The March 19 Shooting Truth Investigation Special Committee yesterday announced that the shooting of President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) did not occur as reported so therefore the election could have been manipulated. The committee said it would advise the Legislative Yuan to recall the presidency according to the law.
"Two preliminary findings have been made -- the gunshot that hit President Chen Shui-bian's abdomen did not occur at 1:45pm on March 19, 2004 on Jinghwa Road Sec. 3, and was not caused by a lead bullet and the motive of this incident might be rationally derived as to manipulate the election," committee spokeswoman Wang Ching-feng (
Wang said that the committee hoped the legislature would recall Chen's presidency according to the law, and that government officials associated with the incident who did not carry out their responsibilities properly would be impeached by the Control Yuan.
The committee was to forward its report to the Legislative Yuan following the press conference.
According to the committee, the results obtained from evidence that was picked out of trash bags were unreliable, and that national security units had been involved in the incident.
For instance, the way Chen wore his pants on the day of the shooting as described in forensic expert Henry Lee's (
Regarding the shooting motive, the committee eliminated suicide, murder attempts, or a crime committed by a mental patient.
The president, according to the committee, failed to respect the Constitution and the law, which led to the absurd fight between the government and the law.
Presidential Office spokesman Chen Wen-tsung (
"With no evidence to back up its claim, to call the shooting an election manipulation is an absurd conclusion," he said.
He said that the purpose of the committee itself was largely in violation of the Constitution.
"If the Chinese Nationalist Party [KMT] and People First Party follow the committee's advice to push to unseat Chen, there will be millions of pan-green supporters demonstrating in front of the legislature," said DPP caucus whip Lee Chun-yi (
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
Temperatures in northern Taiwan are forecast to reach as high as 30°C today, as an ongoing northeasterly seasonal wind system weakens, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said yesterday that with the seasonal wind system weakening, warmer easterly winds would boost the temperature today. Daytime temperatures in northern Taiwan and Yilan County are expected to range from 28°C to 30°C today, up about 3°C from yesterday, Tseng said. According to the CWA, temperature highs in central and southern Taiwan could stay stable. However, the weather is expected to turn cooler starting tonight as the northeasterly wind system strengthens again
COOLING OFF: Temperatures are expected to fall to lows of about 20°C on Sunday and possibly 18°C to 19°C next week, following a wave of northeasterly winds on Friday The Central Weather Administration (CWA) on Sunday forecast more rain and cooler temperatures for northern Taiwan this week, with the mercury dropping to lows of 18°C, as another wave of northeasterly winds sweeps across the country. The current northeasterly winds would continue to affect Taiwan through today, with precipitation peaking today, bringing increased rainfall to windward areas, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng (劉沛滕) said. The weather system would weaken slightly tomorrow before another, stronger wave arrives on Friday, lasting into next week, Liu said. From yesterday to today, northern Taiwan can expect cool, wet weather, with lows of 22°C to 23°C in most areas,
Taiwan sweltered through its hottest October on record, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, the latest in a string of global temperature records. The main island endured its highest average temperature since 1950, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng said. Temperatures the world over have soared in recent years as human-induced climate change contributes to ever more erratic weather patterns. Taiwan’s average temperature was 27.381°C as of Thursday, Liu said. Liu said the average could slip 0.1°C by the end of yesterday, but it would still be higher than the previous record of 27.009°C in 2016. "The temperature only started lowering around Oct. 18 or 19
RSS