Mon, Jun 03, 2002 page8

• Editorial: Retirement a dirty word for politicians

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  Former DPP chairman Shih Ming-te's (施明德) decision to run in Kaohsiung City's mayoral elections at the end of the year is creating an embarrassing situation for the ruling party. His main opponent in the race will be DPP chairman and incumbent Mayor Frank Hsieh (謝長廷). Their battle will be far more intense than either man's fight against the "pan blue" camp's candidates.

  Dreaming of a Greater China and calling for direct links across the Taiwan Strait, Shih veered away from the DPP's political platform several years ago and he eventually left the party. Surely Shih's chances of winning in December are as slim as those of another former DPP chairman, Hsu Hsin-liang (許信良), when he ran as an independent in the 2000 presidential election. But Shih believes that the last battle in his political career should take place in the city that made his name. Shih will forever be linked with the Kaohsiung Incident, in which he led activists to write a new page in Taiwan's democracy

  movement.

  Politicians usually have a strong sense of mission as well as a strong desire for power. It is distressing, however, to see the almost suicidal inclinations of Taiwan's older generation of politicians, no matter what their ideology. In mature democracies, politicians are often take on a completely different role once they leave office -- Jimmy Carter's globetrotting for the Carter Center's programs for peace and better health around the world is a prime example. But for Taiwan's activists and politicians, politics is their lifeblood. A rare exception to the rule so far is former DPP chairman Lin I-hsiung (林義雄), who decided to gracefully fade out of the political arena.

  The early opposition leaders paid a heavy price for their devotion to democracy. Shih spent more than two decades in prison because of the Kaohsiung Incident. Hsu was blacklisted by the KMT and forced into exile for more than a decade. But now most of the ideals they fought for for so long for have become reality and the party they struggled to build is now in power. Giving orders and engaging in conflict are part and parcel of their personalities, not following orders and coordinating with others. At odds with the current party leadership, they can only search for another battlefield.

  But is not just Shih and Hsu who can't let go of politics. Former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) has become the TSU's spiritual leader and a key weapon in the "pan green" camp's fight against its "pan blue" rival. PFP Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) founded his own party when his path to the top of the KMT was blocked. He retains total control over his new organization, despite the criticism that it is just a one-man show. KMT Chairman Lien Chan is still dreaming of the presidency, even though he led the party to two humiliating election losses. Even though his making another run at the presidency would be a disaster for the KMT, he shows no signs of being willing to step down.

  Shih's defeat in last year's legislative elections highlighted the gap between his views and those of the general public. His chances in the Kaohsiung mayoral race are even slimmer. Only the "pan blue" camp stands to benefit from the situation. It looks as if political ideals have lost out to personal grudges in Taiwanese politics once again.

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