Pan-blue camp should come clean

 

By Allen Houng

 

The KMT and the PFP have flip-flopped repeatedly on the referendum legislation issue. It is disappointing that they have done this merely in consideration of next year's presidential election.

 

First they criticized the DPP for promoting a referendum, accusing it of promoting independence. They said a referendum would be unconstitutional and would push the country toward annihilation.

 

Later they decided to usurp the "referendum," "love Taiwan" and "localization" banners. They said they wanted a referendum law enacted this month and a referendum held next month. They also asserted that the unification-independence issue and the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant issue should be resolved together. As they move from opposing referen-dums to supporting them, the opposition parties have not clarified what concepts and ideals might be the basis for their shift.

 

A referendum law involves the concrete implementation of direct democracy. It is a serious national affair. Political parties should not view this issue as another election strategy.

 

Political strategists have told the opposition alliance that the Lien-Soong ticket would win next year's election if they could take hold of the "love Taiwan" banner -- supporting referendums including one on unification or independence, opposing "one China," taking a "Taiwan first" stance, etc.

 

It wouldn't have mattered if the opposition had always supported these policies. The problem is that the KMT and the PFP have long called for a return to the "one China, with each side making its own interpretation" principle or the 1992 consensus.

 

PFP Chairman James Soong stated the "constitutional one China" and "one China rooftop" principles. For a long time, the opposition parties have viewed referendum legislation as incremental independence, fearful that it may eventually lead to real independence.

 

The opposition gave rise to suspicions of self-contradiction in its recent policy u-turn on a referendum on unification or independence. Many commentators have criticized this contradiction, but we have not seen the KMT and the PFP make a thorough explanation.

 

Both parties are trying to get rid of the "don't love Taiwan" and "sell out Taiwan" labels before the presidential election. That is why they have stumbled repeatedly on the referendum issue.

 

A political party should have its own core beliefs and values. It should also clearly state these beliefs and values to voters, as well as what policies they will adopt to realize these ideals.

 

If the KMT and the PFP staunchly oppose independence and believe that Taiwan should unify with China under specific conditions, then they should have the courage to tell voters their platform and their method of implementation.

 

If these are not the KMT's and PFP's core beliefs, then they should say it clearly and let the voters know exactly how the opposition differs from the DPP on this issue. This is the only upstanding way.

 

I don't think the KMT and PFP have ever proposed a clear discourse on national sovereignty. At best, they have only proposed the "1992 consensus" or Soong's recent "one China rooftop."

 

As the prelude to the election campaign begins, many important figures in both parties have been saying that their parties have never advocated "one China." This is bewildering.

 

Advocating "one China" is not something to be ashamed of, nor would it necessarily cause voters to abandon the advocate. Everything depends on how one explains to voters what is meant by a "one China" policy, the "constitutional one China" or the "one China rooftop."

 

How to clarify cross-strait relations under those abstract poli-cies? What about the future direction of the country's development? Are we moving toward eventual unification? How to establish the nation's international status and expand its participation in international events? What would be the response if China launches a military attack against Taiwan? What does "Taiwan first" mean? Would any change to Taiwan's sovereignty status be decided through a referendum?

 

The electorate urgently wants to know the answers to those questions. Can the KMT and PFP present clear explanations? If they are determined to localize, give priority to the nation's interests and defend its sovereignty, if they respect the people's right to self-determination on their country's future, then they should give up the power schemes and propose clear platforms.

 

They should not flip-flop because that will only make people feel that the KMT and PFP are merely scheming for victory.

 

We need honest party politics. All parties should clearly tell voters their core beliefs, values and policies. If a party can say or do anything -- even violate its own long-standing beliefs and values -- just to win an election, then how can we trust that such a party will not betray the voters once it is elected?

 

Whether you support unification or independence, you have the right to promote it in a democratic society as long as you sincerely accept the related ideals and values. There's nothing wrong with this as long as the voters support you.

 

But the premise for this is that political parties should be upstanding and honest. Less scheming and more candor make the only path to victory in the presidential election.

 

Allen Houng is a professor at the Institute of Neuroscience at National Yang-Ming University.

 

 

Wu attends cultural event with German diplomats

 

By Lin Chieh-yu

STAFF REPORTER

 

Taiwan's representative to Germany Hu Wen-jen yesterday said during an exhibition of the National Palace Museum's treasures in Berlin attended by first lady Wu Shu-chen that it was the greatest cultural occasion in the past half century between Taiwan and Germany and that the relationships between two countries has successfully resulted in a subtle development.

 

Wu's comment came after the opening ceremony of the exhibition at Berlin's Alter Museum presided over by first lady Wu Shu-chen, who is leading a delegation on a cultural tour in Europe.

 

Although there was no official from the German government present at the occasion, Hu Wen-jen still stressed that the first lady's visit as well as the cultural event will have a positive impact on two countries' friendship and promote concrete exchanges between Taiwan and Germany.

 

Meanwhile, the parliament's Deputy Speaker Hermann Otto Solms told Taiwan's media that Wu's visit signifies "an important moment for both Taiwan and Germany."

 

Wu Shu-chen presides over the opening ceremony of an exhibition at Berlin's Alter Museum.

