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Chen urges political, economic reform

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) called on the opposition and the public yesterday to push for rewriting the Constitution and helping build a clean government.

"The true meaning of a transition of power is democratic reform and the deepening of democracy," Chen said.

He said all parties must make an effort to build a more open political environment and a more transparent decision-making process for governmental policies.

"All parties must end the political infighting and jointly push for the constitutional re-engineering project to help build a long-standing democracy," he said.

Chen made the remarks while addressing the joint commencement ceremony of a national development study program and women's leadership study program organized by the Executive Yuan in Taipei.

He said democracy, sustainable development, peace and dialogue were his main goals for the country in his final two years in office.

To ensure sustainable development, Chen said the administration needs to focus on five major areas -- deepening democracy, national security, sustainable economy, social justice and civic society.

He said the country must have sufficient defense capability in the face of China's military threat and the public must unify to protect the nation.

He said that resources must be allocated fairly and efficiently and environmental factors must be taken into consideration when developing the economy.

The president promised to continue pushing tax reform, a national annuity scheme, the "second generation" health insurance program, an improved social security network and caring for the underprivileged.

He said the public, regardless of jobs, class or political affiliations, must face the problems challenging the economy, noting that the Executive Yuan is scheduled to hold a meeting on sustainable economic growth at the end of next month.

Later in the day at the Presidential Office, Chen told a visiting US academic that he would like to conduct political consultations with the opposition parties and dialogues with China.

"It is to the interest of Taiwan and that of the US and Japan if both sides can sit down and talk," he told Kenneth Lieberthal, who teaches Chinese politics at the University of Michigan.

"Currently there are some political disturbances but they will not affect the administration's resolve to stabilize the peaceful status quo across the Taiwan Strait,"he said.

Lieberthal told Chen that both sides might want to consider focusing on economic and cultural exchanges first in a bid to ease cross-strait tension.

In other developments, US representatives Steve Chabot, Sherrod Brown and Dana Rohrabacher, have sent a letter to the Presidential Office noting "with concern" the stalemate in the legislature and the effort to recall Chen.

The congressmen's message, which was sent before the legislature failed to pass the motion to recall the president on Tuesday, stressed "the importance of passing legislation needed for effective governance of the nation."

The lawmakers said they hoped the "focus of the recall doesn't stand in the way of passing legislation essential for the well- being of the populace."

Taiwan's "future as a democracy," it adds, "would be best served if the parties concerned would put Taiwan's national interest above individual or party interests."

The congressmen refrained from commenting on the allegations surrounding Chen, saying they should be dealt with by Taiwan's judicial system

"We assume that in that process, anyone is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, and that the principle of separation of powers is rigorously respected," the US lawamakers wrote.

Additional reporting by Charles Snyder
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