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President attends Matsu festival, prays for peace

Dancers perform in front of the Fengtien Temple in Chiayi County to welcome a statue of the Taoist goddess Matsu at the temple yesterday. The statue from Chenlan Temple in Taichung County is on a pilgrimage to temples in other parts of Taiwan. PHOTO: SEAN CHAO, TAIPEI TIMES

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) made an unprecedented appearance yesterday at a temple in Chiayi County to attend a prayer ceremony, sharing the stage with controversial independent lawmaker Yen Ching-piao (顏清標).

To celebrate the birthday of Matsu (媽祖) -- goddess of the sea in Taoist beliefs -- Chen offered his prayers and shook hands with Yen at the Fengtien Temple (奉天宮), where the annual eight-day pilgrimage, which takes a palanquin bearing Matsu through central Taiwan, reached its half-way point.

At midnight Saturday, the starting ceremony in Tachia Chenlan Temple (鎮瀾宮), Taichung County, kicked off the 322.4km journey of the Tachia Matsu procession.

The co-appearance of Chen and Yen triggered speculation that the president sought to court support from the lawmaker ahead of the presidential election. Yen is also the chairman of Chenlan Temple, where Matsu's image is located.

The procession is one of the most important religious rituals in Taiwan. While politicians pay homage to Matsu, they seize the chance to lobby support from the followers of the goddess.

PFP Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) and KMT Vice Chairman Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) showed up at the starting ceremony last week, interacting warmly with Yen.

It was the first time that Chen attended the annual ceremony. Before then the president had avoided any contact with Yen in an effort to fulfill his vow to sever ties with murky "black gold" politics.

A gangster-turned politician, Yen was convicted last year on charges of corruption, attempted murder, possession of illegal firearms and obstruction of justice.

When campaigning for DPP lawmakers in 2001, the president had criticized Yen when the latter was detained for corruption, saying Yen could not be free from trouble even if he "prayed for help from Matsu."

In the presidential campaign in 2000, Chen had used Yen to attack Soong, saying Soong had "succumbed to corruption" because of his close relations with Yen.

During the ceremony, the president prayed for world peace and peace across the Strait.

Recalling his childhood memories, Chen said Matsu is the first goddess he was familiar with because the elderly often told him to pray to her, as she would grant him good luck and a good life.

The president said the Matsu procession is not only a national event, it is also a well-known international cultural activity and a source of pride for Taiwanese.

At a time when China is affected by the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), the president suggested Matsu followers not to embark on their tour to China, as they had practiced in the past.

He urged the followers to stay in Taiwan and arrange travel plans in the country because the scenic spots in Taiwan are no less attractive than those in China.
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