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Bald men back referendum

One hundred bald men hold up balls bearing the number ``one'' during a DPP campaign event in Taipei yesterday to encourage the public to vote for No 1 (Chen Shui-bian's candidacy number) on the presidential ballot and ``yes'' on the two referendum ballots. PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING, TAIPEI TIMES

A hundred bald men ran a race yesterday to kick off President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) campaign to promote the March 20 referendum.

The race, held a day after the country's largest-ever protest against China, signified a play on words, since the Chinese for "referendum" is similar to the phrase "bald head."

The "Referendum 100" campaign follows Saturday's massive demonstration in which an estimated 2 million Chen supporters formed a human chain spanning the length of Taiwan to protest against China's pointing of nearly 500 missiles at the nation.

Analysts say the peaceful rally was Chen's best chance of boosting voter support in his difficult battle with Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) for the presidency in the March 20 election.

Opinion polls last week had shown Chen and Lien running neck-and-neck, with a crucial fifth of voters still undecided.

"The Taiwanese people have expressed their incomparable will and determination to protect Taiwan's territory, sovereign status, democracy and economic prosperity, and to protect peace in the Taiwan Strait," Chen said yesterday.

"The Taiwanese people have expressed their incomparable will and determination to protect Taiwan's territory, sovereign status, democracy and economic prosperity."

President Chen Shui-bian

"On February 28, we joined hands. On March 20, we must take part in the referendum to save Taiwan," Chen said at the launch of the new "Referendum 100' campaign.

Chen said the "1" stood for his candidate number and the two zeros symbolized the two questions the referendum asks.

Voters will be asked whether Taiwan should increase its anti-missile defenses if China refused to withdraw its missiles, and if the two sides should open talks on forming a framework for peaceful and stable ties.
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