MEDIA REACTION: DPP PARTY REFORM CONFERENCE

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 001120

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/TC, EAP/PA, EAP/PD - ERIC BARBORIAK
DEPARTMENT PASS AIT/WASHINGTON

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A


TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO TW
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: DPP PARTY REFORM CONFERENCE



1. Summary: Taiwan dailies March 31 focused on KMT Chairman Ma
Ying-jeou's meeting with President Chen Shui-bian slated for April
3, and junior DPP legislators' plan to hold a conference to discuss
party reforms.


2. The editorials March 31 all commented on DPP legislators' call
for a party reform conference. The editorial in the
pro-independence "Liberty Times," Taiwan's largest daily, suggested
that the DPP government carry out reforms and pay attention to
mainstream public opinion. The pro-independence "Taiwan Daily" ran
an editorial calling upon the DPP government to conduct reforms, and
upon the Taiwan people to protect the grass-roots regime. The
centrist, pro status quo "China Times" editorialized that President
Chen Shui-bian's attitude toward the party's reform conference could
easily determine the forum's outcome. The editorial in the
pro-unification "United Daily News" urged the DPP to draw a
demarcation line between President Chen Shui-bian and the party.
The pro-independence "Taiwan News" editorialized that the DPP
leadership could help revive the party. End summary.

A) "To Remain a Grass-Roots Ruling Party, the DPP Should Carry out
Reforms and Pay Attention to Mainstream Public Opinion"

The pro-independence "Liberty Times" [circulation: 600,000] said in
an editorial (3/31):

"... It is such a myth that 'Ma Ying-jeou is impeccable.' If the
DPP wants to defeat Ma in the 2008 presidential election and remain
as the ruling party, high-ranking DPP officials must learn the
lessons [of the previous elections and recent polls] and have the
resolve for party reforms. They must also present a performance
that is in accordance with mainstream public opinion."

B) "The DPP Must Reflect on Itself and Carry out Reforms; Taiwan
People Should Attend a Nation-Wide Movement to Protect the
Grass-Roots Regime"

The pro-independence "Taiwan Daily" [circulation: 100,000]
editorialized (3/31):

"... In terms of protecting the grass-roots regime, the ruling DPP
should shoulder the greatest responsibility, and actually carry out
reforms. The party should also earn back people's trust and support
by non-corrupt behavior and substantive performances. None of the
Taiwan people should be bystanders; they should support the
government through public opinion and protect the regime by
ballots."

C) "The Ruler's Mentality is Critical for the Success of the DPP
Party Reform Conference"

The pro-status quo "China Times" [circulation: 400,000]
editorialized (3/31):

"... Currently, the DPP faces not only a 'crisis' created by lower
and lower approval ratings, but also a 'difficult situation'
confronts the ruling elites and DPP supporters. ..."

"However, the fact that junior legislators dare to collectively
speak out against high-ranking DPP officials shows that the party
still has vitality in terms of democracy. ...

"... If high-ranking DPP officials, such as President Chen
Shui-bian, would be willing to hand over power, share their power
with others, and listen to peoples' voices, that would be the key to
enable the DPP to walk away from the [party's] low-popularity.

D) "Abandon A-bian and Protect the Party: the DPP Must Appoint
Another Character to Speak for the Party."

The pro-unification "United Daily News" [circulation: 400,000] said
in its editorial (3/31):

"... No matter through a party reform conference or an interim party
assembly, the DPP must democratically re-construct its policy
statements and ethics. The DPP must also appoint other political
figures to promote its policy as well as ethics in order to reveal
to the public that Chen Shui-bian is Chen Shui-bian, and the DPP is
the DPP. ..."

E) "DPP Can Revise Only by Leadership"

The pro-independence, English-language "Taiwan News" [circulation:
20,000] opined in an editorial (3/31):

"... In the wake of these events, the process of party affairs and
organization re-examination and reform promised by DPP Chairman Yu
Shyi-kun in his January campaign for the party chairmanship post can
no longer be delayed. ...

"We strongly urge that party leaders and factions do not fall into
the temptation of using this process to 'settle accounts' or to make
displays of political purity or treating it as a platform for
jockeying for position in the run-up tit e year-end Taipei and
Kaohsiung mayoral polls or the upcoming legislative or presidential
elections. ..."

YOUNG