Taiwan President Chen is behind. Looks bad.

[dArKeR]

Watching Taiwan TV, no link.

If you know Taiwanese people you know they don't want trouble. As soon as Chen was shot I knew this would scare the Taiwan people and they would vote for Lien and Soong the dirtiest scum on Earth but I didn't write it because I didn't want to make the situation worse.

[Quetzal]

1. how far behind is he?

Didn't Taiwan legalize gay marriage too?

[dArKeR]

33. Abian said he was going to. Some say VP Lui is Gay.

Taiwan is the most tolerant place you'll ever find on Earth. It's wonderful. Taiwan has a large openly Gay community.

[seniorlover]

71. You are wrong

Yes,Taiwan is more tolerant than many countries.But gays in Taiwan Cann`t have the same-sex marriage as in Netherlands, Belgium and Canada.So Taiwan is not the most tolerant place.
VP Lu is not a lesbian.Several months ago he blame the aids patients and gays.
Openly Gay Community may be seen in Taiwan ,but it is not so many as you said.In fact many gays dare not come out.
At the same time,the green Camp is not friendly to The gays,In the past A Bian cheated them.

[RainBoy]

44. He won

[truthisfreedom]

2. how bizarre.

i wrote to some friends/business associates last night conveying my shock and sadness at hearing the news of the attacks, and the response was terse and confusing... i quote:

"We are OK. Thanks for your concerning."

this response is extremely confusing to me. this group of people usually has a lot to say about everything. how scared are they that their email is being monitored?

[hang a left]

3. Taiwan Opposition Narrowly Ahead in Early Count -TV

http://news.excite.com/top/article/id/392363|top|03-20-2004::04:08|reuters.html

Mar 20, 4:02 am ET

TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan opposition contender Lien Chan took a narrow lead over incumbent Chen Shui-bian with just over half the votes counted in Taiwan's nailbitingly close presidential elections on Saturday, television showed.
However, only a few thousand votes separated the two candidates.

Based on an 80 percent turnout and with about nine million of the eligible 16.5 million votes counted, Lien had taken 4.61 million votes compared with 4.59 million for Chen, TVBS said.

Lien was leading with 4.65 million votes over 4.20 million for Chen, ETTV said.

[whirlygigspin]

4. tis a squeaker

official results at 7:30...as of 6:13 the numbers stand at:

DPP 616 yuan
KMT 610 yuan

Hang on, and remember to breath!

and hour to go!

[whirlygigspin]

5. 6:45 update

DPP 623
KMT 618

[dArKeR]

6. Oh my gosh, what's going on? I went to bed. I was crying I gave up.

I just lied in bed. I was going to kill myself. I just was in torture. I just got. Up. I've got a link to Taiwan TV, it says Abian is ahead?

[dArKeR]

7. Update 07:41PM

6454888 Abian
6426519 Murdering Pigs

[whirlygigspin]

9. lol Darker

...7:48 update

DPP 6.47 million votes
KMT 6.44 million votes

[dArKeR]

11. I'm looking at a live feed from San Jose , CA and got the above

you're lower?

[dArKeR]

13. You've got to clear this up. My TV feed just dropped the vote count

5070581 Abian
4901915 Murdering Pigs

[dArKeR]

8. This actually doesn't mean anything though. It depends on what

districts have and have not been counted. I'm totally in pieces and can't rationalize what's going on. what's going on whirlygigspin?

[whirlygigspin]

10. what's left

they still have some parts of Taipei county and Taichung City to add up...stay tuned!

[dArKeR]

12. That's bad. What parts, if they still have Hsin Tien to count

we're in trouble. Have they already counted all of Tainan and Gowshung?

[dArKeR]

14. Girlfriend reports Abian won!

[truthisfreedom]

15. opposition concedes LINK

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x434196

[dArKeR]

16. I'm watching the bastards concede on live TV link

6470797 Abian
6443146 Murdering Pigs

[dArKeR]

17. Referendum

1. We want peace with China
4996573 Yes
450150 No

2. We want peace with China
4828771 Yes
429011 No

[whirlygigspin]

18. and that's the way it is

Congradulations Darker,you can rest a bit now

[whirlygigspin]

23. it's not fair wawa

oh the whiny loser bastards

[dArKeR]

34. Hold your horses on the Referendum. I may have this totally wrong!

My Taiwanese reading is NOT good. I may have completely misunderstood this. DO NOT go by what I wrote.

[dArKeR]

37. Referendum fails - Taipei Times

Taiwan's first ever referendum has failed, with only 45 percent turnout for both questions. The first question, which asks voters whether Taiwan should beef up its missile defense in the face of Chinese ballistic missile deployments, received 7.45 million votes, or 45.17 percent of all eligible voters. The second question, which asks whether Taiwan should start negotiations with China, received 7.44 million votes, or 45.12 percent of all eligible voters. In his victory speech, President Chen Shui-bian (???) said the referendum was a major step forward for Taiwan's democracy. Because it was the country's first ever referendum, Chen said, some Taiwanese people did not understand its significance.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2004/03/20/2003107131

[0007]

72. Peace with China = YES

[dArKeR]

19. Those in America, West Coast, Comcast is brodcasting Taiwan live.

My cable channel is 8. Watch the Pigs Lien and Soong go to HELL!

[dArKeR]

20. I have a really good feeling about this. We can do the same to Bush if we

put our sweat and minds to it! Imagine Peace in the World. Imagine Bush in jail with his cellmate the Presdient of China, Hu.

[dArKeR]

21. Soong, Live TV spewing out his concession vommit lies! NOW LIVE

Watch Satan die live on TV

[Zynx]

22. I'm glad that Chen won.

[dArKeR]

24. Chen wins, Lien demands recount - Taipei Times

Incumbent President Chen Shui-bian (???) and running mate Annette Lu (???) have won the election by 27,000 votes, but his opponent Lien Chan (??) of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) is demanding that the results be invalidated and the votes be recounted. Lien is calling the election "unfair", citing that the election was held under sucpicious circumstances. Lien is referring to the assassination attempt on Chen and Lu on Friday, one day before the vote.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2004/03/20/2003107130

[Zynx]

26. Oh those bastards can just shut up.

They lost fair and square.

