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Chen says he'll forge on as president

President Chen Shui-bian squeezes his way between two trees during a visit to the Anping Treehouse in Tainan yesterday. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE TAINAN CITY GOVERNMENT

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) issued a statement late Friday night in which he said he would not resign despite calls from across the political spectrum to do so, and pledged to uphold Taiwan consciousness and social justice in the last two years of his presidency.

The statement came on the eve of the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) national congress yesterday. Chen did not attend the two-day meeting.

His 3,000-word statement, entitled Democratic Predicament and Political Ethics was a response to calls for him to step down due to a string of corruption scandals involving his close aides and family.

"Insistence on `Taiwan awareness' and the fulfillment of social fairness and justice are A-bian's [Chen's nickname] core values for the next two years. Localization, culture, environmental protection, ecology and the weak will all be the key focuses of efforts," the president said.

"Looking back at the difficult situation facing A-bian and the whole administrative team every day over the past six years, and the various disturbances recently, it would definitely be a release for A-bian and my family if I resigned," he said.

He added that he owes a huge debt to his family for their support over the past 25 years, and that his wife even became disabled because he chose to enter politics.

"I have repeatedly thought about quitting politics, so as to keep far away from all the disturbances. But such difficulties are not worth mentioning to the public. It is also inappropriate for me to ask for the public's sympathy," the president said.

Chen said that in light of the wrangling between the pan-blue and pan-green camps, creating a suitable new constitution was the key to consolidating and deepening democracy.

If Taiwan loses its sovereignty and becomes a second Hong Kong, its democracy will have no opportunity to develop further, Chen said.

Taiwan now stands for democracy, he said, and greater achievements will only come if its political system is strengthened.

In response to a call from some pan-green academics on July 15 asking for him to resign, Chen said that he was willing to humbly accept advice. He said he believed the academics' intentions were good, and called on others not suspect their motives.

"I am willing to thoroughly engage in introspection ... and I pray that the people will continue to push me and give me the strength to complete missions that have not yet been completed," he said.

In terms of the DPP's affairs, Chen said he will not serve as its chairman again while president. He added that he supported a proposal for the DPP's Central Standing Committee to serve as a platform for policy coordination and consultation between the party, the Executive Yuan and the DPP legislative caucus.

"Especially after handing over some of my powers [to the premier], the DPP, the administration, and the party's legislative caucus have to share responsibility together. As for A-bian's personal power, this does not matter at all," the president said.
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