Thu, Mar 25, 2004 page1

• Chen offers to meet Lien, Soong

  RECONCILIATION EFFORT The president extended an olive branch to the KMT and PFP chairmen, but the opposition leaders said Chen had set preconditions that were unacceptable

  • By Lin Chieh-yu / STAFF REPORTER
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  President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) sought to show his goodwill yesterday, saying he is willing to meet Chinese Nationalist Party Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) and People First Party Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) and to form a task force to bring about ethnic harmony.

  Chen's offer was immediately rejected by the blue-camp leaders.

  

  President Chen Shui-bian, right, shakes hands with Chai Sung-lin, chief executive of the Society Improvement Foundation, and other opinion leaders at the Presidential Office yesterday. Chen was soliciting opinions on how to resolve the dispute over the presidential election.

  PHOTO: CNA

  "My last battle has been fought," Chen told 11 leaders of social groups at the Presidential Office. "I am the president of all 23 million Taiwanese people, not just those 6.47 million voters [who voted for me], so I am going to listen to all kinds of voices, especially to those who opposed me."

  "Mr. Lien and Mr. Soong suggested having a meeting with me, which is what I expected, and I have heard those criticisms from my respected opponents," Chen said.

  "I would like to exchange points of view with them and discuss how to rule the country, as well as how to ease ethnic conflicts," he said.

  Chen also urged the opposition chairmen to call off demonstrations in front of the Presidential Office, saying this would provide a reasonable atmosphere for their meeting.

  Chen and Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) met with opinion leaders at the Presidential Office yesterday to seek advice on resolving the election dispute.

  Chen's guests said they hoped the president could put aside ideology and tolerate the emotional reaction of the demonstrators. They called on Chen to work toward ending ethnic conflict.

  Chen said he would deal with the demonstrators peacefully and said the major effect of the election was to remind him to review mistakes.

  "My escaping death has changed my view of life. I fully realize my duty for the next four years," he said.

  Chen said he will follow Academia Sinica President Lee Yuan-tseh's (李遠哲) advice to address ethnic conflicts in his second term.

  The social leaders meeting with the president said they expected him to work toward a recount to dispel the concerns of opposition supporters.

  "The dignity of the justice system must be defended. Therefore, we urge both sides to respect the justice system in adjudicating the election dispute and to accept the result," said C. V. Chen (陳長文), president of the Red Cross Society of the ROC.

  C. V. Chen said the president must still do his best to realize a speedy recount.

  Michael Hsiao (蕭新煌), an Academia Sinica sociologist and national policy adviser to the president, said that while the government must tolerate demonstrators, Chen Shui-bian should respect his supporters' feelings, adding they have been denied the opportunity to celebrate his victory to avoid provoking the opposition.

  Chiu Hei-yuan (瞿海源), a political observer and sociology professor at National Taiwan University, and Chai Sung-lin (柴松林), chief executive of the Society Improvement Foundation, said ethnic conflicts have gradually been reduced over the generations, but that elections always agitate the issue.

  "Our society does have ethnic conflict, which no one can ignore. We suggest the president set up a task force for ethnic harmony," Chiu said.

  The opposition alliance turned down Chen Shui-bian's offer last night, rejecting a condition that opposition protesters must disperse.

  "His preconditions are not reasonable. What we request is for him to speak to us personally," Soong said on the sidelines of a news conference.
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