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Chen asks for help with burden

Calling it his duty to accept the role of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairman, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday said he nevertheless had not reached a decision on whether to take up the position and would need support from others to do the job effectively.

"I hope everybody will help me carry the load," he said. "It only makes sense to take the job if everybody is willing to work together and help out. I will not abandon this responsibility."

Chen made the remarks at a lunch with members of a group of supporters in Taipei's Zhongshan District, the Friends of A-bian, as well as local DPP representatives and other Taipei supporters.

The DPP's Central Executive Committee formalized the Central Standing Committee's selection of Chen as chairman in the wake of Yu Shyi-kun's sudden resignation on Monday.

Yu said he resigned over the controversy concerning the party's "normal country" resolution, which passed the DPP National Congress on Sept. 30.

Yu was in favor of a version incorporating stronger rhetoric on key issues that some party members, including DPP presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷), worried could alienate voters.

Hsieh, who was scheduled to attend a campaign rally after the congress, surprised the party by not showing up and canceling all public activities thereafter.

Hsieh's campaign office says he is ill, in part because he had been working too much, resting too little and from pushing for the best solution possible in the heated debate surrounding the "normal country resolution."

While some media have speculated that Hsieh may not return to the campaign trail until Chen has accepted the party chairmanship, Chen yesterday dismissed that speculation, adding that he was in regular contact with Hsieh, who was doing fine.

Chen called on the public to support the DPP in the upcoming legislative and presidential elections regardless of who becomes party chairman.

"It is our responsibility not to let anyone pull down the flag of Taiwan and replace it with anything else," he said.

"I hope everyone will come out and help. We should all volunteer and work long term for the DPP. Let us carry the burden and carry Taiwan together," Chen.

Chen previously said that no matter who takes over at the party's helm, that person must be prepared to play a three-fold role: be a dedicated, long-term volunteer; work for party unity; help win next year's legislative and presidential elections and work for UN membership.
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