Former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) urged Aboriginal voters to speak their minds and demand legislative reform while on a campaign stop for the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) yesterday.
The 78-year-old Lee visited Taitung yesterday to campaign for TSU candidate Chan Chin-hsiung (
"Being silent has been a part of the upbringing for Taiwanese, and being tolerant is a commendable quality," Lee said.
"But it's about time for us to speak up and demand what we deserve -- a true democracy and an effective legislature."
Lee yesterday also took the opportunity to criticize Wang Yung-ching (
Wang has been a vocal critic of the government's "no haste, be patient" investment policy, introduced by Lee to limit the flow of capital across the Strait.
Lee said Wang didn't deserve to called "the god of management."
Wang has invested tens of millions of US dollars in power plants, petrochemical plants and hospitals in numerous cities in China -- but some of his investments are reportedly unprofitable.
Wang has said that the "no haste" policy has limited the competitiveness of Taiwanese companies, while Lee says the measure is necessary to prevent Taiwan from becoming an economic hostage to Beijing.
The two have traded barbs in the media recently over their differences.
Lee yesterday also said that the only path for Taiwan is democratization, and that Taiwanese should join together to demand "Taiwan first" and localization policies.
Responding to criticism that his localization line is an effort to stir ethnic tensions, Lee said "there is no such thing as "Taiwan province."
"Whoever recognizes Taiwan should be considered Taiwanese," he said.
The ex-KMT chairman also took shots at his former party, saying that under KMT rule "there were no differences between the party and nation."
"In reality, the two are separate issues. The most significant element is the country, and this is the true democratic spirit," Lee said.
The retired president also explained why he felt compelled to rejoin politics.
He said he couldn't sit at home and watch the country's politics and economy deteriorate due to the opposition parties' boycott of the DPP government.
Lee said that in his old age, he didn't want anything for himself and what he has done is "for a better future for Taiwan."
"I am not going to run for the presidency, nor will I be the chairman of any party," Lee said. "What I have done is for the country and for our future generations."
Also at yesterday's rally was TSU Chairman Huang Chu-wen (
Huang said KMT Chairman Lien Chan (
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