[dArKeR]

27. They're history. They'll be swept out of the legislator next election too.

Even here in America the TV feed, CTV, supposedly a 'public' Taiwan station is totally controlled/owned by the KMT. Ok fair. But when you look at their totally bias reporting it makes FOX look like Honesty Network.

The Taiwan KMT PFP legislators did nothing to help Taiwan. Only to steal what they could. Only stop any reforms which would make it more difficult for them to steal.

CTV still has yet to put a picture up of DPP/Abian. They are only showing Lien/Soong and interviewing KMT Mafia personalities.

[54anickel]

29. I was wondering how long before a call for a recount. Didn't take very

long at all. Will they get the recount? If so, will it be fair? I am not up on the politics over there. Then again, the Florida mess took me by surprise here as well. :dunce:

[dArKeR]

40. I witnessed 1 Presidential and 1 Legislative election in Taiwan

Any and Every person in Taiwan knows this was fair balloting and counting. Where are the foreign Media Whores, like Mike Chinoy, to stand up and publish the Taiwan balloting system? Last elections, I read ALL international observers in Taiwan say they've never seen anything like it. Fair, fast and efficient. Australia, UK, France, US observers.

This is my personal observation:

The most fantastic events I've ever seen.

Taiwan is very cluttered, a little dirty, very disorganised because of the KMT stealing and lack of leadership for 50 years. But the election system set up after Abian won Taipei City Mayor is excellent and well organized and impossible to cheat. (The way the KMT still cheats now is they bribe the voters before they get into the polling station. Once in the door it's 100% Democracy as the American Founding Fathers envisioned.

Poll stations are all over the place, all walking distance over the entire country.

1. Polling station opens
2. Representative from all Parties present. All public is invited to come in and watch the entire process, even pre-setup.
3. All ballot boxes are shown to the public and local reps. as empty then they are locked and stationary, they cannot move! You can sit inside the entire day. My neighbors and I did a tag-team taking turns watching the boxes for Chen's victory in 2000. (It was really a big win. A million times more than the USA Hockey beating the Russians!.)
4. VOTE
5. 5PM Voting stops but Poll is NOT closed. This is when the station gets packed by citizens. Officials open the boxes and pull out the ballots 1 at a time. Call out the selection and a person makes a check mark on the board, tally. Then the ballot is turned and shown to the public inside the station to verify.
6. If a ballot was not marked he calls it out and shows the public. (citizens use a thick ink pen to check boxes.)
7. The totals from this Station are then called into election headquarters.
8. The entire process is counted and totaled by 6:30 - 7:pm and winner declared.
9. The next day the newspapers publish the totals from all stations across the country. Citizens verify if the total they saw in their station matches with the HQ totals.
10. 80%-90% plus vote.

Think about your nation?

I'm so proud to have met, lived, worked and played with the Taiwanese people in Taiwan.

Go to HELL you dirty KMT bastards!

[Zhade]

48. Very impressive. Thanks for all of your updates - they are appreciated!

:)

[dArKeR]

25. Link to nice Abian campaign headquarters celebration

http://www.ettoday.com/# (In Taiwanese, just click on the pic to see.)

[dArKeR]

28. Nice bar total (1 is Abian/Lui - 2 is Satan/Satan's Whore)

below the bar totals displays the referendum.
-. We want peace with China
=. We want peace with China

http://news.chinatimes.com/mainpage.htm

[Pan-Blue Cheaters]

30. You are a lying traitor...

China forever, Taiwan never!

(;-))

[dArKeR]

31. Show you how bias CTV is: VP Lui is at their headquarters speaking

(the TV is split into 2 frames, 1 Lui the other a low level KMT Thug), CTV enlarges KMT Thug and cuts off VP making vitory speech. You people have no idea how dirty Mainland Chinese scum are!

Lui in English said, 'What's stronger the bullet or the ballot?'

[Name removed]

32. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[dArKeR]

35. Abian coming out very soon for winning speech. (For those with TV links.)

[dArKeR]

36. Show you how dirty the Mainland Chinese are: CTV has not shown any

DPP Chen/Lui coverage, only KMT HQ and speakers.

NOW: Chen is giving his winning speech and CTV has the TV cut into 2 boxes, Chen and the KMT HQ (which has nothing happening). Now CTV has cut off/out after the first 20 seconds. I kid you not!

America, watch out for the dirty Mainland Chinese! They rolled Mongolia, Tibet, Hong Kong trying to kill Taiwan. When the Mainland Chinese get enough wealth, which we're giving them, they will try to take over the world and make Hilter look like John Lennon. America needs a strong defense because of China, not because of terrorists!

Mainland Chinese are very very arrogant, ruthless, murderous people!

You couldn't do what CTV is doing in America even if it was FOX and board of directors was Perle, Wolfowitz, Novak, Bush, Cheney, Reich, Limbaugh, and Satan... and we were under martial law!!!!

[dArKeR]

38. ICRT English Radio Taiwan live feed

http://www.icrt.com.tw/

I forgot about ICRT. They have news on the top of the hour.

[whirlygigspin]

39. Riot Police out in force

just like last time

[dArKeR]

41. I'm not worried about this at all. In 2004 Chen won when the KMT

controlled everything 100%, police, military, secret police... Chen is honest, fair and moral.

ICRT reporter said KMT pigs are asking for a recount. OK I guess but what a waste of tax dollars. This is something that ALL people of Taiwan know was fair. You can sit and watch everthing. Ballot boxes are not taken into closed door back rooms. Everyone knows this. By doing a recount it will allow the KMT to cheat and stuff ballots. I'm sure!

I never listened to ICRT but I think they're bias too. One reporter said KMT can contest the election wasn't fair because Chen was shot. I know Taiwanese people. I'm sure this LOST Chen votes. This made Taiwanese afraid that maybe China was behind it and maybe China will come to Taiwan and kill more people. Maybe them. I am 100% sure on this. Taiwanese are great peace loving people and above all don't want any trouble! The shooting cost Chen the loss of hundreds of thousands of votes. This is the moral truth.

