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Lee absent as his supporters endorse Hsieh's campaign

Former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) was absent yesterday when a group of his supporters endorsed Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) and running mate Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) for next month's presidential election.

The National Association of Friends of Lee Teng-hui yesterday presented Hsieh with a flag, asking him to lead Taiwan to victory and prosperity.

A statement released by Lee's office said the former president did not appear because he was not informed about yesterday's ceremony in time and also, because of the recent cold weather, doctors had advised him to stay at home.

The press release also expressed Lee's gratitude for the association's support for him and his respect for all the different viewpoints regarding the upcoming race, adding that he hopes that the winner will lead the nation based on what's best for Taiwanese and not based on a certain ideology.

When asked about his feelings on Lee's absence, Hsieh yesterday smiled and told reporters: "He [Lee] only needs to show up at the most crucial moment."

Hsieh's campaign spokesman Chao Tien-lin (趙天麟) said Hsieh and Lee enjoy a steady friendship and that Lee's absence from the ceremony should not be taken as a sign of a deteriorating relationship between the two.

Chao said Hsieh would appreciate Lee's support, but would not demand the ex-president give his endorsement.

Hwang Kun-hu (黃崑虎), the association's president, also expressed his regret for Lee's absence and said he hoped Lee would "soon raise up Hsieh's hand as he did for [Chinese Nationalist Party [KMT] presidential nominee] Ma Ying-jeou's [馬英九] hand during the 1998 Taipei mayoral race."

Former senior presidential advisor Koo Kuang-min (辜寬敏), a stalwart supporter of Taiwanese independence, said even though Lee did not attend the ceremony, he believed that Lee must have felt bad about not being able to attend.

Meanwhile, the Taiwan Farmers' Party (TFP) yesterday declared its support for Ma and his running mate Vincent Siew (蕭萬長) and urged them to support the party's proposal to restore the health insurance system for farmers.

The party is strongly opposed to the National Pension Law (國民年金法) proposed by the DPP government because it would replace the farmers health insurance system and potentially restrict the benefits that come with it.

TFP spokesman Hsieh Yung-huei (謝永輝) said the party protested the cancelation of the farmers insurance plan with the government and has since submitted a proposal to both the DPP and KMT to amend the National Pension Act.

"Only the KMT responded positively to the appeals and showed its support," he said. "The TFP endorses candidates willing to take care of farmers' rights as well as the development of agriculture."
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