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TSU takes legal action over 'dirty trick' from DPP

The relationship between the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) has soured, with the DPP urging pan-green supporters to ditch its erstwhile ally in next week's elections.

The TSU responded by lodging a legal complaint against DPP election campaign chief Yu Shyi-kun and seven pro-independence activists for encouraging voters to cast their second ballot for the DPP rather than the TSU.

Describing the DPP's move as a "dirty trick," TSU Chairman Huang Kun-huei (黃昆輝) said he was sorry to see his party's political ally manipulate pro-independence groups for election gains, adding that the DPP's decision only highlighted its anxiety about the elections.

SUING YU

TSU Spokeswoman Chou Mei-li (周美里) said that the TSU would sue Yu and the seven activists, who joined the DPP's call at a news conference yesterday.

The seven are Taiwan Society secretary-general Lo Chih-cheng (羅致政), Taiwan Society vice president Winston Yu (余文儀), Northern Taiwan Society president Chang Shyue-Yih (張學逸), Northern Taiwan Society vice president Chin Heng-wei (金恆煒), Southern Taiwan Society president Cheng Cheng-iok (鄭正煜), Central Taiwan Society president Michael Tai (戴正德) and Taiwan Hakka Society president Chang Yeh-shen (張葉森).

Yu Shyi-kun on Wednesday called on voters to cast their second ballot for the DPP rather than the TSU, saying "a divided pan-green camp risks a landslide defeat in the face of a pan-blue alliance."

Society leaders yesterday said although they recognized the contribution the TSU has made over the years, they questioned whether the party had deviated from the path of Taiwan-centered consciousness after it transformed itself into a "center-left" party.

WASTING BALLOTS

"The pan-green camp cannot afford to be divided," Cheng said. "It is highly unlikely that the TSU will garner more than 5 percent of the second-ballot vote ... I am calling on the people of Taiwan not to waste their ballots on other political parties and vote for the DPP."

Winston Yu encouraged the electorate to vote, as both the legislative elections and the two referendums will be held in conjunction with the polls.

Chang Yeh-shen called on the voters to spurn the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) for boycotting the two referendums.

Chang Shyue-yih said their call was aimed at protecting Taiwan, not the DPP.

Chin said that former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝), the spiritual leader of the TSU, would go down in history as a sinner if he managed to split the pro-Taiwan forces.

While Chou on Wednesday accused the societies of having become mouthpieces of the DPP, Lo yesterday said that they found Chou's comment "defamatory" and "unacceptable."

"We sincerely hope the Taiwan Solidarity Union will not become a Taiwan Division Union and split the localization force," Lo said.
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