Lee dismisses Fan's criticism, questions his ability

Former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) yesterday dismissed criticism leveled at him by Fan Chen-tsung (范振宗), the outgoing head of the Council of Agriculture, saying Fan was a layman who tried to speak like a specialist.

"Let him say whatever he likes," Lee said before meeting Dominican Republic President Hipolito Mejia Dominguez.

The ex-president made the remarks in response to the surprising farewell address made by Fan, in which he blamed Lee for the current state of agriculture in Taiwan.

The outgoing official said Lee was "unqualified to be Taiwan's democratically elected president."

He asked Lee to assume full responsibility for the fact that agriculture is not well respected in society.

"Although he's the nation's first elected president, he did little for the interests of the farmers during his 12-year term as president," Fan said.

"He should be held accountable for causing all the problems the agricultural sector faces today."

Fan said PFP Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) and Taipei City Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) were once proteges of Lee, but Lee had since done all he could to denounce them.

TSU officials came to the defense of Lee, who helped create the party.

Hsiao Kwan-yu (蕭貫譽), director of the TSU's Department of Culture and Information, said Fan was the kind of shameless politician who had contributed nothing to Taiwan but was good at making a noise and attacking others.

"Taiwan would have no democratization without Lee, who is like a pillar in Taiwan. But there are lots of politicians in Taiwan who try to harm Lee at any cost," Hsiao said.

TSU Legislator Chen Chien-ming (陳建銘) said there was no need to argue on what Lee had contributed to Taiwan.

Chen urged the public not to be bothered with remarks made by an official who was replaced for his poor performance.