More than a year ago, following it was reported that legislator Huang Guoshu was recruited as an “informant” by the government’s intelligence and governance unit during his university days to investigate non-Party movements and dissident students, he issued a letter of resignation expressing deep guilt. The party statement admitted that he had been “forced to assist” the political investigation work of the intelligence and governance unit. From now on, he will withdraw from the DPP and the operation of the party group, and will not seek re-election following the expiration of the current term. However, on the eve of the nomination of the legislators, many Taichung civil society organizations brought thousands of joint signatures, calling for Huang Guoshu to “help the DPP to keep this legislator”. The party won the election, “I am willing to play any role.”
It is said that the DPP is now in a “dilemma” regarding whether to let Huang Guoshu, but the more “dilemma”, the more it means that the value of this matter is confused, and the damage to the DPP is getting bigger and bigger.
First, if Huang Guoshu wanted to be elected as a legislator, why did he publicly announce his withdrawal from the DPP and the new trend, and publicly declared that he would not seek re-election? Are the reasons for the “Three Quits” at the beginning no longer exist? If there is no change in the objective environment, but agreeing to let Huang Guoshu continue to run in the election, it is tantamount to telling the outside world: nothing is important to the DPP, and only winning the election is the only value. The so-called “transitional justice” is not in the hands of the green camp. in the value sequence of the buyer.
Second, when Huang Guoshu talked regarding his “informant” past, he has repeatedly emphasized that he was “forced” and he also spoke for those under surveillance many times; because he had sincerely repented of this history and declared that He will no longer be re-elected, and the outside world will not pay attention to his remarks. If he really wants to renege on his promise and run for election at this moment, then he has to explain once more: what is “forced”? Did you receive any money at that time? What did you do once more? Did the intelligence and governance unit ask you to be an informant because they want you to speak well for dissidents? When everything regarding Huang Guoshu has to be re-examined, even if the DPP doesn’t get to the bottom of it, his opponents in the election campaign will not let him go.
Third, the 6th constituency of Taichung City (Taichung West, Central, East and South Districts) to which Huang Guoshu belongs belongs to the old city of Taichung. In addition to winning the next legislator with momentum, almost all the legislators in this district are in the pockets of the green camp. Huang Guoshu has served as a city councilor for 5 terms and a legislator for 3 terms. Why is it surprising that the polls are high? Taking Huang Guoshu’s high opinion polls at this stage as the most important reason for nominating (comity) him for the election, such a DPP is too unambitious. In the Nantou Legislative Committee by-election last week, the DPP evened the gap of 15% behind Lin Mingqin, advanced, and finally reversed in just one month. This is enough to prove that a highly controversial incumbent has a high opinion poll. .
In the past seven years, Tsai Ing-wen’s political performance has not been bad, but the “transitional justice” project has not satisfied supporters. Now if the DPP breaks its promise to continue to nominate (comity) Huang Guoshu for the election, it will force the DPP to look directly at the following issues during the presidential election campaign: “Can the rake be ignored because of his current good performance?”, “It used to be the KMT Can informants represent the Democratic Progressive Party in the election?” “It doesn’t matter whether it’s for the sake of winning the election or not.” The DPP thinks that this is just a victory or defeat of one regional legislator, but in fact, this incident is a torture of Lai Qingde’s concept of transformational justice, and the impact will not be limited to this one legislator.
Huang Guoshu works diligently and has been working in the Education and Culture Committee of the Legislative Yuan for a long time. His performance as a legislator is indeed above the standard. After the online civil incident broke out, he wrote on Facebook: “Since I entered politics, I have worked hard and redoubled my efforts; but this cannot and should not offset the mistakes of the past. As I grow up and devote myself to public affairs, I learn more and realize I should take responsibility for the injustice and harm I have done as a tool of the party-state in the past.” “As for the future, I have only obligations and no rights in public affairs; Maybe that’s all I can give back, and time will tell.”
This is indeed Huang Guoshu’s best life plan following this informant incident broke out following more than 20 years of public service. The DPP should respect his choice, and Huang Guoshu and those in charge of the DPP should not make mistakes.
※The author is the chief editor of “Shangbao”