[dArKeR]

42. Whore CNN has a poll. 'Was Taiwan election fair?'

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/03/20/taiwan.elections/index.html

Whore Mike Chinoy contributed to this report and he's lying as usual.

I know Taiwanese people. I'm sure this LOST Chen votes. This made Taiwanese afraid that maybe China was behind it and maybe China will come to Taiwan and kill more people. Maybe them. I am 100% sure on this. Taiwanese are great peace loving people and above all don't want any trouble! The shooting cost Chen the loss of hundreds of thousands of votes. This is the moral truth.

Whore Chinoy, don't forget to publish Taiwan was invaded in 1949!

---------------------
Example of what happend in 1949 if it were Mexico instead of China:

The Mexican army of Pancho Nazi is being defeated and will surely be destroyed (mostly because they are so corrupt that Pancho Nazi's generals are selling it's own arms to its enemy Pancho Communist. So Pancho Nazi swipes up all the nations treasures, gold, art... and flees to Texas. Murders most of the people in Texas and renames it to Bushland, Republic of Mexico. Then one day Mexico becomes a bully bastard and says that Bushland belongs to Mexico but the people living there say, 'hey wait, we are Texans. You invaded us. We don't want to be a part of you dirty murdering corrupt Nazi/Communst bastards.' But this story isn't told by the American Whore Media and Whore CNN's Whore Mike Chinoy. What is reported to the world, who most really don't know what happend, the Whores say, Bushland is a renegade province of Mexico and we will kill everyone in Bushland if they don't submit.

1. The land never belonged to Mexico
2. 80% of the citizens and not Mexican. The small minority with the guns who invaded Texas are Mexican.

(I wonder how much bribe money China pays out to Mike Chinoy for lying?)
--------------

The obvious solution is for President Chen to extradite all the criminals back to China and give back all the gold and art which was stolen from China by the KMT. This would be a fair settlement. Then China could try and execute Lien, Soong, and all the other KMT murderous bastards and Taiwan (Formosa) and China could normalize relations.

[AP]

45. Do you need any more evidence that CNN is in bed with fascists?

[dArKeR]

49. You can see it for yourself. If Karl Max, Father Finlay, Thomas Jefferson

and a bunch of the world's greatest honest thinkers, I believe they'd conclude, that today there is actually no difference between socialism, communism, fascism, and repuklicanism. The world's great thinkers would conclude the modern society is a bunch of dirty scum sucking immoral lying stealing bastards who are in the Media, Corporations, Governments and Religous leaders all conspiring in 'LegalRacketeerism'. The illegal, immoral, lying bias reports of the Media Whore are just too obvious from America to the ends of the Earth and soon to the ends of Space.

[AP]

56. Today NPR talked about the election without mentioning ONCE that the guy

was just shot.

It was stunning.

[dArKeR]

57. That's ok. Election 2000 Reuters published a story that didn't even name

him as a candidate. The only name KMT's Pig, Lien and PFP Feces, Soong. At the time Chen was 80% polled the most popular but many Taiwanese said they were afraid to vote for him because they didn't want to make trouble with China.

And this also shows, 'trouble', that the shooting took AWAY votes from Chen! I'm 100% on it. Any honest knowledgable Media knows this too. (Guess that leaves out CNN's Whore Mike Chinoy.) This shooting made Taiwanese afraid 50 times over sympathy. Afraid means NOT voting for Chen. It's the truth.

[AP]

58. This is just one piece in a much bigger puzzle of 'what the hell is CNN

trying to do to politics?'

The big picture: get fascists in power EVERYWHERE, because fascists do what's good for business. And this includes in VZ, Germany, France, and the US. Anywhere a neoliberal is running for office, CNN and the rest of the media will tell lies to help them get elected, and to deligitimize the liberals.

[dArKeR]

43. Taiwan's President re-elected - TGM

Taipei — President Chen Shui-bian narrowly won re-election Saturday a day after being shot in an assassination attempt, but a referendum he had championed on beefing up defences against China failed because not enough voters took part.


His opponent suggested the attempt on Mr. Chen's life Friday gained him crucial sympathy votes in a tight race and asked for the results to be nullified. Polls four days before the vote had put the opponents neck and neck, both sides said.


Mr. Chen, of the Democratic Progressive Party, won 50.1 per cent of the presidential ballot, the Central Election Commission said. Challenger Lien Chan, of the Nationalist Party, came away with 49.9 per cent. About 13 million ballots were cast for president, and turnout was 80 per cent, the commission said.

http://theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040320.wtaiw0320/BNStory/Front/

[dArKeR]

46. Taiwan President Wins Narrow Re-Election - Yahoo

By WILLIAM FOREMAN, Associated Press Writer

TAIPEI, Taiwan - President Chen Shui-bian narrowly won re-election Saturday a day after being shot in an assassination attempt, but a referendum he had championed on beefing up defenses against China failed because not enough voters took part.

His opponent suggested the attempt on Chen's life Friday gained him crucial sympathy votes in a tight race and asked for the results to be nullified. Polls four days before the vote had put the opponents neck and neck, both sides said.

Chen, of the Democratic Progressive Party, won 50.1 percent of the presidential ballot, the Central Election Commission said. Challenger Lien Chan, of the Nationalist Party, came away with 49.9 percent. About 13 million ballots were cast for president, and turnout was 80 percent, the commission said.

Besides allegations of unfairness, the loss of the referendum brought a heavy blow to Chen, who had said its defeat would be a victory for Beijing. Powerful opposition figures had said Chen did not have the legal authority to call the referendum and urged people to boycott it.

Of those who voted, 92 percent said "yes" on both issues: whether to strengthen Taiwan's defenses if China refuses to redeploy hundreds of missiles pointed at the island; and whether Taiwan should seek talks with China about setting up a new "peace and stability framework."

