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DPP welcomes Chen supporters

Democratic Progressive Party Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen, left, and Central Standing Committee member, Ker Chien-ming, hold a press conference following a committee meeting in Taipei yesterday to explain the party’s stand on former president Chen Shui-bian. PHOTO: WANG MIN-WEI, TAIPEI TIMES

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) next Saturday will hold a demonstration to protest against President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) government, and anyone who supports that position is welcome to take part, whether they are for or against former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), the party announced yesterday.

The party yesterday hammered out plans for the event, which will be held in Taipei under the title “Anti-China, Anti-Ma, protect Taiwan.”

The question of the former president, who is under investigation for alleged money laundering, complicates the issue, however, as some party members demanded yesterday that the party not allow Chen to take part.

As part of a debate within the party on whether it should support or distance itself from Chen, some DPP Central Standing Committee members argued yesterday that Chen’s participation at the rally would defeat the point of the demonstration.

Former DPP legislator and committee member Tuan Yi-kang (段宜康) told the committee yesterday that the party should bar Chen from participating in the demonstration to avoid “having an even more [negative] impact on the party.”

“The party members should not define one another in terms of Chen’s judicial investigation and the party should not be split by the matter.”

— Tsai Ing-wen, DPP chairwoman

He called on the party to clarify its stance on Chen, saying it should clearly declare that it does not support Chen’s alleged wiring money abroad and political manipulation. Tuan was referring to Chen’s claim that his wife wired the leftover political contributions from his two mayoral and two presidential bids between 1993 and 2004 overseas without his knowledge.

Tuan did not elaborate on what he meant by “Chen’s political manipulation.”

As for Chen’s judicial rights, the party should give him full support, Tuan said.

DPP Legislator Chai Trong-rong (蔡同榮), another member of the committee, however, said the party should respect Chen’s decision on whether he wished to join the rally.

“As a politician who has spent his life promoting Taiwan’s democracy, the party should allow Chen to join the rally,” Chai said. “The party may fall into chaos if it stops Chen from doing so.”

DPP Legislator Chang Hua-kuan (張花冠) and Tainan Mayor Hsu Tain-tsair (許添財), both members of the Central Standing Committee, also supported Chen’s participation in the rally, while Kaohsiung County Commissioner Yang Chiu-hsing (楊秋興) opposed the idea.

In the end, DPP Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) ruled that “anyone who supports the goals of the rally is welcome to join the rally.”

“Party members should not define one another in terms of Chen’s judicial investigation and the party should not be split by the matter,” Tsai said.

In Kaohsiung yesterday at a separate setting, the former president said that he would “definitely attend the Oct. 25 demonstration.”
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