Fri, Jan 30, 2004 page3

• Chen repudiates Chirac for 'interfering'

  BACKLASH: The president said it was incomprehensible that his French counterpart, who has himself intiated a referendum, would criticize the nation's path to democracy

  • By Lin Chieh-yu / STAFF REPORTER
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  President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday repudiated French President Jacques Chirac for interfering in Taiwan's domestic affairs following his negative comments about the proposed referendum.

  Chirac on Monday described Taiwan's referendum as a "grave error" during a state banquet in honor of Chinese President Hu Jintao's (胡錦濤) visit to France.

  The French president said Taiwan's referendum was a unilateral destabilizing initiative that would disturb the status quo. "It would be a grave error. It would carry a heavy responsibility," Chirac said at the banquet.

  Taiwan immediately lodged a complaint with the French government about Chirac's remarks.

  "The referendum mechanism has been used in France since 1791 as a part of the nation's democracy. Nine referendums were held during the Fifth Republic period, and four under president Charles de Gaulle," Chen said at a reception at the Presidential Office for Fernando Sanchez-Arias, world president of the Junior Chamber International, an international federation for young leaders and entrepreneurs.

  "Even President Chirac himself has carried out a national referendum in 2000 to decide whether to adjust the length of the presidential term," Chen said.

  "It was incomprehensible to me that the head of state of such a nation, with a 213-year history of practicing referendums, could dare to interfere in another nation's domestic affairs," he said.

  Chen told Sanchez-Arias that the referendum was a necessary step on Taiwan's path toward a democratic system, which will be the most important mechanism to ensure Taiwan's security and the welfare of the country's future generations.

  Chen said that Taiwan's economy has taken a turn for the better, and that various infrastructure construction projects have been initiated, which means that the worst is over and the best times are yet to come.

  The reform process could not be stopped halfway, and no one could deprive Taiwan of its democracy, the president said.

  "Taiwan's way to democracy is a way we cannot abandon. We have to insist on the correct way and keep walking. It's a road of no return, and a milestone for Tai-wan's deep-rooting of democracy," Chen said.

  "Taiwanese people have a right to a referendum. Only by believing that no one can govern or betray us can Taiwan avoid becoming a local government of another country, changing the status quo unilaterally, and sending our children to the battlefield," Chen said.

  He also denied Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou's (馬英九) criticism that the referendum was illegal by referring to Ma's conservative stand at crucial moments in the past, especially his history of opposing the public's right to directly elect the president.

  "When I was still a legislator, I debated the direct election issue with Ma, who was then the minster of justice. It was later proved that we stood on the correct side of history, and this is still the mainstream public opinion," Chen said.

  The president has toned down the wording of the questions in the referendum, which is slated to be held along with the March 20 presidential election. Instead of being asked whether they want China to remove the 496 ballistic missiles targeted at Taiwan, voters will be asked whether they approve of Taiwan's defensive capabilities being upgraded against a possible Chinese military threat. Citizens will also be asked to vote on whether to negotiate for peaceful coexistence with China.
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