20040325
=======
Lien-Soong’s chaos on March 25, 2004 ……
Chen offers to meet Lien, Soong
RECONCILIATION EFFORT: The president extended an olive branch to the KMT and PFP chairmen, but the opposition leaders said Chen had set preconditions that were
By Lin Chieh-yu, STAFF REPORTER , WITH REUTERS
President Chen Shui-bian sought to show his goodwill yesterday, saying he is willing to meet Chinese Nationalist Party Chairman Lien Chan and People First Party Chairman James Soong and to form a task force to bring about ethnic harmony.
Chen's offer was immediately rejected by the blue-camp leaders.
"My last battle has been fought," Chen told 11 leaders of social groups at the Presidential Office. "I am the president of all 23 million Taiwanese people, not just those 6.47 million voters [who voted for me], so I am going to listen to all kinds of voices, especially to those who opposed me."
"Mr. Lien and Mr. Soong suggested having a meeting with me, which is what I expected, and I have heard those criticisms from my respected opponents," Chen said.
"I would like to exchange points of view with them and discuss how to rule the country, as well as how to ease ethnic conflicts," he said.
Chen also urged the opposition chairmen to call off demonstrations in front of the Presidential Office, saying this would provide a reasonable atmosphere for their meeting.
Chen and Vice President Annette Lu met with opinion leaders at the Presidential Office yesterday to seek advice on resolving the election dispute.
Chen's guests said they hoped the president could put aside ideology and tolerate the emotional reaction of the demonstrators. They called on Chen to work toward ending ethnic conflict.
Chen said he would deal with the demonstrators peacefully and said the major effect of the election was to remind him to review mistakes.
"My escaping death has changed my view of life. I fully realize my duty for the next four years," he said.
Chen said he will follow Academia Sinica President Lee Yuan-tseh's advice to address ethnic conflicts in his second term.
The social leaders meeting with the president said they expected him to work toward a recount to dispel the concerns of opposition supporters.
"The dignity of the justice system must be defended. Therefore, we urge both sides to respect the justice system in adjudicating the election dispute and to accept the result," said C. V. Chen, president of the Red Cross Society of the ROC.
C. V. Chen said the president must still do his best to realize a speedy recount.
Michael Hsiao, an Academia Sinica sociologist and national policy adviser to the president, said that while the government must tolerate demonstrators, Chen Shui-bian should respect his supporters' feelings, adding they have been denied the opportunity to celebrate his victory to avoid provoking the opposition.
Chiu Hei-yuan, a political observer and sociology professor at National Taiwan University, and Chai Sung-lin, chief executive of the Society Improvement Foundation, said ethnic conflicts have gradually been reduced over the generations, but that elections always agitate the issue.
"Our society does have ethnic conflict, which no one can ignore. We suggest the president set up a task force for ethnic harmony," Chiu said.
The opposition alliance turned down Chen Shui-bian's offer last night, rejecting a condition that opposition protesters must disperse.
"His preconditions are not reasonable. What we request is for him to speak to us personally," Soong said on the sidelines of a news conference.
President Chen Shui-bian, right, shakes hands with Chai Sung-lin, chief executive of the Society Improvement Foundation, and other opinion leaders at the Presidential Office yesterday. Chen was soliciting opinions on how to resolve the dispute over the presidential election.
-----------------------------------------
On March 25, 2004 ……
Hu sued over `repulsive' bin Laden advertisement
NO GOODWILL: An aide to the Taichung mayor said using an image of the Twin Towers being destroyed was a 'creative' way of criticizing President Chen Shui-bian
By Joy Su and Martin Williams, STAFF REPORTERS
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) officials have sued Taichung Mayor Jason Hu, demanding he be held accountable for the distribution of campaign literature which used an image of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist assault on New York City to attack President Chen Shui-bian.
Despite this criticism, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) officials yesterday continued to defend the campaign poster, describing the poster's inclusion of photographs of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein and al-Qaeda terror figurehead Osama bin Laden as "creative."
"We want people to know that Chen is dangerous, that his actions are those of terrorism," said Lin Poh-jung, convener of Hu's Taichung City KMT campaign headquarters.
Lin is also a former KMT Tai-chung mayor and a long-standing ally of Hu. Hu is a former foreign minister and one of the KMT's most promising candidates for top leadership roles.
"We chose to use the picture of Hussein because he unfairly controlled elections as the president of Iraq -- just like Chen Shui-bian," Lin said.