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040320/ap_on_re_as/taiwan_election_33

[DjTj]

47. Great News!

...I had relatives that flew back to Taiwan to vote for Chen.

[dArKeR]

50. I met a postal worker in San Jose. She is Chinese and her parents are

of the group of KMT Fascist who invaded Taiwan in 1949. I said did you hear President Chen was almost assassinated yesterday. 'Oh yes, I don't like, I hope he loses. My parents are from China but I was born in Taiwan. We moved to America 20 years ago. But you know, all my friends are Taiwanese. They're all so friendly. I really don't know why I don't like Chen.'

Not wanting to get into a political discussion in the post office. And not knowing who's armed in the post office, and the line being longer than picking up free Joe Montana footballs at Sportsmart, I let this one slide. But I know what this is. I've seen the exact same thing a thousand times while I lived in Taiwan. It's called brainwashing and learned predjudice (from family but worst yet, institutionalized KMT government racism.) Better known as KMT Tailiban of South East Asia or the KMT Al Qaeda with unlimited funds and weapons. I've seen thousands of friends unable to answer why Taiwan is a part of China. Why they would vote for the corrupt KMT and not the honest Chen. Very few answers. It comes down to ethnic control of wealth and political/business power. It's really not like the USA were most people have no idea how bad the Republican Party is, (which 'currently' is no where as near as bad as the KMT.) In Taiwan, I've honestly never met a person who said the KMT was good. They know the KMT is bad but they vote for the KMT because:
1. They are racist against Taiwanese
2. They are profitting from the KMT by business bribes, contracts or voting payoffs
3. They are afraid China will attack Taiwan. Above all, Taiwanese are the nicest people on Earth and truely want no trouble. (We would only be so lucky to have had Chen slip into America instead of Ah-no. Chen would rule America with the utmost honesty for all sides and all issues. Chen scored at the top of his class since the day he entered school as a child but he's got the mind of JFK, RFK, MLK, Ghandi, (John) Lennon, and Wellstone.

All of the above is obvious, especially to the Media Whores based in Asia, such as CNN Whore Mike Chinoy but they don't report it. The conclusion is obvious. The Media Whore reporters are filing lie reports and duping their bosses (reporters being bribed at a grassroots level or the Media Whore Corporations are hiring Lying Liar Whore Reporters to report lies to the world's citizens.

The KMT party for the life of it, is the richest political party in the world. Only recently being bumped to 2nd because of America propping up the Communists in China. (But many insiders say the KMT is still the wealthiest because the KMT actually has double the assests hidden.) They owned everything in the country since they invaded Taiwan up until Chen became President in 2000 and began reforms. I am 100% certain the KMT are responsible for thousands of America children's deaths from drugs. The KMT has long been the Drug Trading Company of Asia. Their network is probably running the Afghan drugs into the USA right as we speak. Don't hear much about that do you? But there are many books citing the KMT drug running since the 40s. I guess crimes of the past are forgotten even if they did murder American children? And I'm sure the CIA/NSA knows about this but it was more important to use the KMT agents to infiltrate into Korea and Vietnam and China. American children's blood for information.

To show you the relationship between the USA Gov. and the KMT Taiwan, Taiwan is the number one destination in the world for USA Government staffers.I am 100% on this. I read this in a couple mainstream American reports. What the heck are our staffers doing in Taiwan, a 18 to 22 hours flight from D.C.? Molesting the Taiwanese children which the KMT enslaved into Wun Hua Whore houses? (And I saw this for myself. children that were sold by their parents to the KMT and enslaved into sex slavery. Taiwanese children forced to masturbate/intercourse with old KMT men from Mainland China. (I've got pics packed away in my father's house.) Such a proud day for Mike Chinoy's NOT reporting this to you. Abian shut this down, at least the ones that were so open you did it the same as going to McDonald's. I'm sure the KMT went underground for a few years until Chen became President and I believe had enough power to shut them down completely.

[dArKeR]

51. Controversial victory for Chen - 80% vote (shame on us!)

By Lindy Yeh
STAFF REPORTER
Sunday, Mar 21, 2004,Page 1

Incumbent President Chen Shui-bian (???) and his running-mate Annette Lu (???) of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday won the 2004 presidential election against the rival ticket of Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (??) and his vice-presidential candidate People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (???) by a narrow margin of 30,598 votes.

But the nation's first-ever referendum failed to get the number of voters necessary to make the result valid. Only 45.17 percent of eligible voters took part. The Referendum Law (?????) requires at least 50 percent of those eligible to cast votes to make the vote valid.

Voting, which took place from 8am to 4pm was peaceful with no major incidents reported, and only a few isolated cases of the electoral laws being broken.

Some 13,251,719 people voted in the presidential election, a turnout of 80.28 percent of the 16,507,179 eligible voters.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2004/03/21/2003107136

[dArKeR]

52. 25 Taiwan elections reports at this link! Excellent!

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan?pubdate=2004-03-21

[Just Me]

55. He's in the clear, it appears.

Not without retaliation,...but, he made it.

Breathe, my friend. Humanity is growing, kicking and fighting,...but, the pendulum is swaying back to center.

We are still struggling through our greatest challenge against oppression and exploitation. But,...the wave of the human spirit always, always defeats such destructive forces, and we get better at so doing,...every day.

Take comfort in the power of humanity. We have had a particularly powerful day or two,...to celebrate. :D

[dArKeR]

53. The Vanquished - How the blue camp lost the election

By Jewel Huang
STAFF REPORTER
Sunday, Mar 21, 2004,Page 17

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (??) and People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (???) yesterday once again lost the presidential election. Academics said their second failure hinged on the ticket's neglect of the mainstream voice of the people of Taiwan and lack of self-reflection after its previous failure.

Although Lien and Soong have not taken the defeat lightly and claimed the result of the presidential election was invalid, their loss could be traced from the very first day that they decided to work together to again mount a challenge for the presidency.

