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PFP sues premier over UN campaign

Democratic Progressive Party legislative caucus whip Wang Tuoh gestures at a press conference in Taipei yesterday. Responding to criticism of the Taiwan Post Co's use of the ``UN for Taiwan'' slogan, Wang said that the post office had used slogans such as ``Speed up the process of unification with China under the Three Principles of the People'' under the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) government. PHOTO: CHIEN JUNG-FONG, TAIPEI TIMES

The People First Party (PFP) caucus yesterday filed a lawsuit against Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) and two other Cabinet officials, saying that the Cabinet's UN campaign violated the Referendum Law (公投法) and Election and Recall Law of Civil Servants (公務人員選舉罷免法).

PFP Legislator Chang Hsien-yao (張顯耀) told a press conference that the slogan, logo and theme of the Cabinet's UN campaign were "identical" to those of the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) referendum bid on seeking UN membership using the name "Taiwan."

The referendum bid, he said, had become the main focus of the DPP's presidential campaign.

"In other words, they have also violated the Election and Recall Law of Civil Servants because they have spent public funds and resources on campaigning for a certain party," Chang said.

The other two Cabinet officials sued by the caucus were Cabinet spokesman Shieh Jhy-wey (謝志偉) and Minister of Foreign Affairs James Huang (黃志芳).

Chang said Article 13 of the Referendum Law stated that government agencies are not allowed to undertake activities related to referendum proposals, and that officials who violate the law could face jail sentences of between six months and three years.

"Before a referendum, the Referendum Law is meant to ensure that the people can enjoy their rights to express their preference freely," Chang said.

In response, Executive Yuan Secretary-General Chen Chin-jun (陳景峻) yesterday said at a separate setting that the government would push ahead with its campaign for UN membership for the nation under the name "Taiwan," adding that it would stamp mail with the logo of the UN bid.

Chen said a majority of the Taiwanese wanted to see the nation become a member of the UN.

"It is also the consensus of the governing and opposition parties and it is government policy to reach that goal," Chen said. "It makes perfect sense to promote government policy on various occasions and through different approaches."

Stamping domestic and international mail with the logo of the UN membership bid is one of them, he said, and the initiative should continue.

Chen was referring to allegations by Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers on Tuesday that the Taiwan Post Co had violated administrative impartiality by stamping envelopes with the logo for the UN bid.

DPP legislative caucus whip Wang Tuoh (王拓) said yesterday that stamping mail with the logo did not violate any regulations.

"I am very confused as to why our pan-blue friends are so angry," Wang said.

He said that, under the KMT government, the post office had stamped slogans such as "Speed up the process of unification with China under the Three Principles of the People" and "Fight off communism" on mail.

"So why is it that when the KMT did it, that was okay, but what we're doing is wrong?" Wang said. "Don't you think that's a double standard?"

Meanwhile, KMT caucus whip Kuo Su-chun (郭素春) yesterday accused Vice Finance Minister Lee Ruey-tsang (李瑞倉) of requiring ministry staffers to collect signatures for the DPP's referendum proposal.

The proposal must meet a second signature quota of 5 percent of the nation's eligible voters -- 830,000 people -- in order to take place.

Kuo said at a press conference that she had a friend who is a public official, who had been granted paid leave by her supervisor to travel home to the south and collect signatures from friends.

Kuo did not name her friend or present any evidence to back her claim.

Government Information Minister and Cabinet Spokesman Shieh Jhy-wey (謝志偉) dismissed the allegation.

"No, we haven't requested that. Anyone who makes allegations should show evidence. We will deal with them in accordance with law" Shieh said.

He urged KMT lawmakers not to "demonize" the government's UN campaign.

Shieh also defended the slogan "UN for Taiwan," rejecting legislators' complaints that the English phrase is confusing.

The slogan is short for "Support UN membership for Taiwan," Shieh said.

He said the government had consulted many native English speakers from the US and Britain before finalizing the slogan.

"Anyone who wants to talk to me about the slogan is welcome. We can also talk about [UN Resolution] 2758," Shieh said.

In related developments, the KMT, in a bid to counteract the government's UN torch relay event scheduled for next Wednesday, announced yesterday that it would hold a nationwide cycling event on Oct. 27 to promote its own UN referendum bid.

KMT presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) will lead party members on a cycling tour from Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall to Sijhih (汐止) in Taipei County and then on to Keelung (基隆).

The KMT bicycle tour will continue around the island on an 11-day trip, following on a similar route to that of the DPP relay.

However, the KMT will avoid appearing in the same place at the same time as the DPP members, KMT Spokesman Su Jun-pin (蘇俊賓) said yesterday.

"The DPP is using government resources to promote its UN referendum bid," he said.

"The KMT event, on the other hand, reflects the people's desire for a better life, in addition to promoting the UN referendum bid," he said.

Su said the party would require each pan-blue city and county government to recruit 500 bicyclists to participate in the 11-day event.

Additional reporting by Mo Yan-chih, Shih Hsiu-chuan and Jimmy Chuang
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