"In addition, bin Laden masterminded the attack on the World Trade Center ... Chen also likes to play games, pulling off tricks just like the Sept. 11 terrorist attack," Lin told the Taipei Times.
"The ad shows bin Laden saying `I am terrorist leader bin Laden, and I admire Taiwan's A-bian!'" he said, quoting the poster from memory.
On the poster, bold text also accuses Chen of "starting fires and inciting chaos wherever he goes."
The text is accompanied by a graphic of the collapse of one of the Twin Towers. A picture of Hussein holding a gun, saying "I am Hussein and you will all do as I say," figures prominently on the other side of the poster.
Around 600,000 copies of the poster were printed by the Tai-chung City KMT campaign headquarters 10 days before the election, Lin said.
"We had the foresight to think of using Hussein. We predicted that Chen would mess with the elections even before they happened," he said.
Lin said the poster had been produced by their publicity department, and that Hu, the director general of the campaign headquarters, had not participated in designing the ad.
But DPP campaign headquarters director general Chen Ta-chun said the party had launched legal action against Hu and that he was ultimately accountable for the material.
"Even if Hu says that he didn't have anything to do with the poster, he is still the director general of the campaign headquarters that designed it," Chen said.
While calling the comparison of Chen Shui-bian with Hussein and bin Laden "inappropriate and wrong," the offending element that prompted the DPP lawsuit was instead an illustration urging residents not to vote in the referendum.
Chen Ta-chun said he had filed a lawsuit on March 18 against Hu on charges of interfering with electoral procedures according to Article 147 of the Criminal Code. Chen said he had yet to be in touch with the court in relation to the matter.
REPULSIVE
Meanwhile, the use of Osama bin Laden, Sept. 11, Saddam Hussein and Adolf Hitler in pan-blue campaign materials angered a well-known missionary figure in Taipei.
Bishop Stephen Cambio, who works with underprivileged and single-parent families in Taipei City's Ta-an District, said the KMT-PFP advertisement was "repulsive."
"To take a man [bin Laden] of such atrocity and terror and then attach him to a person like Chen is absolutely repulsive," he said.
A clearly upset Cambio said that the KMT-PFP campaign material was deeply offensive to him as an American and a Christian, and as a person who had ties to people killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the US.
He said that non-partisan organizations like his were trying to unite Taiwanese people through mutual trust and respect as well as connect Taiwan with the rest of the world.
But, he said, "just to sit here and listen to this is unfathomable."
Cambio called on the person or persons responsible for the material to apologize, though he also said that the use of this material so soon after the KMT-PFP alliance apologized for using Hitler in a similar format pointed to an absence of sincerity and goodwill.
-----------------------------------------
On March 25, 2004 ……
Academics warn about unrest
"Our government and economy are
miracles that were paid for with the blood of many Taiwanese people." --- Chiu
Chui-liang, president of Taiwan Heart
DEVASTATING: The ongoing demonstrations by blue camp supporters in Taipei are harming Taiwan's image and could lead to bloodshed, academic representatives say
By Caroline Hong and Chang Yun-ping, STAFF REPORTERS
Representatives from various academic organizations and think tanks yesterday held a press conference in which they condemned the various accusations made by Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan and People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong after Saturday's election.
The press conference was called in an effort to balance out misconceptions in the foreign press about the situation in Taiwan.
The representatives called for an emergency decree to speed up a ballot recount, saying the matter was not only causing the Taiwanese people but also the international community to doubt the integrity of the Taiwanese government and electoral process.
Miracles
"Our government and economy are miracles that were paid for with the blood of many Taiwanese people," said Chiu Chui-liang, president of Taiwan Heart.
"The most unfortunate result of Lien and Soong's actions is that they are casting a shadow on Taiwan's democracy in the eyes of the Taiwanese people and our foreign friends," he said.
Intellectuals from Taiwan Heart, the Northern Taiwan Society, Central Taiwan Society, Southern Taiwan Society, Eastern Taiwan Society and the Taiwanese Professor's Association each repudiated Lien and Soong in turn, calling their accusations baseless.
In reply to the pan-blue camp's main suspicions about the electoral process, Holmes Liao, research fellow from the Taiwan Research Institution, said, "The high number of invalid votes can be explained by voter confusion about the recent change in ballot marking rules by the CEC and by the invalid vote movement. As to deceit by the CEC, I personally feel that there is no way there could have been fraud."