After Lien and Soong, who were foes in the 2000 presidential election, in April last year announced their collaboration to contend for the presidency, their support exceeded 60 percent at one point. Their ticket took the lead from the beginning of the election campaign, which made the KMT-PFP alliance believe that they will win an easy victory as Lien and Soong's total ballots exceeded the number with which President Chen Shui-bian (???) won four years ago.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/03/21/2003107203

[dArKeR]

54. Police search for one gunman

Officials said they now believe President Chen Shui-bian was the sole intended target in Friday's shooting and that Vice President Annette Lu was hit by accident

By Jimmy Chuang
STAFF REPORTER
Sunday, Mar 21, 2004,Page 19

The police yesterday said that they are looking for only one gunman in connection with the shooting of President Chen Shui-bian (???) and Vice President Annette Lu (???) in Tainan City on Friday.

"We still have not identified this person but he shall be the suspect of the case, according to our investigation," said Hou You-yi (???), the commissioner of the National Police Administration's Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB).

The bureau held three press conferences yesterday to update the public on the latest developments in their investigation of the shooting. It also released a drawing of the suspect, who was described as a strong man with a buzz cut hairdo and about 170cm tall.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/03/21/2003107210

[dArKeR]

59. Taiwan Prez Re-Elected, Barely - CBS

Taiwan's High Court ordered the sealing of all ballet boxes on the island Sunday, one day after President Chen Shui-bian was re-elected by a narrow margin following an assassination attempt.

The court order came after Chen's opponent, former vice president Lien Chan, challenged the results, saying the assassination attempt affected Saturday's presidential election and more than 300,000 ballots were spoiled. Chen won by 30,000 votes.

Wen Yao-yuan, a high court judge, said 21 courts around the island were authorized to handle the sealing of ballot boxes.

On Saturday, President Chen narrowly won re-election after being shot in an assassination attempt, but a referendum he had championed on beefing up defenses against China failed because not enough voters took part.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/03/19/world/main607262.shtml

[dArKeR]

60. High Court grants pan-blue ballot demand

RECOUNT: After riots in Kaohsiung and Taichung, the Taiwan High Court asked for all presidential ballots to be seized and a recount organized
By Jimmy Chuang
STAFF REPORTER
Monday, Mar 22, 2004,Page 1

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (??) and People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (???) yesterday filed their application to the Taiwan High Court to ask the court to seize all the ballots from Saturday's presidential election and recount them.

They had good reason, they said, to believe that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) had cheated during the election.

On Saturday night thousands of Lien-Soong supporters rioted at prosecutors' offices in Taipei, Taichung and Kaohsiung. Initially, they were led by PFP lawmakers and intended to petition prosecutors and judges to seize the ballots and organize a recount. However, the crowds gradually got out of control as some protesters began to smash their way through road blocks set up by the police.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2004/03/22/2003107241

This is only going to allow the KMT to cheat and stuff the boxes. They'll bribe anyone they can will $millions. Even some DPP will take that kind of money to cheat.

It is impossible to cheat on the original voting and counting, IMPOSSIBLE! But now it's possible for the dirty Mainland Chinese to cheat.

[dArKeR]

61. Civic group proud over number of invalid ballots

By Caroline Hong
STAFF REPORTER
Monday, Mar 22, 2004,Page 2

Casting invalid ballots has become an instrument of the people, the spokesman of a group called Millions of Invalid Votes Project said while commenting on the unusually high number of invalid ballots in Saturday's presidential election.

"If we are not happy with the current authorities or the alternative provided, why should we be forced to make a decision?" group spokesman Cheng Tsun-chi (???) said yesterday.

To bring attention to public discontent with the candidates in the election, the project and its partner the Alliance of Fairness and Justice, also known as the pan-purple alliance, encouraged voters to spoil their ballots in protest.

The high number of invalid ballots in Saturday's election, 337,297, or 2.5 percent of the total ballots cast, was one of the "suspicions" the pan-blue camp raised in their move to annul the election.

"We do not accept any government that abuses its power. The invalid ballot is a weapon and an instrument of the people," Cheng said.

Supporters of the alliance were asked to spoil their ballots by stamping the photos of the candidates on the mouths to indicate disgust with the empty promises and corruption of both the pan-green and pan-blue camps.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/03/22/2003107253

[dArKeR]

62. Pan-blue protest reminiscent of 2000 riot

By Huang Tai-lin
STAFF REPORTER
Monday, Mar 22, 2004,Page 3

To many, the massive gathering of angry pan-blue supporters in front of the Presidential Office was deja vu all over again.

Four years ago on the night of the 2000 election when the electoral result showed that the Chinese Nationalist Party's (KMT) presidential candidate Lien Chan (??) had lost the election to the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) Chen Shui-bian (???) thus ending the KMT's long rule over Taiwan, livid pan-blue protesters besieged the KMT headquarters in Taipei demanding that its then-chairman Lee Teng-hui (???) step down.

Chen won the 2000 presidential election with 39 percent of the vote while Lien, the KMT's candidate, came a distance third with 23 percent, lagging behind People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (???), who ran his own maverick campaign that collected 36 percent.

Accusing Lee of failing to campaign wholeheartedly for Lien, a riot erupted with security forces using water cannon to scatter protesters.

Lien and Soong, however, had by then conceded defeat and acknowledged Chen's election victory.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/03/22/2003107258

[dArKeR]

63. Yu says demonstrators are `barking up the wrong tree'

Premier Yu Shyi-kun urged protesters to be rational, and said he would hate to see an aimless protest escalate into `something that we may all regret'
By Ko Shu-ling
STAFF REPORTER
Monday, Mar 22, 2004,Page 3

"I'd like to quote what Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan once said: `The nation's hatred should stop right here.'"

Premier Yu Shyi-kun

As pan-blue supporters held illegal gatherings outside the Presidential Office in Taipei and at other places around the country yesterday, Premier Yu Shyi-kun said that they were "barking up the wrong tree."

"I'd like to quote what Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (??) once said: `The nation's hatred should stop right here,'" Yu said.

"Let's cherish peace and unity, and let the legal system take care of the rest. Let's settle the conflicts with rationality and let the controversy be resolved by the courts," he said.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/03/22/2003107259

Forgot to mention these 'protesters' are MERCENARIES being PAID by the KMT Mafia.