 

"The National Palace Museum exhibition is the greatest cultural exchange event between Taiwan and Germany in the past half century," Hu said.

 

"The German hosts have also shown their utmost sincerity and courtesy, with the leaders of the four major parties, including the chairman of the budget committee, who is the most senior MP in the parliament, abandoning their vacation plans to welcome the first lady. Even Dr. Klaus Rose, the chairman of the parliament's Taiwan Caucus traveled some 10 hours by train to join her for lunch," he said.

 

Yesterday, Wu visited the German parliament, and the parliament treated her as a top-level guest with diplomats acting as her guide. Solms also accompanied her on the entire parliament tour.

 

But when questioned about whether this indicated a new advance in the relationship between Taiwan and Germany, Solms showed some reservations. He described Wu's visit as "an important moment," but he did not typify the exhibition as a breakthrough.

 

Prominent figures

 

A lot of prominent figures from the European culture circle were present at the opening cocktail party for the Treasures of the Sons of Heaven exhibition in the evening. When the head of the Federal Republic of Germany's Arts and Exhibition Hall Wenzel Jacob introduced the first lady from Taiwan, all guests saluted Wu with a standing ovation. Wu, however, did not deliver a public speech as expected.

 

"It was according to the understanding between Taiwan and Germany because the cocktail party was a cultural event between the two museums, so there was no political speech. But on the VIP night on the 18th, the first lady will give a public speech," said James Huang, the President Office spokesman who is accompanying Wu in the trip.

 

Huang stressed that there was no such a thing as a prohibition on Wu giving public speeches from the German government. Huang said that former Dutch prime minister Andreas van Agt, chairman of foreign affairs committee Henk de Haan, Czech Minister of Culture Pavel Dostal, convener of the Taiwan Caucus in the Austrian parliament Wolfgang Grossruck, chairman of Taiwan Caucus in the Irish parliament Batt O'Keeffe and Vice President of European Parliament David Martin would attend the VIP night, and the first lady would elaborate on Taiwan's transfer of power and democratic achievement.

 

The National Palace Museum exhibition is a historical event in the track of unofficial exchanges between Taiwan and Germany, but it cannot be counted as a breakthrough for the political relationship between the two sides.

 

No official from the Germany government has made contact with Wu, and Hu said that we could only ask what German government thought of China's various means to suppress Taiwan's diplomatic activities.

 

 

Groups say no-law referendum OK

 

SUPPORTING THE CABINET: The Northern, Southern, Central and Eastern Taiwan Societies met yesterday in support of the premier's executive decision on the issue

 

By Fiona Lu

STAFF REPORTER

 

"Political wrangling reigned supreme during the legislative negotiations."－Taiwan Societies joint statement

 

Representatives of several civil groups visited the Legislative Yuan yesterday to voice support for the implementation of a referendum.

 

"We need not engage in a confrontation at Legislative Yuan any longer. We've made up our mind to carry out the citizens' right bestowed by the Constitution to directly expressing our opinions on public issues through referendums," a joint statement made by representatives of the Northern, Southern, Central and Eastern Taiwan Societies, the Taiwan Association of University Professors, the Foundation of Medical Professionals Alliance in Taiwan and the Taiwan Pen Club said.

 

"The failure of the extra legislative session, which ended last week, to finalize the referendum legislation, really disappointed us since political wrangling reigned supreme during the legislative negotiations," said deputy secretary general of the Northern Taiwan Society, Michelle Wang.

 

The Northern Taiwan Society decided to increase pressure on legislators to make progress on the bill by allying with other civil groups, she said.

 

Wang announced that a rally, endorsed by around 50 non-government organizations, would be held next Saturday to inaugurate a campaign to lobbying lawmakers to hasten the referendum legislation.

 

"We certainly expect to see referendum legislation at an early date," Wang said.

 

"But in the meantime, advisory referendums conducted by the Executive Yuan are recommended as a prelude to the country's institution of referendum by law," she said on the Cabinet's plan to carry out referendums by administrative enforcement measures.

 

Under the plan, released by the Executive Yuan on Thursday, the Cabinet may hold referendums by inaugurating a Cabinet-level referendum review committee. The administration justified the order by stating that pan-blue-dominated Legislature could not meet the deadline to pass a referendum bill before the end of the session thereby preventing the government from holding referendums on the same day of next year's presidential election.

 

The representatives met with the DPP and TSU caucuses yesterday, and pursued contacts with lawmakers of the KMT-PFP alliance.

 

TSU legislative leader Chien Lin Whei-jun shared Wang's views with regard to the government's responsibility to explain referendum rights to the public.

 

"The government needs to educate people on the meaning and significance for institutionizing referendums before realizing the plan," said Chien Lin when she received the representatives.

 

However she warned that a referendum implemented by administrative measures could blemish the authority of referendums since the exercise could end up being a glorified opinion poll due to a lack of legal basis, the TSU legislative whip warned.

Representatives from the Northern, Central, Southern, and Eastern Taiwan Societies yesterday shake hands with TSU legislative whip Chien Lin Whei-jun, left, to show their support for the referendum draft bill.