Bribery
Explaining that because of experience with election bribery from Taiwan's past, Liao stated that the CEC is one of the most knowledgeable organizations in the world about possible methods of ballot compromise, and thus was unlikely not to have spotted instances of fraud or to have committed such actions themselves. In support, Nancy Fleming, an American Taiwanese who had witnessed a polling station closing on Saturday, said, "It was very clean. I think that the Taiwanese should help run the next US election."
Liao, also a professor at National Defense University, also replied to the pan-blue camp's claim that the activation of the emergency response system on Friday night after the assassination attempt on President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Annette Lu was a ploy by the green camp to significantly affect the outcome of the election.
"It is pretty normal for about one-ninth of military personnel to be on call at all times during elections. The number of personnel on duty during this election was not significantly more than then in previous elections. There were many less than the 200,000 claimed by Lien and Soong," he said.
The speakers also countered the blue camp's doubts about the assassination attempt, reiterating that there was no way Chen could have mobilized and sworn to secrecy the hundreds of people, from hospital to security personnel, needed to rig such an event.
The academics yesterday also lambasted the pan-blue leaders' call for the government to issue an "emergency decree," saying the thousands of demonstrators in front of the presidential office do not qualify as a legitimate cause to declare a state of emergency in the country.
Emergency decree
Michael Tai, vice chairman of the Central Taiwan Society, yesterday said "even during the SARS outbreak last year [which had claimed some 80 lives in Taiwan], the government did not announce an emergency decree nor did the opposition parties asked the government to do so. Why did they make such a demand now when the circumstances of emergency seem less legitimate than an epidemic outbreak?"
Tai said it is understandable the pan-blue supporters gathered in front of the presidential office needed to let off steam and vent frustration because their ticket did not win the election, but the majority of Taiwanese people will not endure an indefinite demonstration which might later cause a counter-demonstration.
Limits
"Those supporting A-bian and believing in our legal system endure and suppress their anger for the time being by saying nothing, but this endurance will have its limit. If Lien and Soong continue to level unreasonable demands, the Taiwanese people's anger may boil over and could lead to a bloody encounter between the two camps," Tai said.
Tai pointed out a fist-fight broke out in the Taipei American School yesterday morning when students supporting the two different political camps brawled over the voting dispute.
Citing the school brawl as an example of growing social division, Tai urged the pan-blue leaders to stop further dividing society by manipulating the people to achieve their own political objectives.
Twu Shiing-jer, vice chairman of the National Health Research Institutes Forum and former minister of health, yesterday said Lien and Soong's vote-rigging accusations and suspicions over a fabricated assassination attempt on President Chen had offended the legal, medical and electoral authorities by discrediting them.
"How could doctors manufacture fake medical reports of Chen's wounds? The electoral workers, who mostly are school teachers and are known as more pro-blue, have also felt largely disgraced by having doubts cast on their objectivity. The blue camp would lose their supporters by instigating social unrest like this," Twu said.
He said Lien's intention to extend the demonstrations was aimed at preventing Taipei City Mayor Ma Ying-jeou from succeeding to the top of the KMT and to get more time to ensure his leadership of the party was unhurt.
"Lien is unwilling to relinquish his power to Ma and the younger generation of politicians of the KMT. By procrastinating in ending the unrest, Lien could cash in on the social chaos to consolidate his leadership in the party," Twu said.
-----------------------------------------
On March 25, 2004 ……
Poor losers tarnish nation
By Lee Boon Hong, Singapore
My heart sank when television broadcasts showed Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan leading the ballot count, one hour after voting closed. When it later emerged that President Chen Shui-bian had won, albeit by the narrowest of margins, I was heartened and happy ("Controversial victory for Chen," Mar 21, page 1). I felt excited for Chen, the Taiwanese people and the world in general. For the past four years, I had always been firm in my conviction that only Chen could safeguard the interests of Taiwan.
While I could empathize with Lien's resentment at having lost a second presidential election, I was dismayed at his declaration that the election was unfair and should be nullified.
Time indeed is no longer on the side of Lien and People First Party Chairman James Soong, who will be 72 and 66-years-old, respectively, in 2008. But I am perplexed that in their desire to assume the presidency, they have no reservations in casting a doubt over the democracy and integrity of the governmental organizations in Taiwan.
The entire world is sitting up and looking at the statements made by Lien and Soong. Is this how they display their so-called love for Taiwan?
