CNA, with Staff Writer
The group sponsoring a campaign to depose President Chen Shui-bian (
Ho Teh-fen (賀德芬), spokeswoman for the anti-Chen Shui-bian campaign launched by former Democratic Progressive Party chairman Shih Ming-teh (施明德) condemned former DPP legislator Lin Cheng-chieh's (林正杰) attack on Contemporary Monthly editor-in-chief Chin Heng-wei (金恆煒) during the Formosa Television talk show The People Talk on Thursday night, saying that the "Depose Chen" group deplores any kind of violence.
PHOTO: CNA
Ho said Lin was not a staff member at the campaign headquarters and that his act of violence had nothing to do with the campaign. She said that he will be barred from the sit-in, scheduled to be launched in front of the Presidential Office at the start of next month.
According to Ho, Lin suggested that a team of bodyguards be organized to protect Shih during and before the sit-in. Ho added that Lin's suggestion was immediately rejected by the campaign's organizers.
"We condemn any act of violence. Any individual intending to take part in the sit-in protest must abide by our rules and discipline. We have stepped up personnel training to maintain order and discipline at the sit-in site after the protest begins early next month," Ho said.
Shih's camp yesterday also issued guidelines for its upcoming sit-in campaign next month. The exact date on which the sit-in will start has yet to be finalized by the group.
The guidelines stated that all participants must maintain a friendly attitude at all times; must show sympathy and compassion toward government officials or those who are against the rally and must not challenge government officials or those who are against the rally so unnecessary arguments or conflicts can be avoided.
The guidelines also asks participants not to fight back if they are attacked or challenged; not to carry any weapons or any items that could be used as weapons, follow the leadership and withdraw from the rally if they do not agree with the leaders.
Participants must not resist law enforcement officers unless fellow participants are humiliated or their human rights are invaded, the guidelines said.
"The leader [of the sit-in event] will only be replaced if an accident happens, such as being arrested, assassinated or so on," said Ho, adding that there will be a second-in-command who will take over should that happen.
Along with the guidelines, participants must also sign a card with a vow on it to promise that they will not be involved in any violence but will only deliver a message from the public to recall the president.
"It will simply be a democratic activity. We hereby refuse anybody who is planning to take advantage of the activity to deliver any private messages that do not concern our request to recall the president," Ho said.
A strong continental cold air mass is to bring pollutants to Taiwan from tomorrow, the Ministry of Environment said today, as it issued an “orange” air quality alert for most of the country. All of Taiwan except for Hualien and Taitung counties is to be under an “orange” air quality alert tomorrow, indicating air quality that is unhealthy for sensitive groups. In China, areas from Shandong to Shanghai have been enveloped in haze since Saturday, the ministry said in a news release. Yesterday, hourly concentrations of PM2.5 in these areas ranged from 65 to 160 micrograms per cubic meter (mg/m³), and pollutants were
Taiwan’s armed forces have established response protocols for a wide range of sudden contingencies, including the “Wan Chun Plan” to protect the head of state, the Ministry of Defense (MND) said today. After US President Donald Trump on Saturday launched a series of airstrikes in Venezuela and kidnapped Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, concerns have been raised as to whether China would launch a similar “decapitation strike” on Taiwan. The armed forces regularly coordinate with relevant agencies and practice drills to ensure preparedness for a wide range of scenarios, Vice Minister of National Defense Hsu Szu-chien (徐斯儉) told reporters before a
EVA Airways on Saturday said that it had suspended a pilot and opened an investigation after he allegedly lost his temper and punched the first officer several times as their plane was taxiing before takeoff at Los Angeles International Airport. According to a report published on Thursday by The Reporter, the incident occurred after the flight’s Malaysian first officer tried to warn the Taiwanese pilot, surnamed Wen (文), that he was taxiing faster than the speed limit of 30 knots (55.6kph). After alerting the pilot several times without response, the first officer manually applied the brakes in accordance with standard operating
NOT AN OPENING: Trump’s violation of international law does not affect China’s consideration in attacking Taiwan; Beijing lacks capability, not precedent, an official said Taiwanese officials see the US’ capture of the president of Venezuela as a powerful deterrent to Beijing’s aggression and a timely reminder of the US’ ability to defeat militaries equipped with Chinese-made weapons. The strikes that toppled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro signaled to authoritarian leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平), US President Donald Trump’s willingness to use military might for international affairs core to US interests, one senior official in Taipei’s security circle said. That reassured Taiwan, the person said. Taipei has also dismissed the idea that Trump’s apparent violation of international law could embolden Beijing, said the official, who was not
RSS