Demonstrators poke fun at candidates for inaction

With a tongue-in-cheek twist to the scourge of vote buying, activists greeted James Soong (宋楚瑜) and Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) at the Central Election Commission yesterday offering to "sell their votes for good policies."

In a demonstration titled "the disadvantaged people's united action for vote-selling," activists performed a skit outside the building where the candidates had come to formally register their campaigns. Acting as night market vendors, the activists shouted "cheap votes for sale!" and "pay us policy, and we'll give you votes!"

The action was organized by the Committee of Actions of Labor Legislature (CALL, 工人立法行動委員會). Groups including the 921 Earthquake Victims Alliance, the Aboriginal Rights Association, Snails without Shells Alliance (a group formed to protest high housing prices) and Taiwan Gender Sexuality Rights Association, sent representatives to participate in yesterday's demonstration.

Various demands were presented. CALL demanded a reduction in the work week to 40 hours. The Snails without Shells group demanded that housing tenants who pay over NT$300,000 per year be subsidized through income tax deductions. The Taiwan Gender Sexuality Rights Association demanded a Companion Partner Law and an Anti-discrimination Law to secure the rights of gays and lesbians. And Aboriginal groups demanded the government relocate villagers living in areas facing the threat of mudslides in Nantou County.

Wu Yung-yi (吳永毅), a coordinator from CALL, said the united action demanded that the three major candidates carry out their demands if they are elected. He said the three camps should show their sincerity towards minority and disadvantaged groups through legislative measures.

"That means they have to use their influence in the legislature to push forward those social welfare-related bills, and they should do it before the election," he said.

Wu said social activist groups might publicize their endorsements of certain candidates. "It is unlikely that labor groups will support Lien. Most of them will choose between Soong and Chen," he said.

Chen Hui-Tze (陳惠澤), chairman of the 921 Earthquake Victims' Alliance, agreed with Wu. He said if the government did not respond to the victims by the end of February, the alliance might openly show its opposition to Lien.

After their registration procedure, both Soong and Chen approached the rally to listen to the activists' appeals. The crowd cheered them both, repeatedly shouting "Dongswan" -- meaning victory in Taiwanese.

Soong said Aborigines and other disadvantaged groups needed to send a wake-up call to the government. "We should urge the government to take people seriously," he said.

He said he had been devoted to Aborigine causes during his term as provincial governor. "But what has the KMT done for the Aboriginal people?" he asked.

"Since the Taiwan Provincial Government was downsized, the national budget for Aboriginal affairs has been reduced," he said.

Chen and his DPP running mate, Annette Lu (呂秀蓮), also shook hands with demonstrating activists, and accepted their petition. But Chen declined to make any further statement on their demands.