With no end in sight to the escalating standoff between opponents and supporters of President Chen Shui-bian (
The rumors emerged after violent clashes in Kaohsiung on Monday night, Tainan on Tuesday night, and as anti-Chen protesters in Taipei were set to move back to their original location on Ketagalan Boulevard in front of the Presidential Office late last night.
Yesterday, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus said that they welcomed anyone, including Lee, who wanted to help end the turmoil.
PHOTO: TSAI WEN-CHU, TAIPEI TIMES
"The speculation has not been confirmed by former president Lee Teng-hui," DPP caucus whip Yeh Yi-ching (葉宜津) said. "However, we are happy to see anyone who is willing to ... help improve stability and facilitate harmony between the ruling and opposition parties."
Yeh was referring to a report published yesterday in the Chinese-language China Times that former president Lee Teng-hui met Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (
Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) Chairman Shu Chin-chiang (
Shu said that Lee was worried about the political situation and opposed any mobilization of supporters by political parties to engage in confrontational activities.
"He hopes the `civil war over democracy' will end soon, and thinks that all legal assemblies must be allowed and respected," he said. "However, confrontation and demonstration should never replace democratic mechanisms."
Shu said that Lee had faith in the Taiwanese people and believed that the conflict between anti-Chen and pro-Chen camps would not escalate into full-blown riots.
Shu said that Lee's recent comment that "the Legislative Yuan is the key to resolving the political deadlock" reflected Lee's confidence in Wang and his belief that the public must respect the operations of the legislature because it was the highest body representing the people's voice.
low profile
Wang yesterday declined to confirm reports that he had emerged as a key figure in negotiations to end the campaign to oust Chen.
However, independent Legislator Lin Pin-kun (
"We reached a consensus that the legislature has the duty to put forward a second recall motion, because letting the people decide through a referendum whether the president should be deposed is the best solution to the controversy," Lin said.
Quizzed by reporters, Wang said he hadn't met with former president Lee for quite a while.
"My urgent business now is to stabilize the legislature's operations so that it can function smoothly," Wang said. "My position as legislative speaker makes it inappropriate for me to get involved in the matter."
"There are other people more competent than me for that job," Wang said.
Lin also refused to comment on the matter of Lee's intervention, noting that he first learned that Lee had such a plan from yesterday's newspaper.
Anti-Chen campaign leader Shih Ming-teh (
"I am happy to see that Lee [reportedly] finally heard the people's voice and is willing to negotiate with other leaders," Shih said. "But if they are trying to sell out the Taiwanese, the people will not remain silent."
In response to media allegations that Lee also met with Shih, both denied the rumors.
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