Pro-independence groups declare support for Chen

Amid the pan-blue camp's drive to oust President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), pro-independence groups yesterday voiced their support for Chen, saying that his in-laws' involvement in corruption cases was not sufficient cause to unseat him.

About 50 pro-independence groups, including the Taiwan Hand-in-Hand Alliance, World United Formosans for Independence, Taiwan Professors Association, the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan held a news conference yesterday afternoon to urge opposition parties to stop their "destructive action" and attempts to bring down the government.

The groups also said they expect that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government will conduct reforms in an effective and timely manner in order to regain the public's trust.

Taiwan Hand-in-Hand Alliance leader Ng Chiau-tong (黃昭堂) yesterday said that Chen's supporters felt disappointed and bitter about suspicions that his son-in-law Chao Chien-ming (趙建銘) was involved in insider trading. But hesaid Chen has apologized for the scandal and has vowed not to meddle in the investigations.

"Taiwan is a mature society that values law and order. We believe that the corruption allegations will be cleared up through the probes," Ng said. "But we cannot agree with the pan-blue camp's attempt to recall the president, which is nothing but a conspiracy led by Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) to seize power and stir up political instability."

The pro-independence groups also urged the DPP's factions to work together and put aside self-interest and political calculations in order to resolve the most severe crisis the party has ever faced.

DPP Legislator Chai Trong-rong (蔡同榮), who attended the news conference, said that the KMT's stolen assets were the biggest example of corruption.

Chai proposed a motion in the DPP's Central Standing Committee requesting that the party launch a referendum demanding that the KMT return the money it took from the treasury when it ruled Taiwan.