Voicing concern over the pan-blue camp's mass demonstration today, Premier Yu Shyi-kun yesterday called on people to remain rational, while cautioning organizers to keep control of the event.
Yu also met with Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (
"We would like to urge the demonstration's organizers not to let [today] become a nightmare for Taiwan's democracy," Yu said at a press conference yesterday, referring to the mass demonstration slated to be held today in front of the Presidential Office by the opposition Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT)-People First Party (PFP) alliance.
Entitled "sustain justice, salvage democracy and we want the truth" (拚公道, 救民主, 要真相), the demonstration could draw over half a million people. At the rally, the pan-blues will appeal for a recount and the assembly of a special task force to examine President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) gunshot wound.
A number of pan-blue legislators had warned that they would carry out a "big action" at the event today, going as far as "sacrificing their lives." Alliance Spokesman Pang Chien-kuo (龐建國) yesterday confirmed that there are pan-blue legislators who have already penned a final letter to their friends and relatives.
In view of the conflict which took place at the Central Election Commission (CEE) yesterday, where scores of demonstrators scuffled with police and hurled bricks at the office of the commission protesting against the official announcement of Chen as the president-elect, Yu said that he can't help but feel pessimistic about the pan-blue camp's planned demonstration today.
"I'd like to hereby call on KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) and PFP Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) to stop before it is too late," said Yu. "Please keep in mind that your actions will have a prominent effect on Taiwan's democracy, ethnic harmony and international image."
Yu also called on the general public to condemn violence and remain rational.
Cabinet Spokesman Lin Chia-lung (
Pointing out some of the phrases used by pan-blue supporters, such as "besieging" and "taking over" the Presidential Office, Lin noted that some individuals might be interested in deliberately stirring up trouble at the event.
"In fact, there has already been some intelligence that said gangsters or other unspecified individuals will provoke conflict at eh event tomorrow," said Lin, adding that some pan-blue legislators have threatened to drive a bulldozer into the Presidential Office.
PFP Legislator Liu Wen-hsiung (
"The government is poised to take all necessary measures. Legislators of the opposition parties ought not to join in committing illegal acts," Lin said.
Noting that the Taipei City Government is the one which has permitted the large-scale gathering, Lin stressed that Ma shoulders the responsibility for making sure the event concludes peacefully.
"While the Cabinet will assist the Taipei City Government, in the meantime we hope that Ma will be well-prepared to make sure that everyone attending the rally will go home safely and soundly," said Lin.
KMT Spokesman Justin Chou (
Chou added that a 5-meter-tall crying Statue of Liberty will also be erected at the event to illustrate the alliance's appeal.
The demonstration is scheduled to take place from 2pm to 5pm today.
In addition to Lien and Soong, New Party Chairman Yok Mu-ming (
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫), spokeswoman Yang Chih-yu (楊智伃) and Legislator Hsieh Lung-chieh (謝龍介) would be summoned by police for questioning for leading an illegal assembly on Thursday evening last week, Minister of the Interior Liu Shyh-fang (劉世芳) said today. The three KMT officials led an assembly outside the Taipei City Prosecutors’ Office, a restricted area where public assembly is not allowed, protesting the questioning of several KMT staff and searches of KMT headquarters and offices in a recall petition forgery case. Chu, Yang and Hsieh are all suspected of contravening the Assembly and Parade Act (集會遊行法) by holding
PRAISE: Japanese visitor Takashi Kubota said the Taiwanese temple architecture images showcased in the AI Art Gallery were the most impressive displays he saw Taiwan does not have an official pavilion at the World Expo in Osaka, Japan, because of its diplomatic predicament, but the government-backed Tech World pavilion is drawing interest with its unique recreations of works by Taiwanese artists. The pavilion features an artificial intelligence (AI)-based art gallery showcasing works of famous Taiwanese artists from the Japanese colonial period using innovative technologies. Among its main simulated displays are Eastern gouache paintings by Chen Chin (陳進), Lin Yu-shan (林玉山) and Kuo Hsueh-hu (郭雪湖), who were the three young Taiwanese painters selected for the East Asian Painting exhibition in 1927. Gouache is a water-based
Taiwan would welcome the return of Honduras as a diplomatic ally if its next president decides to make such a move, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said yesterday. “Of course, we would welcome Honduras if they want to restore diplomatic ties with Taiwan after their elections,” Lin said at a meeting of the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, when asked to comment on statements made by two of the three Honduran presidential candidates during the presidential campaign in the Central American country. Taiwan is paying close attention to the region as a whole in the wake of a
OFF-TARGET: More than 30,000 participants were expected to take part in the Games next month, but only 6,550 foreign and 19,400 Taiwanese athletes have registered Taipei city councilors yesterday blasted the organizers of next month’s World Masters Games over sudden timetable and venue changes, which they said have caused thousands of participants to back out of the international sporting event, among other organizational issues. They also cited visa delays and political interference by China as reasons many foreign athletes are requesting refunds for the event, to be held from May 17 to 30. Jointly organized by the Taipei and New Taipei City governments, the games have been rocked by numerous controversies since preparations began in 2020. Taipei City Councilor Lin Yen-feng (林延鳳) said yesterday that new measures by
RSS