When a contest begins with the referee blowing the whistle for a foul, you know it is not going to be a clean game. That several election-related conflicts and election law violation occurred yesterday -- the first day of the official campaign period for the Dec. 1 elections -- was certainly not a good sign.
While stumping for the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) candidate in Yunlin County on Tuesday, former president Lee Teng-hui (
A similar scuffle broke out yesterday between TSU supporters who were staging a protest in front of the New Party's campaign headquarters in Kaohsiung against Tuesday's brawl and New Party bruisers.
With the economic slowdown putting a squeeze on campaign funding, the local media is focusing its attention on a handful of "super-campaigners" and ignoring individual candidates. As a result, candidates desperate for attention are resorting to ridiculous and at times contemptible antics, as Ho did on Tuesday.
Why should a New Party candidate pick on Lee, the KMT's former chairman, for allegedly selling out the KMT? Why shouldn't Lee campaign for the TSU -- he holds no government position and is no longer a member of the KMT? The right of free speech means Lee can campaign for anyone he likes.
Violators of election laws should be severely punished. Leading a mob into a rival party's campaign rally, heaping abuse on the guest of honor and throwing eggs at him are all serious acts of provocation. Ho must have chosen to deliberately start a conflict -- with full knowledge of the consequences. Voters should absolutely reject candidates such as this. Those TSU supporters involved in yesterday's vendetta were also in the wrong.
During the 1997 city/county chief elections, the late DPP legislator Lu Hsiu-yi (
To show respect for the law, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday canceled live coverage of a DPP rally on Nov. 30, where he is set to make an appearance. However, the KMT has decided to go ahead with coverage of a similar rally in Taoyuan County, where KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) is set to stump. The KMT has always had a problem with fighting fairly.
Taiwan's elections have a long way to go before they reach the democratic ideal, despite repeated efforts to crack down on vote-buying and intimidation by gangsters. The violations on the first day of the campaign period are a sign of just how far Taiwan has to go. Political parties have a responsibility to exercise restraint. Voters should use their ballots to let offenders know that illegal campaigning will no longer be tolerated.
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