Thousands rally in Taiwan for Chen to quit
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-06-18 21:53
![Ma Ying-jeou(L), chairman of Nationalist Party and James Soong (R), chairman of the People First Party shout for Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian to step down during a rally the city of Changhua, roughly 150 km (90 miles) south of Taipei, June 18, 2006. [Reuters]](xin_160603182158466446089.jpg)
Ma
Ying-jeou(L), chairman of Nationalist Party and James Soong (R), chairman
of the People First Party shout for Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian to
step down during a rally the city of Changhua, roughly 150 km (90 miles)
south of Taipei, June 18, 2006. [Reuters] |
Thousands of people rallied in central Taiwan on Sunday, marking the third
straight weekend of protests calling for the Taiwan leader Chen
Shui-bian to resign over scandals involving his family and senior aides.
The demonstration in the city of Changhua, roughly 150 km (90 miles) south of
Taipei. Chen's public approval ratings have sunk to all-time lows amid
pressure from the opposition.
Holding placards, honking air horns and waving flags, the crowd on
Sunday chanted slogans for Chen to quit.
Members of the main opposition Nationalist Party kicked balls to knock down
drawings of Chen's family members, including wife Wu Shu-chen and son-in-law
Chao Chien-ming.
Wu has been accused of accepting millions of Taiwan dollars of department
store gift vouchers. Chao has been detained since late May on suspicion of
insider trading, and prosecutors last week rejected his lawyers' second appeal
for bail.
Chao and Wu have denied any wrongdoing.
Arguing that Chen is not fit to rule, the Nationalists and their allies
launched a recall motion in "parliament" last week which would authorise a
referendum on whether or not Chen should remain in office.
According to law in Taiwan, Tuesday will be the last day for Chen to
respond to the motion.
|
