Based on the election law, the National Election Commission has made an order recently to shutdown and to suspend any further supporting activities of the private organizations connected with specific presidential candidates. Although some of the organizations might have righteous indignation against the decision, we believe the NEC made the right decision since the election law specifically prohibits the "formation of any private organization existing for specific candidates."

Existence of the strict election law is to prevent those organizations from becoming another route to spend illegal funds other than regulated amounts of the fund to continue the presidential race, creating corruption and illegal activities. However, those kinds of private organizations under names of some research institutions or hiking clubs have been created in every election before, and they actually brought out many votes for particular candidates.

People should know the development of the speedy Internet and transitions in election cultures have redefined roles and activities of the private organizations, and actually there exist some private organizations very similar to "Fan Clubs," voluntarily and clearly operating support events for some candidates, differing from previous ones.

Many controversies and debates have been going on regarding the acceptance of this kind of new trend, while abiding by the election law. However, the National Assembly did not make a clear decision on this prior to the coming election, still defining all of them illegal. Considering that, we believe not only those supporters in the private organizations, ignoring the regulations, but also lawmakers are responsible for the NEC's decision, since the lawmakers did not amend the election law to distinguish a few good organizations.

No matter what motivations they have, everyone should strictly abide by the election law to make a fair and clear election while preventing any further confrontation and trouble. November 21, 2002