The DPP, which had turned a deaf ear to the volley of charges made by TSU lawmakers, decided to fight back yesterday, saying it is time its tiny ally learned to be more modest.
Two freshman DPP lawmakers, Lin Yu-sheng (林育生) and Tang Hou-sheng (湯火聖), held a news conference inside the legislature where they accused the TSU of being obsessed with bashing the DPP in violation of its founding goal.
"It is time for someone to stand up and pour cold water on the fledgling party," Lin said. "If the party has any complaints, it should have brought them up in a rational and peaceful manner rather than fault the government daily."
Wary of cross-strait entanglement, the TSU has opposed the government's planned decision to allow local chipmakers to invest in China.
The party is organizing a mass demonstration on March 22 in front of the legislature and has demanded the resignation of Vice Premier Lin Hsin-yi (
"It is cowardly of the TSU to aim its fire at the pair rather than at President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and Premier Yu Shyi-kun -- the two highest policymakers," Lin Yu-sheng said.
Lin said that if the TSU doesn't stop its "irrational protests," he will mobilize DPP supporters to fight back.
Sharing Lin's indignation, Tang said the TSU has strayed away from its pledge to help maintain stability.
"It seems to me that the TSU's lawmakers derive pleasure from attacking the government," Tang said, warning that such behavior will endanger its partnership with the DPP.
Seeking to downplay the conflict, DPP Deputy Secretary-General You Ying-lung (
He painted it as understandable for a young party to strive to make its voice heard.
TSU lawmaker Chen Chien-ming (
"The ruling party is apparently jealous of our ability to draw media attention," he said.
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