PFP declares ‘war’ on DPP counterparts in retaliation

People First Party lawmakers yesterday declared “war” on their Democratic Progressive Party counterparts in retaliation of the latter’s threat to block the former’s cross-strait peace bill.

“Beginning today, we are at war with the DPP,” vowed PFP Legislator Lin Yu-fang, as the opposition party’s deputies to the legislative rules committee blocked more than 20 bills put forth by the DPP.

Lin said his caucus has decided to boycott all bills launched by their ruling party counterparts in retaliation of the DPP plan to obstruct the materialization of a consensus reached between President Chen Shui-bian and PFP Chairman James Soong.

DPP lawmakers were said to be trying to block the PFP-launched cross-strait peace bill during today’s legislative interior committee meeting.

DPP whip Lai Ching-teh expressed regret over the PFP boycott, saying it was the result of PFP’s misunderstanding of the DPP position.

The DPP only hopes to put off discussion of the allegedly unconstitutional parts of the bill, Lai said.

“We never said we would boycott the bill,” Lai said, adding the DPP would try to communicate with the PFP. The boycott is threatening the two sides’ fragile ties recently patched up by Chen and Soong during their reconciliatory meeting.

It is also denting the DPP’s hope to enlist the PFP’s help in the face of the Kuomintang, whose lawmakers last week shut their door on consultation with the DPP in revenge of a government probe into the recent China visit by the main opposition party’s vice chairman, Chiang Pin-kung.

Legislator Lin said his party is bent on having the cross-strait peace bill passed, but the DPP is denying them.

The PFP already made a fool of itself once by holding the Chen-Soong meet, and it would not make it twice, Lin said in reference to the DPP call for another meeting between the two leaders.

PFP whip Lee Yung-ping said Soong has angered opposition “pan blue” supporters by talking to Chen.

Please see WAR on page

But her DPP counterpart said the ruling party has also swallowed a lot of injustices.

Lai said the PFP had blocked the bill for the NT$610.8 billion arms procurement project, and the screening of the nominations to the watchdog Control Yuan.

“The DPP does not oppose to a cross-strait peace law, but it is reasonable for us to express our opinions about some parts of it,” Lai said.

The United Evening News said the Mainland Affairs Council had asked lawmakers from the DPP’s ally, the Taiwan Solidarity Union, to take the lead in opposing the PFP cross-strait peace bill.

Subscribe to The China Post and save 25%. Click here

SharePrintEmail

Write a Comment

Enter your comments - 3000 characters max

Type in image code

Submit

 Receive China Post promos Respond to this email