Print

Mail

wiki links

Lee calls on `sore losers' to join cross-party group

Academia Sinica President Lee Yuan-tseh casts his vote yesterday during the election of the academy's 22 new members. PHOTO: LEE HUNG-MING, LIBERTY TIMES

Academia Sinica President Lee Yuan-tseh (李遠哲) yesterday scolded opposition parties for their "sore loser" attitude and appealed once again to members of all parties to participate in a proposed cross-party task force on cross-strait relations and dedicate themselves to Taiwan's development.

"Political parties should not maintain a stubborn attitude with regard to the presidential election," Lee told reporters during a break of the examination meeting for candidates of the 23rd Academia Sinica election for members.

Lee was authorized by President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) to organize the cross-party task force and serve as its convener. However, almost all opposition parties have boycotted the move.

In response to the boycott, Lee asked politicians to forget the election and dedicate themselves to the country's progress.

"All the political pressures are minor. And as to the difficulty in establishing the task force, I think President Chen will personally negotiate with all parties' leaders," Lee said.

In an attempt to break the deadlock between opposition parties and the DPP government on the task force, Lee submitted a public letter on Wednesday, saying political parties should forgo the interests of their individual party (一黨之私) and cooperate in improving cross-strait relations.

The letter apparently failed to pacify opposition parties and instead attracted a sharp backlash from the KMT and People First Party (PFP).

"What's the meaning of `self-interest of the individual party?' Two of the three parties refused to join the task force. You can judge what is the real explanation of `self-interest the individual party,'" said Lin Feng-cheng (林豐正), KMT secretary-general.

The KMT accused Lee of attempting to mislead the public to support his task force and at the same time blame opposition parties for their refusal to cooperate.

The PFP urged Lee to return to academic research and stop his dabbling in politics, a field in which he was not familiar, and said his popularity was only due to his reputation as a Nobel Prize winner.

"The efforts to help improve cross-strait relations were not begun by Lee," said PFP lawmaker Liu Wen-hsiung (劉文雄). "Many people have contributed to ensure the stability of cross-strait relations during the past decade, and they came from industry circles, political parties and academia."

Both opposition parties have criticized Lee's proposed task force as lacking direction and for being a potential hindrance to the government.

Responding to opposition lawmakers' criticism, Lee yesterday said he would continue to serve the country, and said he was only a consultant to the president and not formally a government official.

Days before the presidential election, Lee publicly endorsed Chen and organized a National Policy Advisory Committee, which brought together many well known business people, scholars and artists in support of Chen's bid.

Many in opposition parties have attributed Chen's victory in the election to Lee's endorsement in the campaign's final stages.
This story has been viewed 1862 times.