200000 Taiwanese take to streets for Chen Shui-bian rally
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http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/229453/1/.html
TAIPEI : Some 200,000 people protested in the streets here Saturday to demand the resignation of President Chen Shui-bian and an end to months of corruption scandals that have left Taiwan in turmoil.
Demonstrators, most wearing red to express their anger, gave the thumbs-down sign as they marched through downtown Taipei, yelling the embattled president's nickname as they chanted "Ah-Bian, step down!" and "Ah-Bian sucks".
"Today is a historic moment as not only all the people in Taiwan but also people from elsewhere in the world are witnessing this event," said veteran pro-democracy campaigner and protest organiser Shih Ming-teh.
"What the country really needs is a leader who can do something good for the people rather than one who hides in the presidential office despite so many corruption cases," said Shih, a former ally of the embattled president.
Shih, who once served as head of Chen's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), has collected more than one million signatures in a petition to force him out and vowed a round-the-clock sit-in outside Chen's office until he resigns.
"Our protest will never cease as long as he continues to stay in office," Shih said.
On the eve of the rally, Shih said he was expecting 300,000 people to throng the streets of Taipei.
Organisers on Saturday put turnout at some 200,000, while police declined to provide attendance figures.
"Ah-Bian has failed to give a convincing explanation regarding the several corruption cases," said one demonstrator, Chou Yi-chu, on hand as the rally was beginning with his wife and three-month-old daughter.
"People live a harder life than before" Chen came to power in 2000, Chou said. "In order to give a new hope for our children, he must step down."
Taipei teacher Huang Pei-fang told AFP: "As a teacher, I want my students to tell right from wrong, and Chen would set an example if he steps down."
But despite the huge rally, Chen - who has repeatedly denied all wrongdoing and vowed to finish out his term - refused to bow to the pressure.
"I was elected by the people...Asking me to step down without a justifiable reason is against the principles of democracy," Chen told hundreds of supporters in southern Tainan county, a traditional DPP stronghold.
The Taiwan leader's troubles started in May after his son-in-law Chao Chien-ming was detained and later indicted on suspicion of insider trading and taking bribes. Chen has publicly apologised for Chao's actions.
Prosecutors then began looking at whether Chen had misused funds intended for national affairs, and questioned him last month.
Reports in the Taiwanese media have alleged that prosecutors found only half of the funds for which Chen's office had declared receipts and suspected that some of the money might have been used illegally.
In June, he survived an unprecedented vote in parliament to push him out of office, which failed to receive the backing of two-thirds of all lawmakers.
If passed, it would have triggered a national referendum on Chen's future.
His wife Wu Shu-chen is under investigation for allegedly accepting department store gift certificates in exchange for lobbying efforts.
But despite a petition signed by more than one million people and 100 million Taiwan dollars (three million US) in financial backing, Shih's campaign is not expected to push the embattled leader from office, analysts say.
Organisers had feared that torrential rains would lessen the impact of Saturday's rally and drive down turnout, but a hot sun beat down on Taipei as protesters flooded the streets.
Up to 4,600 riot police were on hand to prevent any violence and some 600 barbed-wire barricades were set up, according to Wang Yung-hui, deputy chief of the Taipei police department.
On Friday some 2,000 Chen supporters, joined by DPP chairman Yu Shyi-kun, rallied outside his office while several pro-Chen rallies were held in southern Taiwan ahead of Saturday's protest.
Taiwan, which split from mainland China in 1949 and is regarded by Beijing as a renegade province, had been governed exclusively for more than half a century by the nationalist Kuomintang (KMT) until Chen was elected in 2000.
The independence-minded leader narrowly won re-election in 2004 for a second and final term. - AFP/ch -
so happening
u wun see this in singapore. -
I'm watching some Taiwanese cable channel which put the event live, quite emotional, most ppl there go on rally in spite of heavy down pour in evening and afternoon heat sun. the high turn out of ppl which without political parties motivation really indicates Taiwanese pplÂ’s frustration on ChenÂ’s multiple scandals.
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supposed to be 1 million people but only 200k turn up?
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i love taiwan !!
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That 1 million figure refers to the number of ppl have donated 100 Taiwanese dollar each to the campaign of “DAO BIAN” ( A-Bian down” ), the organizer only estimated 10000 ppl turnout initiallybecause of the bad weather, however, the weather seems not deter the ppl show on the street.Originally posted by nightzip:supposed to be 1 million people but only 200k turn up? -
Ah Bian xia tai.....
