President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday reaffirmed his resolve to "create a new constitution in 2006," urging grassroots supporters to organize small clubs to promote the idea.
"It is an irreversible path for Taiwan to continue with its democratization," Chen said at the founding ceremony of his re-election support club in Taipei County. "And you all must serve as the midwives for the birth of Taiwan's new constitution."
The president first suggested rewriting the Constitution in 2006 at celebrations marking the 17th anniversary of the foundation of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) eight days ago. Chen, who also is the chairman of the DPP, said the party should set up a committee to press for constitutional reform and to organize more clubs to advocate the idea.
PHOTO: HSIEH TUNG-MING, TAIPEI TIMES
"According to Secretary-General of the Presidential Office Chiou I-jen (邱義仁), we must properly make use of the `campaign power of small groups' to gain more voters," said Chang Yu-jen (張郁仁), director of the DPP's organizational development department.
"Chiou's strategy is aimed at seeking support from opinion leaders, key families and grassroots heavyweights, who may be better than political faction leaders or party heavyweights at influencing the voting intentions of their friends and relatives," Chang said.
He also said that the DPP expects to establish more than 5,000 "A-bian supporters' clubs" around the country and in overseas communities. A-bian is Chen's nickname.
Four supporters clubs were established yesterday, three in Taichung City and one in Taipei County that was organized by the Taoists Association.
The association, which used to have close ties to the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), is now supporting Chen's supporters' clubs.
Chang said that the president had visited more than 7,000 temples during past three years and that Chen's sincere respect for Taoism has received positive feedback.
The president also said yesterday that the worst hardships for the government were over and that the public should have confidence in the government.
He gave several assurances for his second term, saying that he would do his utmost to achieve the objectives if he is re-elected next March.
"I hope to make Taiwan into a country that boasts the world's largest number of high-quality products and enjoys doubled tourist arrivals ... an unemployment rate below 4 percent and an economic growth rate of more than 5 percent, as well as the creation of 6 million broadband Internet users and 700,000 new jobs by 2008," Chen said.
In Taichung, DPP lawmakers said that the party needed the help of "small groups" to counteract the negative impact of the pro-pan-blue mass media.
"The mass media would like to focus on the DPP government's mistakes and ignore the government's achievements," said Hong Chi-chang (
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