Shih attacks Hsieh and Huang over their `dirty tricks'

Shih Ming-te (施明德), the former DPP chairman who is running for Kaohsiung mayor as an independent, has stopped campaigning activities but is not withdrawing from the election, his brother said yesterday.

A statement released by his campaign office yesterday accused the two main candidates, Kaohsiung City Mayor Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) of the DPP and Huang Jun-ying (黃俊英) of the KMT, of using dirty tricks to win votes.

The statement came a day after Shih attacked his opponents in a televised debate and suggested he would stop campaigning.

"I hate running my election campaign against Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) and Huang Jun-ying (黃俊英). I despise their dirty tricks," Shih said on Sunday. "I refuse to stand with them on the same stage [any more]. I despise all of you."

Shih accused his two opponents of using corruption cases, such as the impropriety involving the Kaohsiung Ammonium Sulfate Co and the Zanadau scandal, to blackmail each other.

Hsieh has been accused of receiving money from Zanadau Development Corp, an allegation Hsieh and Zanadau's major shareholder both deny.

Huang has been accused of involvement in alleged corruption at Kaohsiung Ammonium Sulfate following a decision made by the Kaohsiung City Government while Huang was deputy mayor in 1998.

Huang Hui-chun (黃惠君), a policy director in Shih's office, said yesterday that Shih was ashamed to run in the election with these "experts in blackmail."

"Politicians should work for the benefit of the country and the people. However, lies and dirty behavior to gain more money are prevalent among today's politicians," the statement from Shih's campaign office said.

"Party leaders do not think about how to propose the best candidates for the people. They treat the people as if they are fools," it said.

The statement said Shih's campaign team fully supported his decision.

"Politics, as Mr. Shih said, is a matter of conscience," the statement said. "We plead with all Kaohsiung citizens to spread Shih's ideas and anger to every corner of the city."

"Please do not let Kaohsiung become Shih's political tomb," the statement added.

Nevertheless, Shih's brother, Shih Ming-hsiung (施明雄), said yesterday that Shih Ming-te would never give up the election.

"Moreover, Shih Ming-te's campaign office will mobilize all his supporters to appeal for votes for him," Shih Ming-hsiung said.