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Former DPP chair throws hat in ring
WOULD-BE MEDIATOR:
Shih Ming-teh said he will run for the legislature as an independent candidate in an attempt to bridge the bitter blue-green divide
STAFF WRITER
Tuesday, Oct 12, 2004, Page 4
Former Democratic Progressive Party chairman Shih Ming-teh (¬I©ú¼w) announced yesterday that he would run for a seat in the Legislative Yuan as an independent legislator. He plans to register his candidacy tomorrow at the Central Election Commission (CEC).
"In Taiwan's society today, there are only blue and green, but no understanding of right or wrong," Shih said yesterday. "The presidential election on March 20 resulted in division between ethnic groups and a split in the society. Now, people only are only concerned about [political] colors. and not other topics."
According to Shih, topics such as the Cabinet system, US arms deal and March 19 investigation committee are worth being discussed as public policies.
"However, with the opposition between the two camps, there is no room for such public discussion," said Shih.
Shih that although many of his friends and relatives have not shown support for his candidacy, he is willing to run for the sake of mediating between the two camps.
Shih previously run for Kaohsiung mayor and legislator, but both attempts failed.
"Whether I win this election is up to the Taiwanese people; the outcome of my candidacy is a litmus test for the ideological orientation of Taiwanese people," Shih said. "I do not expect support from those who are extremists in either camp. But I do think there are many Taiwanese who are displeased by the social disintegration caused by the two camps."
Hsu Hsin-liang (³\«H¨}), a former DPP chairman and now an outspoken anti-DPP activist, registered for his legislative candidacy yesterday morning at the CEC, also as an independent legislative candidate.
Sharing Shih's views, Hsu also believes that since the presidential election, Taiwan has been moving towards disintegration, war and isolation.
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