The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) will send volunteers to guard the Chungtai Temple (中台禪寺) in Puli, Nantou County, from harassment by DPP supporters incensed by the pan-blue leanings of the head of the monastery.
Since last Tuesday, when Buddhist Master Wei Chueh (惟覺) urged his followers to vote for the pan-blue camp in Saturday's presidential election, the temple has been the center of protests, forcing it to announce yesterday that it would be closing for a month.
On Sunday, more than 100 people went to the temple to express their opposition to Wei Chueh's speech, drawing about 250 police officers to keep the peace.
The temple has received several letters from protesters, according to temple spokesman Shih Jian-yun (釋見允), and a follower of Wei Chueh was harassed when he tried to enter the temple.
DPP legislative caucus leader Tsai Huang-liang (蔡煌瑯) said yesterday that the party's local chapter in Puli would soon form a guard to protect the temple.
"We don't want to be trapped in the pan-blue camp's trick of having itself tortured to win sympathy," Tsai said.
Tsai said that the DPP had called for its supporters not to overreact to Wei Chueh's support for the pan-blue camp's presidential candidate, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (連戰), and his running mate, People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜).
Tsai also suggested that pan-green supporters stay away from the temple to show their respect for freedom of speech.
"We respect Master Wei Chueh's decision, which will be judged by the tribunal of public opinion," Tsai said.
KMT legislators, however, have been quick to criticize the DPP.
"We don't think that the DPP respects the temple's right to speak," Legislator Wang Chung-yu (
KMT Legislator Hung Hsiu-chu (
"For example, we also respect the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan's in support of the DPP," Hung said.
PFP caucus leader Hsieh Chang-chieh (謝章捷) yesterday urged the Ministry of Justice and the police to investigate the case.
Many domestic and foreign tourists were blocked from entering the temple yesterday. Some of them expressed disappointment but could only take photos from outside.
As well as incurring the ire of pan-green camp supporters, Wei Chueh has been criticized by other Buddhist leaders.
Buddhist Master Shih Chao-hui (釋昭慧) said last Thursday that Wei Chueh's branding the referendum on Saturday as illegal and urging Buddhists to boycott it was anti-democratic and that his behavior humiliated Buddhist circles.
ROLLER-COASTER RIDE: More than five earthquakes ranging from magnitude 4.4 to 5.5 on the Richter scale shook eastern Taiwan in rapid succession yesterday afternoon Back-to-back weather fronts are forecast to hit Taiwan this week, resulting in rain across the nation in the coming days, the Central Weather Administration said yesterday, as it also warned residents in mountainous regions to be wary of landslides and rockfalls. As the first front approached, sporadic rainfall began in central and northern parts of Taiwan yesterday, the agency said, adding that rain is forecast to intensify in those regions today, while brief showers would also affect other parts of the nation. A second weather system is forecast to arrive on Thursday, bringing additional rain to the whole nation until Sunday, it
LANDSLIDES POSSIBLE: The agency advised the public to avoid visiting mountainous regions due to more expected aftershocks and rainfall from a series of weather fronts A series of earthquakes over the past few days were likely aftershocks of the April 3 earthquake in Hualien County, with further aftershocks to be expected for up to a year, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. Based on the nation’s experience after the quake on Sept. 21, 1999, more aftershocks are possible over the next six months to a year, the agency said. A total of 103 earthquakes of magnitude 4 on the local magnitude scale or higher hit Hualien County from 5:08pm on Monday to 10:27am yesterday, with 27 of them exceeding magnitude 5. They included two, of magnitude
CONDITIONAL: The PRC imposes secret requirements that the funding it provides cannot be spent in states with diplomatic relations with Taiwan, Emma Reilly said China has been bribing UN officials to obtain “special benefits” and to block funding from countries that have diplomatic ties with Taiwan, a former UN employee told the British House of Commons on Tuesday. At a House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee hearing into “international relations within the multilateral system,” former Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) employee Emma Reilly said in a written statement that “Beijing paid bribes to the two successive Presidents of the [UN] General Assembly” during the two-year negotiation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Another way China exercises influence within the UN Secretariat is
Taiwan’s first drag queen to compete on the internationally acclaimed RuPaul’s Drag Race, Nymphia Wind (妮妃雅), was on Friday crowned the “Next Drag Superstar.” Dressed in a sparkling banana dress, Nymphia Wind swept onto the stage for the final, and stole the show. “Taiwan this is for you,” she said right after show host RuPaul announced her as the winner. “To those who feel like they don’t belong, just remember to live fearlessly and to live their truth,” she said on stage. One of the frontrunners for the past 15 episodes, the 28-year-old breezed through to the final after weeks of showcasing her unique