Federation backs Chen's re-election

Former president Lee Teng-hui, front left, and others shout slogans during yesterday's opening ceremony for a campaign support group for President Chen Shui-bian in Taipei. The group plans to organize a 1 million-strong demonstration on Feb. 28 next year. PHOTO: GEORGE TSORNG, TAIPEI TIMES

At the inauguration ceremony yesterday for a national federation to support President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) re-election bid, members vowed to mobilize 1 million people to line-up hand-in-hand from the north to the south on Feb. 28.

The opening of the office of the new federation, which is made up of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) and more than 200 private organizations, signified that private campaign efforts for Chen's re-election are in motion.

The federation is led by former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝).

Its is being sponsored by the Macoto Bank, whose chairman Lin Chen-yi (林誠一) has long been a staunch supporter of President Chen.

Lin Chen's campaign headquarters office on Minsheng E. Road in Taipei for the 2000 election and promised to provide the same location for his re-election campaign headquarters as an auspicious symbol.

The federation said the February rally would have people link hands in a line along the north-south provincial highways from Keelung County to Pingtung County. The rally will climax with President Chen and Lee flying in helicopters from the north of the country to the south to greet supporters.

Lee at the opening of the federation's office, saying that securing Chen's re-election would not only safeguard the continuation of "localized power," but would ensure the individuality of Taiwan's statehood.

Lee that for a long time Taiwan was ruled by an "alien regime," referring to the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) government -- but the regime paid no attention to the political reforms desired by the people of Taiwan, caring only about ensuring its own rule.

Lee that 10 years ago, he started to promote localization and after he was directly elected by the people for the first time, he countered the China's constant military threats by proposing a "two states" theory to characterize the independent relations between Taiwan and China.

Lee that since the DPP came to power the remnants of the alien regime were still active and attacked the localization and democratization of Taiwan's political reform in an even more vigorous manner, with the aid of many pro-China media groups in Taiwan.

"These people confounded the Taiwanese with their state identity and disclaim Taiwan's independent sovereignty. That's why I said earlier this year that the Republic of China doesn't exist. This is something this alien regime will never say," Lee said.