Regardless of whether the pan-blue camp lost by 30,000 votes or 1 vote, the fact remains that they should respect the wishes of the majority of the voters. It should not matter even if some voters chose to vote for the pan-green camp as a result of the assassination attempt. In a democracy, every one should be respected for their choice of vote, regardless of the reason or factor.
The post-election actions of Lien and Soong would definitely have proven that both men are not suitable for the presidency. Instead of being magnanimous and gracefully accepting the fact that they are still not the choice of the majority of voters, both chose to adopt the behavior of a sore loser, out to create chaos for the country. It is ironical that Lien and Soong have called for their supporters to remain calm when it is clearly evident that their speech and actions are tailored to incite their supporters to create chaos and social unrest.
US vice president Al Gore was denied his legitimate victory in the 2000 election, even though he won the popular vote. But in Lien's case, it was clear he lost the popular vote. Yet he still shamelessly refuse to concede defeat.
The Taiwanese people have been fortunate not to have elected a man of such character to lead the nation.
Congratulations to Chen, the DPP and Taiwan in general -- a good man has indeed been elected. Sadly, the celebrations have been marred by two sore losers.
-----------------------------------------
On March 25, 2004 ……
The assassination attempt
By Jennifer Chen, Melbourne, Australia
The assassination attempt against Chen and Vice President Annette Lu was, ironically, a turning point for Taiwan. In the aftermath, the pan-blues threw their chance away by questioning the integrity of Chen and the pan-greens' campaign tactics -- all without regard for due evidence, logic, humanity and above all, respect for a democratically-elected president.
The assassination attempt was abominable to say the least. Yet the pan-blues did not seize the opportunity to show a righteous and empathetic side, for there clearly was none. In response, the electorate clearly revolted and justice has again been served. Regrettably, the melodramas continue to unfold from the pan-blues who simply refuse to respect the values of democracy.
In every democracy, the majority decision wins. Whether this is a system preferred by all is debatable, but under Taiwanese laws at least, Chen has been rightfully re-elected by the electorate regardless of how small the margin of victory. This salient fact is what everyone must come to accept and be at peace with.
On what should have been a day to celebrate Taiwan's slowly maturing democracy, the pan-blues' relentless antics marred even the re-election of the better and evidently more honorable candidate.
Instead of resorting to Oscar-quality performances, Lien and Soong should use legal channels to resolve the issue of the ballot recount -- as any responsible "leader" who claims to respect the laws that govern Taiwan would in the same position -- rather than seeking for the only acceptable election result by any means possible, including creating civil unrest in the country they claim to love.
The pan-blues should tread carefully to ensure their already-shaky existence -- for every step of the way, the Taiwanese electorate will be watching.
-----------------------------------------
On March 25, 2004 ……
At stake: democracy and rule of law
By Joseph Wu
The Central Election Commission (CEC) announced on the night of March 20 after all ballots were counted that President Chen Shui-bian won re-election. However, the pan-blue losers took to the streets with very serious accusations of irregularities. The intense demonstration on election night has continued without any end in sight.
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan, the bitter loser, charged that there was wide-spread vote-rigging and irregularities across the country without presenting any concrete evidence. This is a very serious accusation against the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), the party that has been fighting very hard to establish Taiwan as a model of democracy.
For anyone who knows about the well-established balloting procedures in this country, vote-rigging is only in the memory of the past KMT authoritarianism.
In the elections nowadays, after the polls close, the ballot boxes are opened and ballots counted openly in front of any interested citizen who wants to attend. In addition, it has become common for representatives from different political parties to conduct onsite supervision of the counting. In Saturday's election, the same procedures were followed. The ballot-counting process was as transparent as it could be and not a single problem was cited by any one.
The demand of the pan-blue camp has shifted since the night of March 20 when Lien proposed a "review" of the ballots. A few hours later, the attorneys representing the pan-blue camp sued the CEC to invalidate the election and demand the court seal all ballots. Then Lien wanted to have a recount, not just partial recount of the ballots from those polling stations that might have had "problems," but an overall recount.
The Taiwan High Court accepted the case, ordered all ballots to be sealed, was ready to examine the charges and go forward for a recount, even a total recount, if it was deemed it necessary after the hearings.
But because of a procedural error made by Lien, the court yesterday decided to throw out his case. Lien will have to decide whether to refile the lawsuit or seek another option.
But even before the court ruling, the demand of the pan-blues had become an administrative recount by the CEC, to bypass the possibly lengthy court-ordered recount process.
However, the law governing the presidential election does not provide the commission with such power and therefore a revision to the law is required to state specifically that the revision will apply to the already concluded election.
