Houston Community News >> Thousands Press for Taiwan President's Ouster
9/8/2007-- Thousands of
protesters blocked a central Taipei street and displayed candles in the shape of
the Chinese character for "fart" overnight to demand that Taiwan's President
Chen Shui-bian step down over suspected corruption.
The crowd gathered on the anniversary of a 2006 demonstration against the
president that drew about 50,000 people on day one and lasted more than a month.
The protesters said matters had worsened.
"The difference between this year and last is that Chen is more of an insult
now," said demonstrator Crystal Hsu, 50, a Taipei school teacher. "He's worse
than a fart."
The protesters blocked a boulevard in front of the president's office wearing
red shirts and illuminated red devil horns while shouting for Chen to resign.
Mr Chen did not address the demonstration.
Demonstrators used 30,000 candles to form the character for "fart", which also
means reckless talking.
In November last year, Mr Chen's wife was indicted for corruption involving
suspected misuse of $T14.8 million ($541,160) from a presidential office state
affairs fund.
Prosecutors have said they will also indict Mr Chen once he has to quit the
presidency next May, ending eight years in office and of immunity from charges.
Protest organiser Shih Ming-teh, a 25-year political prisoner and former ruling
Democratic Progressive Party chairman, shook Taiwan a year ago with the month of
protests against Mr Chen.
"This is an extremely important activity in Taiwan history," Mr Shih told the
crowd through a loud hailer. "No one can say the work of Shih Ming-teh's red
shirt army is over."
Mr Chen has said he would resign if a lower court found his family guilty of
corruption.