Mr. Chen has rejected the mounting calls for him to step down, two years before his second four-year term expires. And for good reasons, I believe. Yes, Mr. Chen's image has been tainted by recent developments. His son-in-law, Chao Chien-ming has been indicted on charges of insider trading. First Lady Wu Shu-chen has been questioned about accepting department store gift vouchers. His former deputy chief-of-staff, Chen Che-nan, faces corruption charges. And Mr. Chen himself is being investigated for an under-documented portion of his state affairs budget. I'm all for the downfall of Mr. Chen if he's to be found guilty of any violation of the law by the judiciary. However, the president hasn't even been charged yet and there's no credible indication of such an outcome.
Politics is politics and the opposition is under no obligation to be nice to Mr. Chen. In a democracy, the opposition has every right to make life miserable for the ruling party, as along as they're doing it within the existing channels to play the game. However, they have tried their hands to evict Mr. Chen from office and failed — a vote on a possible recall referendum on the president was defeated at the Legislative Yuan, or parliament, two months ago. The Pan-Blue camp now is trying to mobilize the people to topple a democratically-elected government. This is not the way to address your grievances — the ballot box is.
And if you haven't read it, former AIT Chairman Nat Bellocchi's commentary yesterday in the Taipei Times should not be missed:
These days, Taiwanese media spend almost all of their energy on producing stories about the need for President Chen Shui-bian (
陳水扁 ) to step down, despite the lack of judicial evidence that he has committed any illegal act. The purpose of all this is not primarily to destroy the president, but to keep him and his government occupied on this issue while the pan-blue opposition prepares for the forthcoming elections.The opposition has failed to have Chen legally recalled and now is turning to political means. The difference in the present effort is that it is being made by non-governmental organizations and individuals, based primarily on information that has not been proven.
Nonetheless, it has generated a large number of supporters, mostly pan-blue of course, but also some intellectuals and dissatisfied pan-green followers. However, increasingly we now see more of the intellectuals, some of whom were originally gung-ho with their anti-Chen rhetoric, questioning the wisdom of bringing Chen down.
[Taiwan]
Can you believe the guy used to write for the Apple Daily?
ReplyDeleteHe's written a lot of other good stuff on Taiwan since jumping ship. Well worth keeping an eye out for.
I've heard that Apple Daily, despite its lurid reputation, has good political commentary also.
ReplyDeleteAs for the whole "dao Bian" situation, it makes me tremendously sad. If Chen steps down now, it would set a terrible precident -- guilt by association, scuttlebutt unsubstantiiated by the courts and mass hysteria would now become established means of forcing a rival out of power. The level of political discourse in Taiwan is already unsustainably low. Any lower and we'd all be rolling in the gutter.
On the other hand, I am certainly not a Chen fan. I think he allowed his selfish desire for personal political survival overtake the longterm well-being of his party and his political ideals. Had he given up power voluntarily when things started looking untenably hairy for him (maybe around the time of his son in law's scandal first broke), he would have salvaged a lot of goodwill and handed the better part of a term to Annette Lu. The DDP would then have a chance to prove itself and leave the scandal behind before 2008. Similarly, I don't think Clinton did anything wrong that merited impeachment -- the rightwing just went insane. Nevertheless, if he graciously handed power to Al Gore and defused the scandal in its tracks, we might not have to call Bush president right now.
432. September plot (8/30/06)
ReplyDeleteThough the price is two digits gain annually, there is a limit for it. When house value reaches a point that people have no ability or interest to buy. The bubble faces a pop up.
But the target is still there, that's why we saw the plots came one after another. In less than two months, only in "terror attack" phase, there were: Sears Tower bombing plot; NYC Tunnel bombing plot; Mumbai bombing; London liquid explosive case. What's next? September plot.
Started from April 2001, when secret police of US and China made a first deal to frame a drug case, there were several similar case attempted to frame on me. I think there is a new one planned in September.
In 7/26 to 7/29, 2006, the Minister of Public Security of China visited US. He made a joint announcement with General Attorney Gonzalez that Chinese police will cooperate with US law enforcement to deport criminal suspect, anti-terror, drug smuggling .....
I have continually pointed out when China made a secret deal with US, there used to be a celebrity to confirm the deal such like Robert Mueller, Rice, Bush, Schwarzenneger...... Mr. Zhou Yon Kong - Chinese Chief Police's visit is for another secret deal. It's likely the repeat of old tactic: arrange a drug smuggling. From former experience of case, it used to take a month and something for police to frame a drug smuggling. So something will happen in September.
Taiwan used to be a payment in secret deal. The situation there proves my opinion. The target, President Chen Shui Bian, will visit a South Pacific Island country in 9/3 to 9/6. (I have alleged Chen Shui Bian had been as a payment when he was arranged for a dangerous sea tour in same country last May. see " 367. China's role and the payment to it (12/27/05)")The decision was announced a week ago. And on 9/9, a big movement in Taipei will start to push Chen stepping down from presidency.
The movement is activated by Shih Ming De - former Chairman of DP Party. (Chen just resigned from the Chairman of DPP under the pressure) Shi Ming De called for one million people to sitting at the President's office to oust him. Each participant must donate 100 yean (equal to 3 US dollars) to prove his will. He said the sitting movement will start right away when 100 million yuen is reached. The headquarter estimated it would take a month to reach the goal. But within a week, the donation reached 109 million. The headquarter closed the donation account. But say they don't know when to start the movement. Why, do they want no more people to join the ousting President movement? Why Shih Ming De broke his promise not to start the movement once the 100 million yuen was collected?
I know the answer. The drug in framed case will be delivered in September. The payment to China - the stepping down of Taiwan President who pro-independence, is only planned to cash out when the framed case broke out successfully. The headquarter wrongly estimated the time. So when the goal was reached, they had to close it. Otherwise they would be accused of "greedy" for not starting the protest but keeping on collect money. But also they couldn't explain why not start the protest as they promised. After another week's delay, Shi Ming De announced the starting date will be at 9/9. He has to follow his master's order - the intelligence of US.
The framed case planned to break out in September. Maybe as early as 9/2. (Chen Shui Bian is arranged to visit Be Lui on 9/3) And 9/2 is the start of a long week end when Feds have more time to murder in jail.
Add: In this week end, Feds may murder one of my parents to arrange a family meeting. They may create a tunnel bombing when my sister has to take the bart from Oakland to San Francisco while the Bay Bridge is suddenly closed for week-ends. See story in next message. (added on 8/31/06)
People who are against the dao Bian campaign always say: 'but the courts, the courts!' What if the courts are not impartial and have no credibility with the Taiwan people? If that's the case, people will certainly not want to wait for the courts.
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