President notes contrast in levels of freedom over past fifty years (Taiwan)

(source: Taiwan News September 17, 2006)

President notes contrast in levels of freedom over past fifty years

By Crystal Hsu
Taiwan News, Staff Reporter , Central News Agency
2006-09-17

During a visit to the outlying island of Penghu where slogan-chanting protesters and supporters almost drowned out his speech, President Chen Shui-bian (???) yesterday called on the public again to cherish the hard-earned democratic progress Taiwan has made.
The embattled president, accompanied by Deputy Secretary-general Cho Jung-tai (???), traveled to the offshore island to attend the inauguration of a new hall of the Penghu chapter of the Taiwan Fund for Children and Families in the town of Makung.
“You would have never witnessed such a scene during the era of martial law,” Chen said, referring to the rally against him while trying to appear unaffected by protesters demanding his resignation with the thumbs-down gesture.
“Today, people with different views can freely make their voices heard,” he noted. “We should feel pleased and proud of this freedom. Meanwhile, let’s cherish the democratic progress, respect the rule of law and tolerate divergent opinions.”
Chen, who is under pressure to step down to take responsibility for a string of corruption scandals involving the Presidential Office, close aides and the first family, said he remained committed to enhancing the offshore county’s economy despite the protest. He cut a ribbon to mark the opening of the hall before he delivered his speech.
“I care for Penghu more than anything else,” Chen said. “Though some people oppose my leadership, my concern for, and attachment to Penghu will remain unchanged.”
The president has been traveling around the country over the past few days rather than staying in the capital where hundreds of thousands of protesters have mounted a 24-hour sit-in to press for his resignation.
He stressed that the welfare of Penghu residents and the county’s future development interest him more than political issues.
Nearly 2,000 protesters were on hand to shout “Down Chen Shui-bian” while about 100 supporters mobilized by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party’s Penghu chapter chanted, “President Chen, Go.”
Four influential local figures, Penghu County Magistrate Wang Chien-fa, Makung City Mayor Su Kun-hsiung (???), Legislator Lin Ping-kun and Penghu County Speaker Chen Chao-ling, did not attend the opening ceremony.
The president later had lunch with leaders of small- and medium-sized businesses.
Regarding suggestions that casinos should be established on Penghu and that they be included in the direct cross-strait sea links services with China, the president said he would instruct government agencies to study the matter when he returned to Taipei.
Chen did not take part in a mass rally in front of the Presidential Office to defend his administration, amid media speculation that he might take advantage of the occasion to strike back at his critics.
The pro-Chen rally, sponsored by a pro-independence group, is aimed at countering the mass sit-in launched by former Democratic Progressive Party chairman Shih Ming-teh (???) who has called for Chen to step down after Chen’s son-in-law, Chao Chien-ming (???), was taken into custody in May for his alleged involvement in an insider-trading scam.

Date Posted: 16-Sep-2006