (Tamshui

River, August 12, 2006).

Hsieh has said that Taipei City is a city that is culturally rich with different voices and multi-ethnic groups.

Taipei City attracts immigrants from overseas and other counties in Taiwan, and Frank Hsieh has

emphasized in his campaign that their voices in Taipei must be heard. He says that the voices of Taipei havenot been heard throughout these years, including those of the elderly.

Frank Hsieh says in his blog, There are many historic places in Taipei that are rundown and forgotten. We

must preserve these parts of our past and tell their rich history to the next generation.

Both candidates have established campaign headquarters for the election. They have also created blogs in

the Internet. Even though both candidates have remained behind their KMT counterparts in the polls, recent

numbers show a surge in popularity. Polling conducted by the DPP Survey Department shows that their lowpolling is due to the DPP image in general and not due to the candidates themselves. With the start of the

anti-Chen movement and pan-blues pushing for a recall in the Legislative Yuan, DPP supporters and neutral

voters have changed their previous impression of the DPP.


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Hsieh Chang-t i ng (Frank ): born in Taipei Ci ty

Education:

LLB, National Taiwan University

LLM. Kyoto University, Japan

Ph.D. Candidate Kyoto University

Experience:

Councilor of Taipei City

Legislator, Legislative Yuan

Chairman of the DPP, 9th Term

Mayor of Kaohsiung City

Premier of Taiwan

Chen Chu: born in I lan County

Education:

M.A. Public Affairs, National Sun Yat-Sen University

Experience:

Formosa Incident Activist

National Assemblywoman

Director, Social Affairs Bureau of Kaohsiung City Government

Minister of the Council of Labor Affairs

DEMOCRACY&PROGRESS4


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Chairman Ma is key for a smooth arms package

The Legislative Yuan is about to examine the arms bill. Chairman of the Democratic Progressive Party

Yu Shyi-kun held a press conference on October 30saying that KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou has continuedblocking the arms bill without stating any reasons. Blocking the arms package, Chairman Yu says, might beMas first step to unite with China.

Yu argued that the key to passing the arms bill lies with Chairman Ma. The DPP and KMT legislators

combined, as long as the KMT supports this bill, have enough votes to pass it without considering the PeopleFirst Party (PFP).

Yu emphasized the point that the military gap between Taiwan and China was getting bigger, and this is a

fact that Taiwan must face. Yu also said that the most powerful countries in the world need the most powerful

arms to defend themselves, and that the purpose of passing the arms bill is to defend Taiwan, to prevent amilitary imbalance between Taiwan and China, and thus to prevent China from invading Taiwan.

As for the KMTs suspicion of the arms bill budget, Yu suggested that the KMT should at least let the

bill into the legislative agenda so that legislators have a chance to examine the arms budget. Blocking the billis not helpful to this issue, Yu said.

Yu recommended that the KMT should hold public hearings, discuss and debate the budget and delete

those budget items that are not in Taiwans interest. Yu said that this was what we should do with the armsbill.

The KMT has blocked this bill 62 times and has refused to discuss this bill in the Legislative Yuan.

Yu demanded that Ma clarify why the KMT was blocking the arms bill. Ma visited the U.S. earlier thisyear, and expressed in public that he had a good talk with U.S. government officials, promising to approve the

arms package.

It is hard for us not to suspect that blocking the arms bill is the first step for the KMT to unite withChina, and this is the KMTs first part of his unification trilogy, Yu said.

Yu said the unification trilogy meant Ma was anti-arms bill, agreement on no independence and,finally, unification. Ma already said that unification with China is the KMTs ultimate goal. Ma also indicated,during interviews with foreign media, that if he won the presidential election in 2008, he would sign an

agreement with China before the year 2012. Yu expressed that this agreement would be an agreement on no

independence for Taiwan and this agreement would give up Taiwans sovereignty. Mas opposition to thearms bill is weakening Taiwans self-defense and is working according to the unification trilogy in order to

achieve unification with China.

Yu recommended that the Procedural Committee of the Legislative Yuan process the examination ofthe arms bill.


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With love, we can make a beautiful island

From the blog of Chen Chu, Kaohsiung Mayoral Candidate

In the past month, we have seen anti and pro-Chen movements. They have already created conflict among

Taiwanese society. Whereas television images can segment, Taiwanese society cannot be segmented. National

Day should not be a day for strife, and Taipei should not become a battlefield because any time blood runs inthe streets, it creates wounds to Taiwans history.

In 1995, Shi Ming-teh raised a call for the Great Reconciliation, receiving my deep admiration andesteem. However, why did the great reconciliation turn into great hatred? I am still bewildered as to why Shi

Ming-teh has changed his former viewpoint.

With hands twisted, the anti and pro-Chen movements point their fingers upward and downward. Whycant we open our hands and shake them with each other for unity instead? Here, in Taiwan, we are brothers

and sisters, we share the same destiny and we dont need hand gestures or colors to differentiate us.

Only with love, can there be a beautiful island (meilidao). The former Formosa Incident was created out

of love for Taiwan and because we valued the Taiwanese people. Because of this love and caring, the formerdemocratic movement was able to achieve democratic results. Politicians must carry a sense of compassion

and caring because, after all, hatred cannot achieve any results. The anti and pro-Chen movements must all

find a retreat strategy in order for Taiwanese society to return to peace and rationality. I strongly believe that

the best exit strategy is to return to our Constitution and to our judicial system.

DEMOCRACY&PROGRESS6

Politicians must carry a sense of

compassion and caring because, after all,

hatred cannot achieve any results.

- Chen Chu

DPP Newsletter Nov2006

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