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DPP has last message for Lien

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislative caucus yesterday made a last-ditch call to Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (連戰), asking him to conduct his trip to China under the principles of equality, dignity and reciprocity.

"We hope that Lien voices the nation's opposition to the `Anti-Secession' Law and asks the Chinese government to destroy all the missiles targeting us," DPP caucus whip Lai Ching-te (賴清德) said. "If he cannot make the request in front of the Chinese authorities, he should at least mention it in his speech scheduled at Peking University."

Lien leaves today on an eight-day trip to China.

Lai had also asked Lien to address President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) appropriately during his telephone call with the president yesterday afternoon.

"If he calls President Chen `mister', he should do the same for Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤)," he said.

During the phone conversation yesterday, Lien addressed Chen as "Brother Shui-bian."

The term delivers a sense of respect in Mandarin.

Questioning the timing of Lien's visit, Lai said that he owes the public an explanation as to why the trip is being dubbed a "journey of peace."

"We are very curious about its true meaning," he said. "Is it a temporary and bogus peace because he will abandon Taiwan's sovereignty and sabotage the interests of the people of Taiwan, or is it genuine because it is based on equality and dignity, in which he will insist on safeguarding national sovereignty, the national interest, and freedom and democracy while talking with the Chinese authorities?"

Lai also urged Lien to ask his party and the KMT legislative caucus to re-open the door for cross-party negotiations and extend the legislative session to help pass significant bills, especially those concerning people's livelihoods.

"It just does not make sense for him to conduct a so-called `journey of peace' to China, while allowing his lawmakers to boycott government bills and refuse talks with the ruling party," he said.

DPP Legislator Jao Yung-ching (趙永清), said that his caucus had been trying to negotiate with opposition parties in the hope that they would return to the negotiating table, but to no avail.

The KMT and People First Party (PFP) caucuses withdrew from cross-party talks to protest an investigation into KMT Vice Chairman Chiang Pin-kung's (江丙坤) trip to China. They have refused to return to the negotiation table unless the DPP makes "goodwill gestures."

Jao said that Lien owes the public an explanation as to what his mission is, and that he felt sorry for Lien's "sarcastic" and "disdainful" attitude toward reporting to the government about his visit.

Responding to the DPP's call to resume cross-party negotiations, six KMT and PFP lawmakers, calling themselves the "G6" or "good six" alliance, said that they would make an effort to help push the passage of "non-confidential" bills.

However, they said that blame for sluggish progress does not lie solely with the lawmaking body.

They called on the Executive Yuan to take a more pro-active approach in its attempt to pass bills that it deems important.

"Only if the Executive Yuan takes the initiative to cooperate and reconcile with opposition parties can the Legislative Yuan make progress," KMT Legislator John Wu (吳志揚) said.
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