Chen agreed to such a measure on Tuesday and ordered the DPP legislative caucus to initiate such a proposal.
Since the sealed ballots have been in the custody of the court since Lien filed his case, he must withdraw his case so that the sealed ballots can be returned to the CEC for an administrative recount after the revision of the electoral law. This is a required due process.
To the amazement of the country, Lien rejected the proposal and ordered the KMT legislative caucus to boycott the proposal to revise the law. Lien then wanted Chen to declare a national emergency so that a recount could be done without a court ruling and other legal and legislative process.
People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong even issued an ultimatum demanding a meeting with Chen within 24 hours and a recount to begin in 48 hours.
The numerous shifts of Lien's demands make people suspect whether a fair and transparent legal procedure would satisfy him.
In an interview given to a prominent member of the international media, Lien went so far as to claim that "he would have difficulties in accepting the ruling of the court."
In another interview, he said that he would accept the result of the recount but he demanded a fresh election anyway. He also said that he could not control the crowd he brought to the Presidential Office square any more.
Meanwhile, an even larger demonstration has been planned by Lien for this Saturday. One PFP lawmaker proclaimed that the pan-blue side is staging a revolution and therefore it did not care about the laws of the land.
In the last few days, the most radical pan-blue politicians have taken the stage upon a sound truck in front of the Presidential Office building to make all kinds of outrageous but unsubstantiated allegations against Chen.
The pan-blue camp's actions, particularly through rounds of international press conferences, have confused the international community about the presidential election.
In turn, the pan-blue camp cites the lack of a congratulatory message from Washington to Chen as evidence that it has full backing from the US and the president's election is illegitimate, contrary to the fact that the CEC has made its official announcement in accordance with the law.
Taiwan had some problems after the 2000 presidential election when a blue-camp crowd blamed Soong's defeat on former president Lee Teng-hui and forced Lee to step down as KMT chairman. This time around, a similar situation is taking place, where the loser of the race is blaming his opponent and has unleashed his supporters onto the street. These two events will definitely cast a shadow over Taiwan's democratic consolidation in the long run.
For any young democracy to sustain and to flourish over time, the political elite's acceptance and their complete respect for the result of an election's results is the most fundamental rule of the game. A democracy should be run by the rule of law and political activities should be conducted through the due process of law, not overrun by demagogy and inflammatory but unsubstantiated allegations.
The loser in the election should learn how to bow out gracefully rather than turn sour.
Joseph Wu is deputy secretary-general to the president.
-----------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
On March 25, 2004 ……
Lien, Soong embarrass themselves, the nation
By Paul Lin
After drastic swings and sways, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) defeated the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and People First Party (PFP) by a tiny margin in the election, as predicted. This hard-fought election has continued down a tortuous road for the following reasons:
First, backed up by their majority of seats in the Legislative Yuan, the KMT and PFP have often deterred policies from being implemented, created commotion and thus misled the public by painting the administration as incompetent.
Second, since the DPP is in power for the first time, its administrative performance, of course, cannot meet all expectations. Some complaints are inevitable. Besides, the corruption of individual DPP politicians may arouse discontent and mistrust.
Third, biased media influence
people's opinions and obstruct grassroots identification with the government.
Some sharp-tongued commentators even take delight in instigating crowds and
fomenting a rebellion.
Fourth, China plays all kinds of
tricks to provoke ethnic conflicts and to scheme confrontations between the
government and its people. For instance, China refuses to negotiate with the
Straits Exchange Foundation, plotted the "Taiwan Spy" incident,
impeded the return of China-based Taiwanese businesspeople to vote and
insidiously supports white-collar fugitive Chen Yu-hao's attempts to tarnish
the green camp.
Fifth, China uses its diplomatic advantages to exaggerate facts or even make up a story. Beijing's diplomatic maneuver strains Taiwan's international relations and damages its reputation.
Nevertheless, it is the DPP that harvests the triumph of this election. The DPP's victory demonstrates that it is correct to use "one country on each side" as the campaign axis to resist the "one China" principle. This explains the people's grave concern for Taiwan's sovereignty and national dignity which can not be replaced by any economic gains. In particular, former president Lee Teng-hui's far-sighted vision has pushed Taiwan to make a big stride in deepening democracy and consolidating sovereignty.
