319 committee calls for president's recall

"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."

Wang Ching-feng, March 19 Shooting Truth Investigation Special Committee chairwoman

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 (王清峰) told a press conference.

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 (李昌鈺) report was different from the way Chen usually dressed when making outdoor visits.

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 (陳文宗) called the findings unacceptable.

"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 (李俊毅).