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So is it really 200.000 people? Because AP writes 'tens of thousands'.
Not that it doesnt matter, because it will mean different things, it will show how widespread or how great the pressure is really there. -
its only a matter of time b4 ah bian xia tai..
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If you attend any protests, your CPF will be forfeited, medisave benefits suspended, and CCA points deducted.Originally posted by FireIce:so happening
u wun see this in singapore. -
200000 is 20 multiplied by 10 by 1000.Originally posted by #$%^&*:So is it really 200.000 people? Because AP writes 'tens of thousands'.
Not that it doesnt matter, because it will mean different things, it will show how widespread or how great the pressure is really there. -
The country may not even last 4ever,needless 2 siad a party lah.
Anything happened in TW can be repeated here if our gov is corrupted!!!
The first day protest has attracted 300,000 ppls in TW which is w/in the expection of the org. On 15/9/06,it is expected 500,000 ppls 2 rounded the palace in TW.
Wishing all the best 2 TW and its ppls!!! -
Chen Shui-bian would never resign, even if all of Taiwan were against him staying in power. He'll just cling on to power, and the country would just go to seed as a result. It'll take a lot of effort to reverse all the damage he's done during his tenure as President.
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All the best to them, I hope Chen sees the light and resigns.
This is a good example of peaceful civil action. Something the bogeyman is always directed at.. -
Then heÂ’s hijacking his own party, which will no doubt pay dearly in the future election for Chen S.BÂ’s wrongdoings. Chen.S.B wonÂ’t have re-election burden however his party has.Originally posted by dakkon_blackblade:Chen Shui-bian would never resign, even if all of Taiwan were against him staying in power. He'll just cling on to power, and the country would just go to seed as a result. It'll take a lot of effort to reverse all the damage he's done during his tenure as President. -
The thing is he can't step down because he will be in great trouble if he does. Alot of people will come to settle scores with him if he lost his power.Originally posted by LazerLordz:All the best to them, I hope Chen sees the light and resigns.
This is a good example of peaceful civil action. Something the bogeyman is always directed at.. -
Ah bian wont resign willingly... he will keep hollowing out the national treasury till election 2007/2008
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Justice will prevail at a later date!!!Originally posted by DriftingGuy:Ah bian wont resign willingly... he will keep hollowing out the national treasury till election 2007/2008
Ah bian will not be able 2 take any national treasury now for a lot of eyes are on him oreli. he will be forced to resign n exiled from TW 2 an African country. -
the people in taiwan may not have the 'non-corrupt' government, but they can get to express themselves collectively. ROC may not belong to the first world country, but their society is matured and resiliant to accommodate different kinds of view.Originally posted by FireIce:so happening
u wun see this in singapore.
singapore and the PAP government has a long long way to go, this is part of the singapore identity or the uniquely singapore brand.
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at least now...Originally posted by FireIce:so happening
u wun see this in singapore. -
end of this year , there's a mayorship election for kaoshung and taipei ,
pan blue controlled taipei ( mayor ma )
pan green kaoshung
this year , i am not surprised if pan blue takes back this 2 cities due to ah bian's refusal to stepdown .
pan green might even lost the 2007 elections if ah bian refuses to step down .
same goes for the 2008 presidential election . -
Very touching on the news i m watchg on cable tv!!!Originally posted by Taiwanpolitics:end of this year , there's a mayorship election for kaoshung and taipei ,
pan blue controlled taipei ( mayor ma )
pan green kaoshung
this year , i am not surprised if pan blue takes back this 2 cities due to ah bian's refusal to stepdown .
pan green might even lost the 2007 elections if ah bian refuses to step down .
same goes for the 2008 presidential election .
Being a NS man when i was in TW, i m wishing TW all the best n hoping we will be there 2 help!!!
If there is anyone who wish 2 arrange travelling 2 Taipei joing this protest, I will join in w/o hesitation. -
Yes!!!Originally posted by monoslayer:its only a matter of time b4 ah bian xia tai..
Ah bian xia tai!!!!
PRC taking over TW.
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Including S'pore!!!! -
Ppls decide the gov not the other way round!!!
Sg gov