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Hsieh announces his campaign slogan

Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) deputy secretary-general yesterday announced that the campaign slogan for the party's presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) would be "Protecting Taiwan, saving democracy, two-party rule and Taiwan's progress."

The slogan was decided during a meeting between Hsieh and the DPP's former legislators who failed to be reelected in last Saturday's legislative elections, said Tuan Yi-kang (段宜康).

The DPP suffered considerable losses in the elections, with only 19 of the DPP lawmakers retaining seats in their constituencies nationwide. At the invitation of Hsieh, 42 former lawmakers attended the meeting yesterday.

Although Hsieh has been criticized by some DPP members for maintaining a low profile during the legislative elections, DPP Legislator Charles Chiang (江昭儀) said: "There was a good atmosphere at the meeting. We had the strongest solidarity in the history of the party."

"We all realized that only if we stick together can we save democracy," Hsieh said.

Tuan said the DPP would make "public policies" and "social justice" its main campaign themes in the run up to the election.

Hsieh also had a two-hour meeting with President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday, but neither the presidential office or Hsieh's campaign office would reveal what topics they had touched upon during the talks.

Hsieh also visited the New Party and had a 30-minute meeting with New Party Chairman Yok Mu-ming (郁慕明).

"The percentage of votes for the New Party was 4 percent, but it did not get a seat in the legislature," Hsieh told reporters after the meeting, adding that was the reason why he proposed a "grand coalition government" based on his long-term idea of "co-management" and "coexistence."

Yok said that "coexistence" was more important than "co-management," and that the party would continue to play a role overseeing the government.

In related news, Freddy Lim (林昶佐), vocalist of heavy metal band Chthonic, issued a statement yesterday saying he had decided to join Hsieh's campaign team.

Lim and his band have long been advocates of independence and the nation's bid to join the UN.

Last year, the band went on a six-month world tour with Taiwan's UN membership bid as its main theme.

"The KMT's overwhelming victory [in last Saturday's legislative elections] struck me as a wake-up call -- Taiwan's future is far more perilous than I thought," Lim said.

Although many people had advised him to stay out of politics, "I will bear the guilt for the rest of my life if the KMT returns to power because of my indifference and carelessness," Lim said. "If I don't stand up as a Taiwanese to defend our dreams and our homeland, who else will?"

Lim will serve as executive director of the youth department for Hsieh's campaign team, the press release said.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING LOA IOK-SIN
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