From: Tom Gray <tgray@igc.apc.org>
Newsgroups: soc.culture.taiwan
Date: 08 Jan 93 15:04 PST
Subject: IPS: Democracy Comes of Age
Nf-ID: #N:cdp:1474900027:000:5501
Nf-From: cdp.UUCP!tgray    Jan  8 15:04:00 1993


/* Written 12:03 am  Dec 24, 1992 by newsdesk@igc.apc.org in igc:ips.englibrary */
VCopyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Area: Africa, west
Title: ASIA: In South Korea and Taiwan, democracy comes of age


an inter press service feature

by rajiv chandra

taipei, dec 21 (ips) -- results from elections in taiwan and
south korea over the weekend have shown that it is possible for
asia's newly-industrialised nations to move smoothly from
military dictatorship to multi-party democracy without hurting
economic growth.

taiwan's elections friday were the first fully-democratic
polls to its legislature, and south korea on saturday elected
its first civilian president in 30 years.

after curbing individual political freedoms to ensure high
export-led economic growth with heavy government intervention,
the two countries look confident enough now with their economic
miracles to loosen up politically.

''korea and taiwan both demonstrate how democracy has brought
consensus not division,'' says hong kong-based analyst philip
bowring. ''the evidence is that democratic politics is promoting
cohesion and consensus.''

the taiwanese voted for an embarrassing setback to the ruling
kuomintang (kmt) and its 'unified china' principle and ushered
in a new era of two-party politics in the island.

the democratic progress party (dpp) remains stridently in
favour of independence from mainland china, and it more than
doubled it seats in the 161 legislative yuan to 50.

for the first time in taiwan's transition from authoritatiran
politics to democracy, 72 percent of the 13 million voters cast
their ballots. the highest-ever voter turnout was the outcome of
a vigorous election campaign dominated by local issues and anger
over vote-buying and other malpractices.

''local issues were translated into 'us-versus-the-
mainlanders','' said one taiwanese election observer. ''there
was a lot of anger and hostility because of the scandals. so the
voters blamed the intruders.''

the outcome will redefine taiwan's power balance within the
island and across the formosa strait with china. the election
sharpened taiwanese resentment against the mainland dominance,
ushering new confrontation in a polarised legislature.

businessmen who for the first time dabbled in politics amidst
the kmt's disarray will command about 30 seats in the new house.
the involvement of money in politics made taiwan's elections the
most expensive ever and raised worries that tycoon legislators
will deepen the influence of big money in taiwanese politics.
(more/ips)

asia: in south korea (2)

the factionalised kmt is expected to face more defiant
members who are disillusioned with party corruption and its
long-standing commitment to reunify china.

''this kind of struggle could become a big problem,'' said
bertrand tsai, a political scientist from national taiwan
university. ''the problem within the ruling party will affect
and could even jeopardise the future of taiwan.''

taiwan's new political climate will test the future of
premier hau pei-tsun, a mainland politician whom the opposition
and kmt liberals say should resign.

hau, an adamant anti-independence politician could be forced
out after three years if president lee tung-hui, a taiwanese
who has skilfully balanced various factions of the kmt, comes
under pressure from growing party calls for a separate taiwan.

but two popular former government officials who resigned from
office to run for election without party endorsement and are
believed to be close to premier hau, were the biggest vote-
gatherers in the polls and some kmt liberals were defeated.

in korea, when veteran pro-democracy fighter kim young-sam
takes office in february he will become the first south
korean president in 30 years who is not a general.

''we have finally created a truly civilian-led government in
our country. this is a victory not only for me but for the
people who yearned for change and reforms,'' kim told a victory
rally over the weekend in seoul.

despite his victory, it was a poignant moment for south
korea's dissidents who fought for democracy, particularly for
the losing candidate, kim dae-jung, who was imprisoned and
exiled by former military rulers.

kim dae jung challenged and nearly beat ex-dictator gen park
chung hee in elections in 1971, survived an assassination
attempt and was imprisoned in 1980, provoking the bloody
uprising in kwangju -- a milestone in the road to democracy.

kim dae-jung has tried three times to be president, and lost.
a majority of south koreans seem to seek stability and the
middle ground. they may not think kim young-sam is up to the
job, but are willing to give him the chance.

the new democracy in korea (an in less measure in taiwan)
are still not about issues and ideology, but analysts
conclude that the interaction of various interest groups and
the consensus- building needed to govern is a positive
development. (end/ips/rp/rc/kd/92)
item closed
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Tom Gray (tgray@igc.apc.org)

Newsgroups: soc.culture.taiwan