[dArKeR]

64. Religious leaders call on the public to respect result

CNA , TAIPEI
Monday, Mar 22, 2004,Page 2

Two religious leaders called on the public yesterday to face the March 20 presidential election results rationally, after a group of pan-blue alliance supporters converged in front of the Presidential Office to protest against what they claim is an "unfair" election.

Master Cheng Yen (??), founder of the Buddhist Compassionate Tzu Chi Relief Foundation, said during a meeting with Tzu Chi volunteers that all candidates and their supporters should respect the results, irrespective of who is victorious.

Noting that the people have exercised their rights and obligations in the election, Cheng Yen voiced the hope that all compatriots will love and respect each other.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/03/22/2003107251

[dArKeR]

65. Analysts expect gains for greens come December

By Debby Wu
STAFF REPORTER
Monday, Mar 22, 2004,Page 4

The pan-green camp stands a good chance of winning a majority of seats in the legislative election this year, experts said yesterday.

Academics and political observers said President Chen Shui-bian's (???) re-election Saturday showed the green camp has taken away support from the blue camp.

They said the pan-blue alliance's efforts to invalidate the result of the presidential election may chase away supporters ahead of legislative elections in December.

"The pan-blue camp's protest rally is damaging its image. This may estrange its Hokkien supporters, with the protests in most places being initiated by People First Party (PFP) legislators and city councilors," said Hsu Yung-ming (???), a sociologist at Academia Sinica.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/03/22/2003107280

[dArKeR]

66. The outside world looking in - UWM, USC

The results of the election and referendum were announced on Saturday night. The saga, however, continues and the defeated candidates seem unwilling to bow out. Edward Friedman, a professor in the department of Political Science at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and Daniel C. Lynch, an assistant professor at the School of International Relations at the University of Southern California, talked to `Taipei Times' staff reporter Stephanie Wen about what the situation now holds for Taiwan



Monday, Mar 22, 2004,Page 9

TT: You said that observers from around the world are shocked to see Lien Chan's behavior. How will Lien Chan's action affect Taiwan's image in the international arena?

Friedman: A leader of a party who is running for a head of a state is not allowed to have emotions and passions, which are all understandable, shape his public statement in that kind of situation. It is his job to inform his followers as to what are the proper democratic things to do. Taiwan had a transparent democratic election. The numbers are real. Everybody knows that the counting was absolute open and public and verified. And as much as we can understand why they would feel disappointed, the important thing for the leaders to say, is that, the results are the results we abide by. In a democracy it is the procedures which are decisive. And that's what he should say to his people.

I think this morning some people at the Presidential Office are beginning to change their rhetoric and beginning to say that we should allow legal procedures to determine the outcome.

It would have been very nice if he had said something like that in the beginning also.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/edit/archives/2004/03/22/2003107314

Hey Proff, you forgot to mention Lien and the KMT are NOT a candidate or a party, they are a lying murderous corrupt bastard and a Facsict Regime that invaded Formosa, (not part of China) in 1949. Who the hell was your Proff in school? Mike Chinoy?

[dArKeR]

67. Can someone please post the pic of assassination attempt sketch!

It's the top pic here:
http://liensoongpigs.tripod.com

My the Force be with you!

[dArKeR]

68. MND rubbishes blue-camp troops claim

By Brian Hsu
STAFF REPORTER
Tuesday, Mar 23, 2004,Page 1

The activation of an emergency response system Friday night after the shootings of President Chen Shui-bian (???) and Vice President Annette Lu (???) did not mean service personnel were unable to return to their hometowns to cast votes in Saturday's election, Vice Minister of National Defense Lin Chong-pin (???) said yesterday.

Lin spoke yesterday to the defense committee of the legislature, which he attended on behalf of Minister of National Defense Tang Yao-ming (???), who was receiving treatment for an eye disease at the Tri-Service General Hospital.

Rumors have been rife in the aftermath of the presidential election that the activation of the emergency response system was responsible for some 200,000 to 250,000 soldiers being unable to return home to vote.

Opposition legislators attacked Lin yesterday saying that the activation of the emergency response system was unnecessary given the lightness of the president and vice president's injuries, yet might have significantly influenced the election outcome.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2004/03/23/2003107379

Yes it did influence the election. Abian lost a million votes because Taiwanese always don't want trouble and would vote for the 'safe' choice, Lien.

[dArKeR]

69. Chen victorious is Taiwan's gain

By Bruce Jacobs ??
Tuesday, Mar 23, 2004,Page 8

`Lien Chan's post-election statement proved he lacks the competency to be president.'

Saturday's presidential election had everything. The campaign had divisive and vilifying rhetoric. On the afternoon before the election, the incumbent president and vice-president were shot while campaigning. The campaign featured two referendum questions, which had China raving. The winner defeated the loser by 29,518 votes of 12.9 million cast that were valid. And,

to top it off, the loser proved he lacked leadership by challenging the result without providing any evidence of fraud.

Lien Chan's (??) post-election statement proved he lacks the competency to be president. He reacted before the Central Election Commission announced the election results, calling the election unfair. Rather than simply saying the election was close and requesting a recount, he launched into questioning the horrific shooting of President Chen Shui-bian (???) and Vice President Annette Lu (???). Then he and his running mate, James Soong (???), hung around the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Central

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/edit/archives/2004/03/23/2003107447Headquarters, where they did nothing to induce calmness among their supporters.

[Loz]

70. Lien's a big fat loser crybaby

I'm here in Taipei and everything's fine. Don't let the international media tease you.
I went to the victory rally for A Bian on Saturday night and it was fantastic!
So many happy people. I won't go near the poor sod loser KMT protestors, although my friend and I are considering finding a nice safe sideline spot to watch the loser parade on Saturday.
Lien and Soong should just go bang their heads on the wall. Never have I seen such poor losers.
I'll see if I can upload some photos onto a yahoo site for ya'll to see.