Instead of creating social and political upheaval, the assassination attempt on the president left him and vice president with just slight injuries. This is a blessing for Taiwan. The contention over whether the assassination attempt drew more votes to the DPP's side only has a small impact on the election. It was independent Legislator Sisy Chen's baseless conspiracy theory that offsets the negative repercussions Chen Yu-hao triggered.
Unfortunately, seeing his presidential dream go up in smoke, KMT Chairman Lien Chan refuses to concede defeat. The PFP has mobilized in fear of a possible party disintegration. Led by Chairman James Soong, politicians of these two parties have inflamed their supporters and aggravated the strife. The democracy in which every Taiwanese takes prides is now endangered. These manipulative politicians must take responsibility for their words and deeds.
The DPP must also strive to ease the political fever from the campaign. It needs to soothe the seething resentment of the opposition party. Lien and Soong, however, should take their defeat with calm rationalism. They must not instigate the public and create chaos to give China an excuse to invade Taiwan.
Lien and Soong have madly staked their political career on one last call. Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng, Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou and others must stop them from sinking the KMT's future and putting Taiwan on the brink of disaster. The 1996 and 2000 elections gave birth to Taiwanese consciousness and paved the road for an independent Taiwan identity. The pan-blues should respect the majority's decision.
Paul Lin is a political commentator based in New York.
-----------------------------------------
On March 25, 2004 ……
Blues' distrust of democracy evident
Yesterday, President Chen Shui-bian responded favorably to Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan and People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong's demands for an immediate election recount. Chen proposed a way to quickly amend the Presidential and Vice Presidential Election and Recall Law in order to conduct a full recount to clear up the suspicions of vote-rigging.
Chen's willingness to overturn the election results, while painful, is a display of broadmindedness. If the pan-blue camp accepts his proposal, a second reading of the amendment could be passed next Tuesday. The amended law could then be promulgated by Chen on Wednesday, allowing the recount to go ahead on Thursday.
Unbelievably, the pan-blue camp not only refused to accept the proposal, it accused the pan-green camp of procrastination. Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng, a KMT vice chairman, demanded that Chen proclaim a state of emergency and order an immediate recount using the special presidential powers allowed him under an emergency decree.
Understandably, this demand angered the pan-green camp. Following a meeting of the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) Central Committee on Tuesday, DPP Secretary-General Chang Chun-hsiung voiced suspicion that Lien and Soong's mobilization of supporters outside the Presidential Office was not really aimed at pressing for a vote recount, but had other suspicious goals.
Cabinet Spokesperson Lin Chia-lung also criticized the emergency-decree proposal, saying it was an attack on the constitutional system and the underlying motives were dubious.
The Ketagalan Boulevard protest mobilized by the Lien-Soong alliance is a matter of local, not national, unrest. It is also losing legitimacy as the DPP calls upon its supporters to treat it as an ordinary demonstration and Chen expresses his goodwill toward his opponents. Without further provocation, the crowd will eventually calm down.
Declaring a state of emergency is similar to martial-law rule, a situation the KMT is very familiar with, given it ruled Taiwan for decades under such a law. There is reason to believe that Lien and Soong intend to return the country to the martial-law period by seeking to incite the pan-blue demonstrators and escalate their protests against the government.
In a state of emergency, county commissioners and city mayors have the power to suppress or disperse crowds. In view of the post-election efforts to intensify ethnic divisions, if local leaders were to order the police to take tough measures to dispel crowds, the level of anger and strife would certainly intensify. The majority of the mayors and commissioners are pan-blue members. If pan-blue supporters continue their protests, no one could guarantee that pan-green supporters will not eventually be provoked into a counter-attack. If local governments then ordered a crackdown, the DPP would fall into the trap set by the pan-blue camp.
As long as the confrontation does not subside, Lien and Soong can avoid taking responsibility for their election defeat and avoid internal criticism. Their plan to use the demonstrations to secure power is apparent in the conclusion reached at yesterday's KMT Central Standing Committee meeting. A party chairman who lost two elections would normally step down to allow a new leadership to carry out party reform. But yesterday the committee passed a resolution confirming Lien's leadership. One could almost admire the survivor instinct that has not only enabled Lien to remain at the helm of the KMT but has even seen his power consolidated.
One could admire it, if not for the realization that both Lien and Soong appear willing to sacrifice this nation's stability and international image for the sake of their own vanity and political ambitions.
-----------------------------------------
Impolitic beating
Pan-blue supporters attack a man in front the Presidential Office building yesterday after he was stopped by police from throwing eggs at pan-blue legislators who were demanding a recount of election ballots.
-----------------------------------------