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Alliance to pressure candidates for more policy information

An alliance consisting of individual academics will be launched on Saturday to pressure the two presidential candidates to offer more details of their policies before the election on March 22.

Chan Chang-chuan (詹長權), chairman of the Taipei Society, said that his organization would like to serve as a platform for academics worried about the upcoming election.

The establishment of the organization is to pressure Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) and the Chinese Nationalist Party's (KMT) Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) to offer clearer accounts of their positions and policies so the public will make the best decision at the polling station.

"We will ask hard questions and demand clear answers," he said.

Ku Chung-hua (顧忠華), an executive member of the Taipei Society, said that many people had expressed concern over next month's contest.

"We do not know where the ship is headed in a vast sea or where the beacon is," he said.

When asked whether the alliance will eventually urge voters to endorse any particular candidate, Chan said his organization does not have any set position, but they "do not rule out any possibility" if either candidate ignores the concerns they raise or the questions they ask.

Regarding the composition of the alliance, Chan said members will come from his organization and the academic circle and they welcome individuals or groups from other sectors as well.

Allen Houng (洪裕宏), another executive member of the society, said that the two candidates owe the public a clear explanation of their position on national identity, sovereignty and cross-strait policy.

Houng said that it was all well and good that Ma said during Sunday's presidential debate that he "will still be a Taiwanese if he is burned to ashes," but Houng said he would like to know whether Ma would lead the country to unification with China.

While Hsieh promotes further opening of cross-strait economic policy, Houng said he would like to know how he will protect Taiwan's sovereignty on the negotiation table.

"Cross-strait economic policy is not just about relaxing or tightening," he said.

Hsu Yung-ming (徐永明), another executive member of the society, said that he was disappointed at the two candidates' performance during Sunday's presidential debate and that the establishment of the alliance was necessary.

Liao Chun-chen (廖俊臣), a chemistry professor at National Tsing-Hua University, said that the March election is important and the public must have as much detailed information as possible.

"Taiwan is at a crossroads," he said. "With sufficient information, voters can make careful comparison and decide whether they want to elect someone whose party controls both the legislature and government or someone whose party is a minority."
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