Radio hosts urge DPP to indirectly block 11 members

Hosts a pro-independence radio show and some 30 grassroots supporters of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) brought a petition with approximately 62,000 signatures to DPP headquarters yesterday in a bid to prevent the party from electing 11 DPP members as its legislative nominees, because the members have openly criticized the party.

Host Chang Tien-chun (章天軍) and a co-host known as "A-sheng" (阿生) told DPP Chairman Yu Shyi-kun that they understood the party cannot prevent the members from running in its legislative primary.

However, they urged the party to execute a primary poll excluding all independent voters and "light blue" supporters, because they said it would block the 11 members from winning the primary by removing a base of their support.

They added that "deep-green" supporters would not vote for the 11 members if they became legislative candidates in the year-end legislative election.

The campaign, called "Surgical Blade Action," was started last December by the radio show Taiwanese Club, aired on many national frequencies.

It was aimed at members of the DPP's former New Tide faction, including former legislators Tuan Yi-kang (段宜康), Lee Wen-chung (李文忠) and Lin Cho-shui (林濁水), and legislators Hong Chi-chang (洪奇昌) and Shen Fa-hui (沈發惠).

All are known for outspokenness and criticism of their party's actions and rhetoric.

Former Lo Wen-chia (羅文嘉) and Shen Fu-hsiung (沈富雄) and Legislator Kuo Jeng-liang (郭正亮), who do not belong to the faction, were also targeted for having often criticized the party.

In response to the group's request, Yu said that the party would take their views seriously, but did not say whether the party intended to act as the group requested.