Wed, Apr 20, 2005 page3

• Hsieh tells Lien Chan to focus on domestic issues

  • By Jimmy Chuang / STAFF REPORTER
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  Premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) yesterday urged Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) to focus on domestic affairs as his priority, instead of actively building connections with the Chinese government, if he really wants to do something for the Taiwanese people.

  "Chairman Lien said that he is going to China because he wants to do something for the Taiwanese people. However, if that is the case, he should help us pass several important bills that concern the public and have been pending at the legislature for a while, before he works on foreign affairs," Hsieh said. "It is really not persuasive that he is doing something for the people."

  Hsieh said that, since the KMT holds the majority in the legislature, if Lien wants to do something for the people he should urge his fellow KMT members in the legislature to support the important bills that had been proposed by the government so that the bills would be approved and help the public in different aspects of their daily life.

  Hsieh made his remarks during a briefing with lawmakers after hearing complaints from KMT Legislator Kuo Su-chun (郭素春). Kuo criticized the government's attitude toward Lien's trip to China, sayig that the people will understand that Lien is fighting for Taiwan.

  "What [Lien] needs to do is ask KMT lawmakers to support the pending bills and help us approve them. As for his trip to China, all he needs to do is obey the law. That is very simple," Hsieh said. "Unfortunately, what he is doing now is not persuasive, is it?"

  Under the law, anybody who tries to represent the country or makes deals or agreements with a foreign country must gain the authorization from his own country beforehand. However, Lien has yet to talk to any government officials, although the KMT has announced that Lien will meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) in Beijing.

  "The KMT is the majority in legislature. If they (KMT lawmakers) feel that the current law is unfair to their chairman, they can try to fix it. However, it will not be logical and reasonable if they do not want to amend the law, and yet do not want to follow the law, either," Hsieh said. "If everybody does the same thing, the government will be screwed."

  The premier said that he is expecting the KMT chairman to be a good role model for the people by following the rules. As for People First Party Chairman James Soong's (宋楚瑜) future trip to China, Hsieh said that Soong's was a minor issue.

  "Soong and President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) have come up with the `10-point agreement.' Things will be easier for Soong, since both sides have something in common," Hsieh said.

  In addition, Soong never said that he will not discuss his trip to China with the government. So we do not have to worry about it yet," Hsieh said.
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