People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) last night supported Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan's (連戰) contention that the result of the election should be declared invalid.
"Taiwan's democracy is the most effective weapon to resist the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). If we Taiwanese destroyed this weapon on our own, what other defensive weapons do we have [to counter the CCP]?" Soong yelled to supporters gathering at the KMT-PFP alliance's campaign headquarters after the election result was announced last night.
Soong accused the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of cheating in counting votes and urged everyone to support Lien's decision.
"This unfair election was full of doubtful points. This unfair election let us see clearly the political manipulations from the very beginning of campaigning to the end of the election," Soong said
"I believe everyone knows what I am talking about," he said.
Soong said that he believed that people who support the KMT-PFP alliance are people who are moderate and rational and are confident about Taiwan's democracy. He urged supporters to support Lien's allegations and make their voices heard calmly and rationally, telling the whole world that Taiwan's election was unjust.
Hundreds of thousands of the pan-blue camp's supporters reacted to Soong with cheers and chants. The deafening noise and clamor brought the audience's emotions to a peak.
"The unjust election will not bring the people of Taiwan a real stable life," Soong said.
"Only when we Taiwanese tell the world that we want a true democracy will the world respect us," he said.
"We don't want a unfair election, do we?" Soong yelled.
Although he did not recognize the results announced last night, he said yesterday morning after casting his ballot that Taiwan's democracy would be deepened after the presidential election.
Soong confirmed that the people of Taiwan showed their composure and reasonableness when facing the shooting of President Chen Shui-bian (
Soong said that the KMT-PFP alliance's decision to cancel its massive campaign rallies on Friday showed its true democratic attitude, which was worthy of being praised by people and the international society.
Soong added that it is a true performance of democracy that people can decide on their own whether to vote in the referendum. Soong and his wife and daughter did not vote in the referendum, which was held simultaneously with the election.
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
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