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Shih plans siege on Presidential Office on Double Ten Day

The leader of the campaign to oust the president has said that, for his next large-scale demonstration, he will call on protesters to once again besiege the Presidential Office, this time on "Double Ten Day" -- Oct. 10, Taiwan's National Day.

The Taiwan Society announced it would hold a rally on the same day in support of the president, once again raising the specter of possible violence.

"We appeal to those members of the public who are concerned about corruption to walk to the Presidential Office on October 10, wearing red clothes and making the thumbs-down gesture, so as to prevent the president from getting in and out of the Presidential Office," Former Democratic Progressive Party chairman Shih Ming-teh (施明德) told a press conference.

As the sit-in rally aimed at forcing President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) from office entered its 10th day yesterday, Shih said that Chen wasn't listening to the people.

Presidential Office Secretary-General Mark Chen (陳唐山) told a rally on Saturday that Chen would stay on until May 20, 2008, when his term expires.

"Mark Chen's remarks proved that the president has not undergone any self-examination," Shih said.

Noting that by convention the government holds a flag-raising ceremony and a series of celebrations in front of the Presidential Office to commemorate the national day, Shih said: "A siege on that day would ensure that the people's voices are heard around the world."

Meanwhile, former DPP legislator Chien Hsi-chien said that he had staged a non-violent demonstration asking the government to do away with Article 100 of the Criminal Law (刑法) on Oct. 10, 1991, during which protesters occupied the president's parade review stand.

"The article was revoked as a result of the action. While I was prosecuted at that time, I was later found not guilty. I believe [Shih's] siege of the Presidential Office will succeed," Chien said.

Article 100 of the Criminal Law was used as a basis to persecute dissidents during the Martial Law era and led to the "White Terror" period.

Chien said that Shih's movement would train 5,000 non-violent activists to act as "peacekeepers" during the siege on Oct. 10.

"On Oct. 10, they will stand between the police and the people," he said.
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