Several Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators yesterday spoke out against plans by party Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) to hold a mass demonstration on May 20, the date of President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) inauguration.
The legislators said they supported calls two days ago by Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (
"The KMT should not initiate a mass rally carelessly. If the recount doesn't give us the expected result, a rally on May 20 will only hurt the KMT further," Legislator Apollo Chen (陳學聖), also a member of the party's central standing committee, said.
Previous pan-blue rallies to protest the result of the presidential election turned violent.
KMT legislators Lwo Shih-hsiung (
"Mayor Ma's suggestion did not get a kind response from Chairman Lien because the decision-making process was dominated by a few top-level officials," said KMT Legislator Hsu Chung-hsiung (徐中雄), also a central standing committee member.
Two days ago Ma said Lien needed to explain the KMT's direction and strategy.
Ma said the party chairman should explain in public how the KMT would face the result of the recount and detail how he would handle its relationship with the People First Party (PFP) and New Party. Ma said determining the direction of the party was more important than holding another rally on May 20.
Lien dismissed the mayor's suggestions, blaming Chen for failing to respond to the appeals of pan-blue supporters.
But Ma repeated his appeal yesterday, saying he hoped his suggestions would prompt Lien to sort out problems within the party.
"I know that many people support my viewpoints and I hope the party's leaders can voice their opinions quickly to relieve supporters' worries," Ma said.
Ma said he does not oppose the rally planned for May 20, adding he just wants Lien to reach a decision as soon as possible since the date of the rally is fast approaching.
When asked about KMT Taipei City councilors' demands that Lien and six KMT vice chairmen step down to take responsibility for the election failure, Ma said it was too early to discuss the matter since the recount hasn't been conducted.
Ma said responsibility for the presidential election should be discussed after December's legislative election.
Meanwhile, KMT Vice Chairman and Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (
"I cannot comment on this and I have not been involved in any discussion regarding this," Wang said.
"Everyone can think about it and exchange opinions on this," Wang said.
Wang disagreed with calls for Lien to step down.
"The recount is still in progress, and the party will hold a meeting to reflect on the presidential election campaign and decide who will shoulder responsibility," he said. "Everyone can voice their opinions then."
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) yesterday said it expected to issue a sea warning for Typhoon Fung-Wong tomorrow, which it said would possibly make landfall near central Taiwan. As of 2am yesterday, Fung-Wong was about 1,760km southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, moving west-northwest at 26kph. It is forecast to reach Luzon in the northern Philippines by tomorrow, the CWA said. After entering the South China Sea, Typhoon Fung-Wong is likely to turn northward toward Taiwan, CWA forecaster Chang Chun-yao (張峻堯) said, adding that it would likely make landfall near central Taiwan. The CWA expects to issue a land
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) yesterday said it is expected to issue a sea warning for Typhoon Fung-wong this afternoon and a land warning tomorrow. As of 1pm, the storm was about 1,070km southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, and was moving west-northwest at 28 to 32kph, according to CWA data. The storm had a radius of 250km, with maximum sustained winds of 173kph and gusts reaching 209kph, the CWA added. The storm is forecast to pass near Luzon in the Philippines before entering the South China Sea and potentially turning northward toward Taiwan, the CWA said. CWA forecaster Chang Chun-yao (張峻堯) said
PREPARATION: Ferry lines and flights were canceled ahead of only the second storm to hit the nation in November, while many areas canceled classes and work Authorities yesterday evacuated more than 3,000 people ahead of approaching Tropical Storm Fung-wong, which is expected to make landfall between Kaohsiung and Pingtung County this evening. Fung-wong was yesterday morning downgraded from a typhoon to a tropical storm as it approached the nation’s southwest coast, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said, as it issued a land alert for the storm. The alert applies to residents in Tainan, Kaohsiung, Pingtung and Taitung counties, and the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春). As of press time last night, Taichung, Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Yilan, Miaoli, Changhua, Yunlin, Pingtung and Penghu counties, as well as Chiayi city and county had
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) yesterday issued a sea alert for Typhoon Fung-wong (鳳凰) as it threatened vessels operating in waters off the Pratas Islands (Dongsha Islands, 東沙群島), the Bashi Channel and south of the Taiwan Strait. A land alert is expected to be announced some time between late last night and early this morning, the CWA said. As of press time last night, Taoyuan, as well as Yilan, Hualien and Penghu counties had declared today a typhoon day, canceling work and classes. Except for a few select districts in Taipei and New Taipei City, all other areas and city
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