TSU slams DPP for `selling out'

The Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) legislative caucus yesterday attacked the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) for renouncing its principles in order to seek cooperation with the People First Party (PFP).

The TSU caucus whip Chen Chien-ming (陳建銘) said yesterday that the government was postponing a review of the amendment to the Referendum Law (公民投票法) and the name rectification of the embassies and state-run businesses in order to placate the PFP, in exchange for the PFP's cooperation on other matters.

He said that both the amendment to the Referendum Law and the name rectification are key parts of the platform proposed by President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) during the legislative elections campaign.

"The DPP is renouncing its principles to cooperate with the PFP, and the TSU cannot accept that," Chen said. "The TSU will insist on its principles and supervise the DPP accordingly."

The DPP caucus denied the TSU's accusation and said cooperation between parties was something the public had hoped for.

DPP caucus whip Tsai Huang-liang (蔡煌瑯) said that the DPP, as the governing party, had to make more friendly gestures and avoid touching upon controversial issues and bills.

"If we do not seek cross-party cooperation, we will not be able to achieve success with name rectification," Tsai said. "Creating possibilities for cross-party cooperation is also paving the road for realizing our principles. It is a huge misunderstanding on the TSU's side to say that DPP is renouncing its principles."

DPP acting chairman Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘), meanwhile, also said that the public had too many incorrect expectations about the DPP-PFP cooperation.

"Everyone has different feelings about the possible DPP-PFP cooperation, but the cooperation has not even started," Ker said. "The public already has too many false expectations."

Ker pointed out that since the Legislative Yuan will recess on Jan. 21, and President Chen will go on an overseas trip on Jan. 27, the ideal time for talks on cooperation between Chen and Soong -- who is in the US -- is drawing near.

"Everything has to wait till the president talks directly with Soong, and Soong's attitude is the key to whether cooperation can materialize," Ker said.

Ker also said that for the cooperation to happen, many aspects had to be carefully considered.

"It is not like a chess game to be played alone in one's mind," he said.

Ker also denied reports that the two parties had discussed cooperation in the upcoming elections for mayors and commissioners.