TSU dismisses idea of pro-localization cooperative

The Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) yesterday gave the cold shoulder to the idea of entrusting former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) to form a "pan-green alliance," under which pro-localization groups would establish a long-term cooperative relationship.

"Former president Lee declared his position when he said [in a speech on Sunday] that he is a supporter of Taiwan rather than a supporter of the pan-green camp," TSU Secretary-General Lin Jih-jia (林志嘉) said yesterday.

A report in yesterday's Liberty Times, (the Taipei Times' sister newspaper), quoted Taiwan Society Chairman Wu Shuh-ming (吳樹民) as saying that President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) hoped Lee would play a leading role in forming the alliance.

"We heard about this issue a month ago, but Lee's stance on the matter was expressed clearly in his speech on Sunday," Lin said.

Lin said that the presidential office had at no point contacted the TSU to discuss the matter.

TSU Legislator Lai Shin-yuan (賴幸媛) said that the forming of such an alliance was just Democratic Progressive Party "election manipulation" aimed at swallowing up the TSU in the year-end elections.

"[The president] should attend to his duties and try to solve the cross-strait and economic problems facing the country rather than bringing up such a meaningless issue that is of no help to anyone," Lai said.

Meanwhile, the secretary-general of the Taiwan Society, Chet Yang (楊文嘉), yesterday confirmed that during previous gatherings with Chen, the president had told the society that he hoped Lee would be able to establish a "pan-green alliance" and that he would be willing to cooperate personally with Lee.

Yang added that the establishment of such an alliance would be responding to calls from the public for the pro-localization powers to be united.

Yang said in a press conference that the president also told the society that he hoped the society would convey his will to learn and communicate with Lee to the former president.