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Frank Hsieh talks to independence veterans Ng, Koo

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) yesterday visited two pro-independence heavyweights to solicit their support for his presidential bid in March.

Hsieh vowed to continue pushing the referendum on applying for UN membership under the name "Taiwan" during his talks with World United Formosans for Independence chairman Ng Chiau-tong (黃昭堂) yesterday morning.

Hsieh told reporters after the 40-minute meeting that they both felt sorry to see the referendum seeking to reclaim the Chinese Nationalist Party's (KMT) stolen assets fail on Saturday. They were also worried that the UN referendum would likewise fail.

"If the referendum fails, it would send out the message that Taiwanese do not support Taiwan's UN membership," Hsieh said. "That would wipe out the efforts we made over the past 50, 60 years."

Ng expressed regret over the results of the legislative elections, but emphasized that both the DPP and the KMT must respect and accept the public's choice.

He urged the public to vote for Hsieh if they did not want the KMT to do as it pleases and offer Taiwan to China on a plate.

Hsieh also visited former senior adviser to the president Koo Kwang-ming (辜寬敏) yesterday afternoon.

Hsieh told reporters after the meeting that they were both surprised at the poll results and worried it would have a negative impact on the nation's democratic achievements and development.

"It is like we were hit hard and our hands and our legs were broken," Hsieh said.

He said he was willing to shoulder all responsibilities, but he needed help. While he respected the decision of those who wanted to leave the campaign, Hsieh said he would continue to lead the party and his followers with courage and responsibility.

Hsieh said the public should not worry that a DPP president would do anything detrimental to the country, but should worry about a KMT-controlled legislature.

"What a DPP president can do is to protect the country, keep the powerful legislature in check so the public will not have to worry about it," he said.

Koo said only Hsieh's victory could ensure social and political stability. He urged Hsieh to hammer out new thinking on cross-strait policy and called on Beijing to respect Taiwan's sovereignty and help it obtain UN membership.

In related news, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) urged the public to support the UN referendum, saying it was a way to let the world and Beijing hear the voice of the Taiwanese people.

Chen, who is in Central America and the Caribbean on a five-day visit, told overseas Taiwanese and businesspeople at a luncheon that Taiwan would not allow other countries to bully it and would exert more efforts to expand its international space.

"Taiwanese must stand on their own feet, because God only helps those who help themselves and only those who help others will get help," he said.

Meanwhile, Hsieh confirmed he has invited three candidates who lost in Saturday's elections to join his campaign team. They are Tuan Yi-kang (段宜康), Luo Wen-chia (羅文嘉) and Cheng Wen-tsang (鄭文燦).

They might serve as his spokepersons, Hsieh said.

He said he had also asked Examination Yuan President Yao Chia-wen (姚嘉文) to be in charge of a party reform team.

Also See: EDITORIAL: Whither the DPP?
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