CHINA / Taiwan, HK, Macao
Chen urged to resign amid scandal
(AP)
Updated: 2006-11-05 15:16
TAIPEI -- Protesters gathered Sunday for a march in Taipei to demand the
resignation of "president" Chen Shui-bian, whose wife has been indicted
in a corruption scandal that prosecutors say could also involve Chen.
As the demonstrators got ready, Chen was drafting a public address that
he hoped would deflate the political crisis threatening to swallow his
administration.
A protester holds a local newspaper with photos of Chen Shui-bian and his
wife after prosecutors said they have enough evidence to indict Chen's
wife on corruption charges November 3, 2006, in Taipei. [AP]
Local media said Chen would speak Sunday night, but the "presidential
office" wouldn't confirm the reports.
Chen and his family have been dogged by graft allegations for months, but
the scandal blew up on Friday when prosecutors indicted Chen's wife Wu
Shu-chen on embezzlement, forgery and perjury charges.
Wu was accused of taking 14.8 million New Taiwan dollars (US$450,000;
euro350,000) from a special diplomacy fund in 2002-06, prosecutors said.
Receipts did not account for the missing money, they said.
The prosecutors also said there was evidence Chen was involved, but as
the leader of Taiwan, Chen is immune to such charges while in office.
Early Sunday, "premier" Su Tseng-chang held an emergency meeting with his
cabinet to discuss the corruption scandal's possible repercussions on
financial markets and social order, said government spokesman Cheng
Wen-tsang.
"Taiwan is a mature democratic society, and we are not worried about
keeping ... order," Cheng said.
Cheng also dismissed newspaper reports that Su would resign if Chen's
public address fails to convince Taiwanese of his innocence.
On Saturday, about 6,000 anti-Chen protesters marched in Kaohsiung, the
island's second-biggest city. The rally was sponsored by the main
opposition Nationalist party, which planned to organize Sunday's event in
Taipei.
The Kaohsiung protesters carried massive red balloons that read, "Oppose
Corruption, Save Taiwan."
Opposition leaders planned to take their campaign to the legislature,
where they were prepared to start the "presidential" recall process on
Monday. They made a similar attempt in June and again in October, but
failed to muster the required two-thirds majority.
But the opposition is hoping that ruling party lawmakers will begin
defecting to their cause and give them enough votes to pass the recall
measure, which would set up an island-wide referendum to determine Chen's
fate.
Top China News
� Summit to adopt action plan, declaration
� China bans leg-lengthening surgery
� A Bian warned against 'constitutional feform'
� Fixed asset investment may expand
� China offers package of aid measures for Africa
Today's Top News
� Chinese companies ink US$1.9b pacts with Africa
� 2006 trade surplus to exceed US$140b
� Saddam to hear fate, Iraq urges calm
� China bans leg-lengthening surgery
� Saddam lawyers want verdict delayed
Most Commented/Read Stories in 48 Hours
Learn Chinese, Learn Mandarin online
No comments:
Post a Comment