Meanwhile, if you're really really interested, here's a popular forum in Taiwan, www.forumosa.com and here is the Taiwan politics forum with the most updated information and debate in English in the entire world.
Welcome to my forum:
http://www.forumosa.com/3/viewforum.php?f=89

[seniorlover]

73. Hello Darker

I am a mainland Chinese.

A Bian cheated the Taiwanese.He was not a good president.

At the same time Darker is cheating you.

[dArKeR]

76. Welcome to the DU. Are you living in China?

[Loz]

74. seniorlover is jealous

seniorlover,

You don't know what the hell you're talking about.
Why would you support the KMT, the same renegade faction which fled the beloved "homeland" in 1949.

I have been living in Taiwan for 14 years. I'm an American, but my husband is Taiwanese. My friends are Taiwanese. There is NO resemblence to the sad dictatorship which you live under in Mainland China.
Taiwan is a progressive country, which VOTES for its leaders.
Your country is repressive and you are NOT allowed to vote.
A Bian represents freedom and democracy.
Lien and Soong represent an underhanded evil deal that will force Taiwan to have to kowtow to your ridiculous government.

And yes, I have traveled extensively around your beautiful country and have seen the vast poverty and primitive lifestyle the good country folks of China must endure.

Taiwan is a far far better place than China as far as modernization, opportunities, freedom and lifestyle.
You're the one who's fooling yourself because you're so damn jealous you didn't have the same chances as the lucky Taiwanese did.

TAIWAN NUMBER ONE! CHINA IS EVIL. BOYCOTT CHINA GOODS...hahahaha if possible, eh? All the crap of the world is manufactured in China at factories OWNED by TAIWANESE businessmen.

That's the funniest thing in the world, people.
And another funny thing: The little A Bian souvenier plastic pop up gadget that shouts ""A Bian dong suan" or "ELECT A Bian" in Taiwanese, NOT MANDARIN.

Well, that little pop up gadget was made in China and says so right on the back of it!

:-)

[seniorlover]

75. So sad for you had said.

I don`t know I am jealous.
In fact ,I don`t love People Republic of China,I love China.
If As you said I am a fool,I would not find this democratic site.
Athough I am not a taiwanese,I know much about Taiwan ,which like you are not in China ,you know much about China.

I am disappointed that I have no vote rights and cann`t elect our own leader.
Now Taiwanese have more freedom and democracy,but I think A Bian is more and more like Li Denghui,So I don`t think A Bian represents freedom and democracy.
If A Bian is so good as you say ,why not almost half of the voters are against him?Can you give me a reason?

I am against CCP and they take evil to our people.But Chinese are not bad.You should not blame them .You should be against CCP not Chinese.

In fact,I am against the war.If CCP start the war to Taiwan ,I will demonstrate against the war.At the same time ,I think CCP dare not start the war.

I often surf Taiwan`s gay sites.From there I find the Green Camp likes blame others.So I don`t think they are more democracy.Taiwannese have more work to do,so Taiwan is the most tolerant place is only a legend.

[dArKeR]

77. Rift emerges in pan-blue camp

By Chiu Yu-Tzu
STAFF REPORTER
Wednesday, Mar 24, 2004,Page 1

The pan-blue alliance showed signs of a split in Kaohsiung City, with a march scheduled for yesterday being cancelled due to disagreements between members of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the People First Party (PFP).

KMT legislators and city councilors who declined to be identified said the demonstration in Taipei was dominated by PFP figures who had nothing to lose. They said pro-localization KMT figures in southern Taiwan cared more about strengthening their relationship with vote captains.

The result of the presidential election showed that the KMT had lost support in the south.

The party will be put to the test in city council elections in Kaohsiung next month. The elections are the result of a bribery scandal involving the election for council speaker in December 2002.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2004/03/24/2003107509

[dArKeR]

78. Pan-blues may be backed into a corner over recount

By Jimmy Chuang
STAFF REPORTER
Wednesday, Mar 24, 2004,Page 3

The reasons that the pan-blue camp asked judges to recount the ballots after they lost the presidential election on Saturday is because their lawsuits may not be strong enough to succeed because most of the questions raised are political issues, rather than legal ones, legal experts familiar with the issue said yesterday.

The pan-blue camp filed two suits asking to suspend President Chen Shui-bian (???) and Vice President Annette Lu's (???) re-election on the grounds of fraud after the election. The pan-blues based their suits on four arguments.

According to the first argument, Chen allegedly forced nearly 200,000 military and police personnel to stay at their posts, instead of going home to vote on Saturday, because he decided to implement the so-called "national security mechanism" after he and Lu were shot during a campaign activity in Tainan City one day before the election.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/03/24/2003107535

More like a rabid vampire bat in the sun (of Democracy), they'll kill anything they can now because soon they will die a just death.

[dArKeR]

79. Pan-blues need to change their tune

By Hsu Yung-ming ???

Wednesday, Mar 24, 2004,Page 8

The shooting of President Chen Shui-bian (???) marked a watershed in the election. Chen was the primary player in the election -- he had not only to fight a pan-blue ticket, but also had to pay a considerable political cost for promoting the referendum. There-fore, the imprimatur of the Chen Shui-bian era was already having an effect when Chinese National-ist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (??) and People First Party Chairman James Soong (???) vowed to file an electoral lawsuit. The Lien-Soong era is facing an end even before it begins.

The election results have deepened this effect. Rather than wasting their efforts on a dispute over electoral defeat, the pan-blues must explore anew the direction of public opinion, give up election manipulation and face up to the transition in mainstream public opinion -- because it is a colossal process.

Compared to the unification-independence confrontation in the 2000 election, this election is about vying for leadership of the pro-nativization factions. This is because public opinion is moving toward a new national identity. The future pan-blue leadership must try to grasp this pulse. Otherwise, even a larger basic support base will not be able to bring election victory.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/edit/archives/2004/03/24/2003107569

Better to go sing in China. We don't want to hear any of their tunes in Taiwan.

[dArKeR]

80. My escaping death has changed my view of life. I fully realize my duty

for the next four years," he said.

