Lien blasts `unfair advantages' enjoyed by president

Pan-blue in southern Taiwan last night were excited by two campaign events staged by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT)-People First Party (PFP) alliance to promote the candidacy of its presidential candidate.

In a political division of labor for the third night in a row, the alliance's presidential hopeful, KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰), last night played to a huge crowd at the Garden Night Market in Tainan City and the Tahu Night Market in Kaohsiung County. His running mate, PFP Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜), rallied the pan-blue electorate in Taipei County's Hsichuang Stadium.

Entering stage amid round of fireworks, blaring air horns and cheers of "Vote for Lien-Soong on March 20" chanted by fervent pan-blue supporters, Lien said he was touched by the warm welcome displayed by the crowd and called on supporters to turn their moral support into votes on Saturday.

Lien the crowd that he and his running mate have been up against an unfair adversary given that Soong and him were just ordinary people without the abundant resources of President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁). Lien is Taiwan's richest politician and head of the world's wealthiest political party.

Lien took the opportunity to criticize the performance of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) which he claimed should take the blame for the nation's growing suicide rate, unemployment rate and other social disorder.

Saying the first transfer of power four years ago was an unsuccessful one, Lien called on to supporters to cast their vote for him "to stage a successful, second transfer of power on March 20."

"It is easy in a democratic country. People support you when you do a good job, and when you don't, you should be replaced and let others take over," Lien said, as his remarks were echoed by zealous pan-blue supporters waving flags and blowing air horns.

In his speech, the pan-blue camp's presidential candidate restated his campaign pledges, including that he would donate his income to charity and a adopt a "negative return tax system" should he win the presidency.

The negative return tax system means that if the annual income of the people does not reach the level of minimum income, the government will subsidize the shortfall.

Lien repeated his pledge to create an all-volunteer military and also his commitment to form a "clean" administration should he be elected.

PFP Chairman Chang Chao-hsiung (張昭雄) and Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平), who doubles as the director-general of the alliance's national campaign headquarters, were among the pan-blue camp's prominent figures at the rally.

Expressing confidence in a win by Lien on Saturday, Wang also took the opportunity to urge supporters not to let the heat of the ongoing presidential campaign lacerate their personal relations with their friends and relatives, who may harbor different political views.

Earlier the day, Lien took part in street procession in Taipei County and toured around the region's Luchou and Hsichuang areas on an open-top jeep, appealing to passers-by for support.

Making hand gesture for victory, which also coincides with his ballot number "2," Lien told passers-by that "the number two symbolizes the second transfer of power."