The Presidential Office said yesterday it is regrettable that the pan-blue alliance leaders have refused to meet with President Chen Shui-bian (
Presidential Office spokesman James Huang (
Huang said the two pan-blue leaders, KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) and People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜), took the initiative to meet with Chen to discuss disputes over the March 20 presidential election outcome.
After Chen agreed to meet with them unconditionally, Huang said, the pan-blue alliance brought up a new proposal that legislation be enacted to allow for the formation of an investigative committee under the Legislative Yuan to probe the election-eve assassination attempt on the president, as well as the incident's impact on the presidential election outcome.
In response to the pan-blue alliance's new request, Huang said, Chen directed Presidential Office Secretary-General Chiou I-jen (
"The Ministry of Justice and the legislative caucus of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) both oppose the proposal on the grounds that forming such a special committee violates the ROC Constitution and existing laws," Huang said
He added that the Cabinet is still studying how to accommodate the pan-blue alliance's request within the legal framework.
Huang said he feels regret that the pan-blue alliance has rejected a Chen-Lien-Soong meeting simply because of the two sides' different views on the necessity of setting up a special investigative committee.
But KMT Secretary-General Lin said an independent inquiry into the election-eve shooting is equally important.
"We want truth, fairness, justice and rule of law," Lin said.
He claimed that the rejection of the pan-blue alliance's proposal for the formation of a special investigative committee to look into the shooting and the activation of a so-called national security mechanism in the wake of the incident indicates that Chen is insincere in offering to meet with Lien and Soong.
Eight restaurants in Taiwan yesterday secured a one-star rating from the Michelin Guide Taiwan for the first time, while three one-star restaurants from last year’s edition were promoted to two stars. Forty-three restaurants were awarded one star this year, including 34 in Taipei, five in Taichung and four in Kaohsiung. Hosu (好嶼), Chuan Ya (川雅), Sushi Kajin (鮨嘉仁), aMaze (心宴), La Vie by Thomas Buhner, Yuan Yi (元一) and Frassi in Taipei and Front House (方蒔) in Kaohsiung received a one-star rating for the first time. Hosu is known for innovative Taiwanese dishes, while Chuan Ya serves Sichuan cuisine and aMaze specializes
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