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 unacceptable
By Lin Chieh-yu
STAFF REPORTER , WITH REUTERS
Thursday, Mar 25, 2004,Page 1

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 , 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.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2004/03/25/2003107631

I just don't see how Abian could do this? Meet with the men who ordered and paid for your assassination. Abian is really a HERO for Taiwan and not for personal gain!

[dArKeR]

81. High Court deals blow to pan-blue legal challenge

By Jimmy Chuang
STAFF REPORTER
Thursday, Mar 25, 2004,Page 1

The Taiwan High Court yesterday rejected the pan-blue camp's lawsuits seeking to overturn the re-election of President Chen Shui-bian (???) and Vice President Annette Lu (???).

The court said the plaintiffs, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the People First Party, did not follow the rules in filing the suits.

"According to the Presidential Election and Recall Law (??????????), the plaintiff is supposed to file the suit within 15 days of the Central Election Commission (CEC) announcing the winners," said Wen Yao-yuan (???), spokesman for the Taiwan High Court.

"The Lien-Soong camp filed the suits on Sunday. However, as of this time, the CEC has not yet made its announcement," Wen said.

The CEC was expected to make an official announcement regarding the result of the election tomorrow.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2004/03/25/2003107633

[dArKeR]

82. Pan-blue camp is irrational: Lin Chia-lung

`TOTALLY BAFFLING': The Cabinet's spokesman attacked the pan-blue camp's new demands, saying that they were inconsistent and Lien Chan keeps altering his goals
By Ko Shu-ling
STAFF REPORTER
Thursday, Mar 25, 2004,Page 3

Lin Chia-lung, Cabinet spokesman

Unless one of the presidential candidates dies or the court rules last Saturday's election invalid, it is impossible for the Central Election Commission (CEC) to hold another presidential election as requested by Chinese Nationalist Party Chairman Lien Chan (??), a Cabinet official said yesterday.

Lien made the new appeal yesterday during an exclusive interview with Reuters. Lien also said that the recount could begin immediately if President Chen Shui-bian (???) agreed.

Responding to the latest pan-blue camp idea, Cabinet Spokesman Lin Chia-lung (???) said that he was totally baffled by the opposition alliance, which kept changing its position.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/03/25/2003107662

[dArKeR]

83. Mr. `Hui' sends a fax saying he tried to kill the president

By Jimmy Chuang
STAFF REPORTER
Thursday, Mar 25, 2004,Page 3

A man who called himself "Hui" yesterday faxed a number of media outlets and claimed responsibility for the shooting of President Chen Shui-bian (???) and Vice President Annette Lu (???) in Tainan on March 19.

According to the fax, "Hui" said that he "invested" lots of money in illegal bets on a victory by Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (??) and People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (???).

However, he was stunned because there seemed to be growing support for Chen and Lu. To make sure he would not lose his bet, he decided to "do some-thing" to change the result of the election.

As of press time yesterday, the Keelung City Police Department had determined that the fax was transmitted from a fax machine at an OK convenience store in the city's Baifu community at 5:30pm on Tuesday.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/03/25/2003107660

If anyone can tell me what an 'OK' is I'll give you a kiss! Hint: you've heard of 911, well this is 711.

[dArKeR]

84. Editorial: Blues' distrust of democracy evident

Thursday, Mar 25, 2004,Page 8

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.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/edit/archives/2004/03/25/2003107699

[dArKeR]

85. At stake: democracy and rule of law

By Joseph Wu ???

Thursday, Mar 25, 2004,Page 8

The Central Election Commis-sion (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.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/edit/archives/2004/03/25/2003107702

[dArKeR]

86. Lien, Soong embarrass themselves, the nation

By Paul Lin ???

Thursday, Mar 25, 2004,Page 8

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.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/edit/archives/2004/03/25/2003107701

[dArKeR]

87. Demonstrations are just a diversion for Lien: analysts

FANNING THE FLAMES: According to political observers, the KMT chairman is trying to deflect attention from challenges to his role as party leader
By Huang Tai-lin
STAFF REPORTER
Friday, Mar 26, 2004,Page 3

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (??) is using the protests by pan-blue supporters to buy time to deal with the internal challenges to his role as party leader, according to political observers.

"In almost any democratic country, the leader of a party that has suffered a defeat in major elections would consider giving up his job as a gesture of taking responsibility for the losses," said Chiu Hei-yuan (???), a political observer and sociology professor at National Taiwan University.

"Not to mention one who had failed his party twice in bidding for the nation's highest job," Chiu said.

President Chen Shui-bian (???) of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won the 2000 presidential election with 39 percent of the vote. People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (???), a breakaway KMT heavyweight who ran an independent in 2000, obtained 36 percent, while Lien, the KMT's candidate, was a distant third with 23 percent.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/03/26/2003107783

[dArKeR]

88. Editorial: Why the charade?

Friday, Mar 26, 2004,Page 8

For the sake of Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT)-People First Party (PFP) alliance, some people within the camp should come up with the guts to tell KMT Chairman Lien Chan (??) and PFP Chairman James Soong (???) that their latest demand -- that a new election be held -- will likely work against them.

The pan-blue's offbeat performance after the election has not only provoked the resentment of the 50 percent of voters who voted for President Chen Shui-bian (???), but is increasingly trying the patience and even angering moderates who voted for the pan-blue ticket. Under the circumstances, Lien and Soong may be defeated by a much greater margin in a new election.

During this past week, two surveys conducted by pro-pan-blue Chinese-language newspapers released on Monday and yesterday indicated that the majority of the general public disagrees with the massive protest going on in front the Presidential Office. The poll released on Monday cited a figure of 65 percent, and yesterday's poll 59 percent.

Also, by Wednesday, virtually all major news media, including those that are pro-blue, began to urge the alliance leaders to accept the proposal offered by Chen to amend the Presidential and Vice Presidential Election and Recall Law (?????? ??), so that a provision on an administrative recount of all votes when the winning margin is less than 1 percent can be inserted and applied retroactively to the election.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/edit/archives/2004/03/26/2003107822

[Moderator]

89. Moving

Article is more than 12 hrs old...