Print

Mail

wiki links

Chen may join referendum walk

Presidential Office Deputy Secretary-General Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) yesterday said President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and his aides would decide this week whether the head of state should take part in a cross-country walk next month to promote the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) UN referendum.

Chen Chi-mai made the remarks in response to reporters' questions one day after Tainan County Commissioner Su Huan-chih (蘇煥智), who doubles as the director of the DPP's Tainan campaign office, suggested that the president take part in the walk along Taiwan's western corridor aimed at drumming up support for the referendum on applying for UN membership under the name "Taiwan."

Su said he hoped the walk would instill passion among voters across the country for the significance of bidding for membership as "Taiwan" and boost support for DPP presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷).

PINGTUNG START

The walk is tentatively set to start on March 3 in Pingtung, the southernmost county.

The campaign will then head north and are expected to reach Taipei on March 21, the eve of the presidential election.

Su said he discussed the plan with Chen Shui-bian on Saturday and the president had shown interest in joining the walk.

But the president will not make a decision until more details are arranged, Su said, adding that he would also discuss the idea with Hsieh and his campaign office first.

URBAN TOUR

Kuo Kuo-wen (郭國文), the director of the DPP's Tainan County chapter, said the walk would follow urban roads.

The public will be welcome to join.

The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) has also initiated a referendum on "rejoining" the UN under the name the Republic of China (ROC) or any other "practical" title that would uphold the country's dignity.

Both the referendums are to be held in conjunction with the March 22 presidential election.
This story has been viewed 1222 times.