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Campaign Special ( The Victors) - `Nation needs to stick together'

By Chang Yun-ping
STAFF REPORTER
Sunday, Mar 21, 2004, Page 16

Crowds of cheering supporters of President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Annette Lu gather outside the pan-green camp's Taoyuan campaign headquarters after Chen and Lu were declared winners in yesterday's presidential election. PHOTO: LUO CHENG-MING, TAIPEI TIMES

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday promised to make every effort to unify all ethnic groups, strengthen belief in Taiwan and persist in reform after his successful re-election bid.

"[Vice President] Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) and I will courageously carry on the great responsibility bestowed on us by the people," Chen said.

"We will make every effort to unify all ethic groups, to strengthen belief in Taiwan and to persist in reform. We will strive to make Taiwan a better place and enable our people to live better lives," Chen said.

Addressing a jubilant crowd in front of Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) national campaign headquarters, Chen appealed to all of supporters not to demonstrate any arrogance and to refrain from any irrational or undemocratic behavior.

"The election is over and even though there are people who have different ideologies and beliefs, from now on we must all embrace each other, creating a harmonious and unified new Taiwan through our love and tolerance," Chen said. "The whole world is watching Taiwan's democracy, and the 23 million people of Taiwan will get a thumbs up from the world."

Supporters of President Chen Shui-bian that gathered in front of the DPP's election campaign headquarters in Taipei were overjoyed yesterday when they heard that Chen had been re-elected. PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING, TAIPEI TIMES

Party officials appeared concerned that emotions were running high and kept a low-key attitude in celebrating.

Winning a close election race against his -- Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) and People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) by a margin of only 0.228 percent, Chen yesterday extended his respects to Lien and Soong and said his administration would engage in serious dialogue with the opposition parties.

"I want to thank the KMT and PFP parties for their criticism and suggestions during this campaign period. Over the next four years, I will continue to listen to different views and accept different suggestions.

Chen also appealed to Beijing leaders to respect the election results and to work toward mutual benefits across the Strait.

"We sincerely ask the Beijing authorities across the Strait to view the election result from a positive perspective and to accept the democratic decision of the Taiwanese people.

"Through mutual understanding, sincerity and goodwill, and with great wisdom and broad views, the leaders on both sides should jointly initiate new opportunities for peace, stability and mutual benefit," Chen said.

Meanwhile, Chen affirmed the democratic value of the referendum but said there was room for improvement.

"The people of Taiwan have once again written a new page in our history and taken a great step forward in democracy. Because it is the first time, some of our people have not fully understood the democratic value and implementation of this referendum. As such there is much room for future improvement," Chen said.

Although the referendum didn't pass, Chen once again appealed to China to understand the Taiwanese people's will in wanting democracy and peace and the removal of missiles deployed against Taiwan.

"We ask them to remove the missiles deployed against Taiwan, give up their military threat and instead let us together open the door to peaceful and stable cross-strait dialogue and negotiations," the president said.

In response to Lien and Soong's decision to file a lawsuit to nullify the election results, DPP Secretary General Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) said the party respects the legal right of the KMT-PFP alliance candidates to file such a lawsuit, but urged their supporters not to provoke a riot.

"We recognize Lien and Soong's right to file a lawsuit. After all, they are showing their disapproval of the election results within the legal system. But we condemn any provocations," Chang said.

As for whether Lien and Soong have sent their regards to Chen on his re-election, DPP campaign manager Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) said Lien and Soong had not made any phone calls nor made any other effort to congratulate Chen the president.
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