Former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday denounced the government for enforcing tight security measures for the visit of China’s Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS) Chairman Chen Yunlin (陳雲林), and said he would join today’s rally regardless of death threats against him.
Chen Shui-bian also condemned Chen Yunlin, labeling him a communist bandit and a “rebel,” and told supporters they would be within their rights to arrest him when he visited.
Speaking at a lunch gathering with Rotary Club members in Taipei, the former president lashed out at the government for enforcing a “curfew” to protect Chen Yunlin during his visit.
He also reiterated his determination to join today’s rally, despite the Democratic Progressive Party receiving a letter on Thursday threatening to shoot him.
“I am not afraid of the more than 1,300 missiles China has pointing at Taiwan. Why would I be intimidated by one bullet?” he said.
Later, during a question-and-answer session in the legislature, Chinese Nationalist Party Legislator Lee Yi-ting (李乙廷), Lee told Premier Liu Chao-shiuan (劉兆玄) that the former president was guilty of inciting the public to assault Chen Yunlin and the judiciary should gather evidence on the matter.
Meanwhile, National Police Agency Director-General Wang Cho-chiun (王卓鈞) yesterday said that the police were ready to protect Chen Shui-bian at today’s rally.
Wang said that police had received tips on threats against the lives of Chen Shui-bian and Ma. The police might carry out raids prior to the rally, he said, adding that 4,966 officers will police the protest.
The Chinese-language United Daily News reported yesterday that Banciao prosecutors restricted the movements of Taiwan Party Chairman Huang Shui-mu (黃水木) after he allegedly offered NT$10 million (US$312,500) and weapons to anyone who would eliminate people willing to “sell out Taiwan.”
Police found the message on the Internet and summoned Huang for questioning, where he said he had nothing to do with the post as he did not know how to use a computer.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY FLORA WANG AND JIMMY CHUANG
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