Two days ahead of a vote in the legislature on whether he should be recalled, President Chen Shui-bian (
"Taiwan is a nascent democracy. Like most young democratic countries, we have run into many difficulties in the process of transforming from an authoritarian regime to a democracy," he said.
Chen said the nation's obstacles included resistance in the legislature, media and intelligence agencies.
PHOTO: CNA
Chen said that because Taiwan was not a normal country, he was an easy target for opposition parties to blame.
"But when I think of the 23 million people of Taiwan, I simply cannot give up. I must go on," he said. "For the sake of the country, its democracy, the sustainable development of the economy, cross-strait stability and social justice, I am willing to pay the price, bear the cross of persecution and even sacrifice myself."
Chen made the remarks yesterday morning while visiting the Huei-an Temple in his hometown in Tainan County.
He stopped at two temples yesterday, and visited his mother.
Chen told his supporters at Huei-an Temple that the temple trips arranged for Saturday and yesterday were to pray for the well-being of the 23 million people of Taiwan, and not for himself.
Especially with typhoon season approaching, Chen said that he prayed that everybody would be safe.
Since the change of government six years ago, he said, his political opponents have been trying to do everything they can to unseat him, including a recall proposal six months into his presidency. Fortunately, he weathered the political crisis and was re-elected in 2004 despite an assassination attempt.
"My life continues through Heaven's mercy. It does not belong to myself or any member of my family," he said. "I know democracy is not an easy road, but for the sake of freedom, human rights and peace, I will be strong and brave to lead the 23 million people of Taiwan to continue down the democratic road."
Chen said that the fate of Taiwanese people had been marred by hardship, but for a better future of the homeland and people, everybody has been willing to bear the burden, and so was he.
"I come from a poor family and I have always had to work extra hard to get what I want. I am a hanjigia [蕃薯仔, Hoklo for "son of the sweet potato," or "native son"] like everybody else. Please continue to support me and I promise I will not let you down," he said.
The legislature is set to vote on the recall motion tomorrow.
The motion is considered unlikely to pass, given the high threshold required -- it must win two-thirds support in the legislature before a nationwide referendum can be held.
A new political atmosphere is likely to emerge after tomorrow's legislative vote as Chen has proposed to push for political consultations with the opposition and talks with China after the vote on his recall.
Vice President Annette Lu (
Democratic Progressive Party Chairman Yu Shyi-kun also said he was planning to visit the leaders of the two main opposition parties after the legislative vote.
Hong Kong singer Andy Lau’s (劉德華) concert in Taipei tonight has been cancelled due to Typhoon Kong-rei and is to be held at noon on Saturday instead, the concert organizer SuperDome said in a statement this afternoon. Tonight’s concert at Taipei Arena was to be the first of four consecutive nightly performances by Lau in Taipei, but it was called off at the request of Taipei Metro, the operator of the venue, due to the weather, said the organizer. Taipei Metro said the concert was cancelled out of consideration for the audience’s safety. The decision disappointed a number of Lau’s fans who had
A tropical depression east of the Philippines became a tropical storm early yesterday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said, less than a week after a typhoon barreled across the nation. The agency issued an advisory at 3:30am stating that the 22nd tropical storm, named Yinxing, of the Pacific typhoon season formed at 2am. As of 8am, the storm was 1,730km southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, with a 100km radius. It was moving west-northwest at 32kph, with maximum sustained winds of 83kph and gusts of up to 108kph. Based on its current path, the storm is not expected to hit Taiwan, CWA
Commuters in Taipei picked their way through debris and navigated disrupted transit schedules this morning on their way to work and school, as the city was still working to clear the streets in the aftermath of Typhoon Kong-rey. By 11pm yesterday, there were estimated 2,000 trees down in the city, as well as 390 reports of infrastructure damage, 318 reports of building damage and 307 reports of fallen signs, the Taipei Public Works Department said. Workers were mobilized late last night to clear the debris as soon as possible, the department said. However, as of this morning, many people were leaving messages
A Canadian dental assistant was recently indicted by prosecutors after she was caught in August trying to smuggle 32kg of marijuana into Taiwan, the Aviation Police Bureau said on Wednesday. The 30-year-old was arrested on Aug. 4 after arriving on a flight to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, Chang Tsung-lung (張驄瀧), a squad chief in the Aviation Police Bureau’s Criminal Investigation Division, told reporters. Customs officials noticed irregularities when the woman’s two suitcases passed through X-ray baggage scanners, Chang said. Upon searching them, officers discovered 32.61kg of marijuana, which local media outlets estimated to have a market value of more than NT$50 million (US$1.56
RSS