Some 300,000 people launched a massive protest rally outside the
office compound of Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian since 2:00 pm
Saturday, demanding an thorough investigation into the shooting of
Chen that is widely believed to have swung the election in the
favor of him.
The protest was initiated by the ally of the Kuomintang (KMT)
and the People First Party (PFP), who have jointly raced against
the Democratic Progressive Party during the election in Taiwan last
month.
At around 4:00 pm, KMT Chairman Lien Chan, and PFP Chairman
James C.Y. Soong came to the protest scene and made speeches.
"To seize power by using unfair and unjust means will never be
accepted," Lien Chan said. "All the dirty tricks should be clearly
exposed to all."
Again Lien Chan and James C.Y. Soong urged the leader of the
Taiwan authorities to set up as soon as possible an independent
task force to investigate the shooting case, and publicize the
truth of the shooting.
To their appeal, Chen has not yet made any response.
The police have deployed layers of wire to stop the protesters,
some of whom even raged into collision with the police.
The protesters are still confronting the police by press time.
In another development Saturday morning, the lawyer group for
the KMT-PFP ally staged a press conference, declaring that the
election of the Taiwan leader has not yet concluded in terms of
legal integrity.
The lawyer group declared that the election result announced by
the "election committee" still faces challenge before the two
appeals that "the election is invalid" and "Chen's election is
invalid," proposed by Lien Chan and James C.Y. Soong, go through
the legal affirmation.
According to the lawyers, the election involved two many
suspected tricks and the election result shows democracy has been
distorted.
What Taiwan people strive for is quality democracy, not merely
casting the ballots, said the lawyers, adding that the people
should not be manipulated, and only fairness can make the disputes
in Taiwan conciliated.
(Xinhua News Agency April 11, 2004)
