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Su urges DPP members to unite for polls

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) members should calm down, take a good look at themselves and find common ground in order to help the party win next year's elections, DPP vice presidential candidate Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) said yesterday.

When approached by reporters in Taipei County, Su said DPP presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) had told him during a telephone call yesterday that he expected DPP solidarity.

"[Former] premier Hsieh became sick because of persistent overwork and of worries about the controversy related to the party's [normal country] resolution," Su said. "We talked on the phone this morning. He said he hoped everyone can cool down and face the [resolution] problem and let go of the controversy."

BREAK NEEDED

Su said that Hsieh was very ill and needed to take a break.

Hsieh's campaign had announced that he would take some time off after he decided not to attend the DPP's national congress on Sunday.

Secretary-General of the Presidential Office Yeh Chu-lan (葉菊蘭), who doubles as Hsieh's campaign director, informed the congress of Hsieh's decision when speaking against a proposed amendment to the resolution.

The proposed amendment was initiated by former party chairman Yu Shyi-kun, who insisted on adding a clause in the resolution that emphasized the need for the nation to change its official title to "Taiwan."

The amendment aroused a heated debate during Sunday's meeting but won only 43 our of 328 votes.

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and Hsieh had supported a version of the resolution approved by DPP's Central Executive Committee last Thursday, which stipulated that the nation should accomplish "rectification of the name `Taiwan' as soon as possible."

SURPRISE MOVE

Although such a version was the result of a consensus between Chen, Hsieh, Yu and DPP caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘), Yu surprised many party members by resigning as chairman abruptly last Wednesday in disappointment over the consensus.

Hsieh's absence from the congress also took the party by surprise because the congress usually serves as a campaign event for the party's presidential and legislative candidates.

Su said that while DPP mem-bers could express their opinions about the resolution, the party should make solidarity a priority right now.

DPP Legislator Kao Chien-chih (高建智) -- who is affiliated with Hsieh's camp -- said the former Kaohsiung mayor had made the right decision not to attend the congress because the atmosphere of the meeting was not suitable for campaigning.

Kao said the party had resorted to democratic means to solve the resolution issue, adding that "the minority should respect the feelings of the majority now."

DPP Legislator Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲), another Hsieh supporter, said the presidential candidate should be able to take control of party's presidential campaign now.

STATEMENT

Outgoing DPP chairman Yu Shyi-kun last night released a statement declining the party's request that he stay on as chairman.

"I hope the party will cease asking me to stay on and choose a new chairman as soon as possible," Yu said.

He said he would put all his efforts into helping Hsieh and Su win the presidential election.
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