Lien Chan to march alongside farmers and fishermen

The KMT yesterday announced that its chairman, Lien Chan (連戰), will join with the farmers and fishermen who plan to stage a demonstration on Nov. 23 to fight for the continuation of farmers' and fishermen's associations.

This will be the second time that Lien has taken part in a protest march. He attended a demonstration last year to highlight worsening unemployment and economic problems.

According to KMT spokesman Alex Tsai (蔡正元), Lien will "stand by the farmers and fishermen always," adding that the DPP has not tried to resolve their problems but is promoting "improper measures" that will hurt their interests.

Tsai urged the DPP to stop suppressing farmers and fishermen, saying the ruling party is continuing to drift apart from these two groups.

The Ministry of Finance has proposed closing the credit cooperatives of farmers' and fishermen's associations -- notorious for their high percentage of overdue loans.

Pan-blue accusations

Opposition parties, however, have accused the DPP of attempting to eliminate the associations under the pretense of financial reform.

The KMT plans to pass an agricultural finance bill to establish a national agriculture bank that would supervise the troubled credit cooperatives.

In addition to inviting Lien, the organizer of the demonstration extended an invitation to President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), PFP Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜), TSU Chairman Huang Chu-wen (黃主文), Premier Yu Shyi-kun and legislative speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) to join the march.

These politicians' attendance is still uncertain.

Also yesterday, a group of DPP legislators accused the KMT of manipulating the demonstration in an attempt to embarrass the DPP government.

KMT mobilization

The legislators, including Chiu Chuang-chin (邱創進), Lee Wen-chung (李文忠), Lee Chun-yee (李俊毅) and Tang Huo-shen (湯火聖), said they have been informed that the KMT has ordered its members working in farmers' and fishermen's associations to mobilize at least five people each with a goal of having 100,000 people show up for the event.

The KMT has also told the protesters to bring items such as rotten eggs, putrid meat balls and dead chickens to the scene, which they will throw at the Ministry of Finance.

Lee Chuan-chiao (李全教), KMT legislative caucus whip, denied the allegations, saying the party has only offered its support for the appeal of the farmers and fishermen and has never tried to dictate to protesters.