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TSU plans to hold `peaceful' protest to welcome Lien

The Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) said that it will stage a sit-in at CKS International Airport today to "welcome" Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) on his return from China, while the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said that it will not ban its members from going to the airport.

According to TSU Legislator Lo Chih-ming (羅志明), the party will mobilize about 100 people to participate in a peaceful demonstration.

"We are calling on our other supporters to refrain from going because we don't want to see any of them get hurt," Lo said. "We will bring only face masks and placards, nothing else."

Lo is under investigation for his role in the violent demonstrations that took place last Tuesday when Lien left for China. Police are investigating whether Lo incited violence.

DPP caucus whip Lai Ching-te (賴清德) said that his caucus will not prohibit its members from going to the airport today.

"It is a democratic norm to stage protests or marches," he said. "However, they have to be legal, and we will not tell our members not to go."

Lai said that the caucus' stance on the matter is consistent with that of the DPP headquarters: The party would not mobilize anyone to go and would not prevent any individual party members from mobilizing other people in the name of the party.

Those who opt to go have to abide by the law and act rationally, he said.

Lai also called on the National Police Agency and Aviation Police Office to thoroughly examine the reason for causing last Tuesday's violent incident and prevent similar occurrence from happening again.

DPP Legislator Wang Shih-chien (王世堅), who is also under investigation for his role in the scuffle, said that he will return to the airport today and bring two eggs with him, but he will go alone.

Criticizing the timing of Lien's visit as "wrong" and his action as "inappropriate," Lai criticized Lien for pushing "the KMT to replace the People First Party (PFP) and other pro-China parties and becoming the most aggressive vanguard of unification forces."

"What he said in China is full of the `Greater China' thinking," he said. "He never mentioned anything about Taiwanese people's opposition to the `Anti-Secession' Law or the existence of the Republic of China, nor did he ask the Chinese government to remove the missiles targeted at us."

As Lien has said that he would endeavor to put into practice the five-point communique reached between him and Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤), Lai said that he is afraid that such an effort might cause social unrest and trigger conflicts.

"I am afraid it will trigger clashes between pro-unification and pro-independence forces, a battle between those safeguarding the government's authority and those attempting to strip the government of its power," he said. "It may also create conflict a between nationalism and democracy."

Legal controversy

When asked to comment on whether Lien has violated any laws during his trip, Lai said that his caucus will respect the judgment made by the Mainland Affairs Council and Ministry of Justice.

While some DPP lawmakers yesterday griped about the president's inconsistent remarks about Lien's trip, Lai said that it was part of the beauty of democracy and the spirit of the DPP. Another DPP caucus whip, Chen Chin-jun (陳景峻), however, disagreed.

"President Chen has changed his rhetoric several times since his meeting with People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜)," he said. "I feel as if we are becoming nothing but a bunch of zhutou [`pig heads,' imbeciles]. If what he says today is at odds with what he said yesterday, I'm afraid he will make us all crazy."

No warning

DPP Legislator Julian Kuo (郭正亮) echoed Chen Chin-jun's opinion and said that the president should have consulted with or informed party members of his stance on the matter in advance.
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