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DPP welcomes mayor's proposed public discussion

Ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) members yesterday welcomed a proposal by Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) to hold a public debate on the referendum proposed by President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), and also said that Ma should "make sure that the debate takes place this time."

"The KMT has gone back on its word several times on joining in a public debate, either initiated by itself or the DPP, so Ma needs to assure us that the debate he has proposed will come about," Taipei County Commissioner Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) said.

"Members of political parties should not interpret laws according to their own inclinations. They are not authorized to defy the central government," Su said.

The commissioner, who also acts as national manager of the DPP's presidential campaign, said that, "When the president called the referendum in accordance with the power vested in him by the Referendum Law (公民投票法), an unbridled criticism by an elected leader of local government manifested that local leader's lack of administrative morality."

DPP campaign spokesman Wu Nei-jen (吳乃仁) also endorsed the proposed debate. He said the DPP was always open to a debate hosted by the media. "Nonetheless, we look forward to seeing that the pan-blue camp is determined to take part in the debate and will not back out or make the debate an excuse to shy away from public criticism of their opposition to the referendum," Wu said.

DPP legislative leader Tsai Huang-liang (蔡煌瑯) said that the president's referendum clearly complies with the law, because Article 17 of the Referendum Law states that the president can initiate a referendum when the country faces external threats that could alter the nation's sovereignty.
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