One of the key organizers of the campaign to oust the president for alleged graft resigned yesterday in disgrace after it emerged that her political party kicked her out because she was convicted on bribery charges 12 years ago.
Wang Li-ping (
Wang said that she would continue to be associated with the anti-corruption campaign as a volunteer.
Wang was convicted of bribery during the Yunlin County Council speaker election in 1994. She received a seven-month jail sentence, and a two-year suspended sentence.
She also came under fire yesterday for getting caught leaving the "around-the-clock sit-in" protest to go to a sauna.
Wang confirmed that she did go to a sauna, saying that she was tired at the time and needed a place to rest.
The DPP recently questioned Wang's credibility in taking part in the anti-corruption campaign, and decided to revoke her membership Friday.
The anti-President Chen Shui-bian (
Meanwhile, other Shih campaign backers were also coming under fire.
DPP Legislator Wang Shih-cheng (王世堅) questioned the motives of anti-Chen "consultant" Hsu Po-yun (許博允), who traveled to China via Macau three days ago.
Wang Shih-cheng accused Hsu of reporting to Chinese authorities on the progress of the anti-Chen campaign on behalf of Shih, then receiving further instructions.
The anti-Chen campaign's news coordinator, Chang Fu-chung (張富忠), said Wang Shih-cheng's charges were pure fantasy, and that the headquarters was under no obligation to clarify details of Hsu's trip.
Hsu is reportedly in Xinjiang attending an international "Asian culture coalition" conference.
When contacted by reporters, Hsu condemned Wang Shih-cheng's charges. He said he would return to Taiwan this Thursday or Friday to clarify the situation, and that he had not ruled out suing Wang Shih-cheng.
Meanwhile, the anti-Chen campaign announced that it will move its protest site to Jinan Road on the east side of the Legislative Yuan after its permit to occupy Ketagalan Boulevard expires at midnight on Wednesday.
The anti-Chen camp also outlined the route it planned to take for a "siege" on Sept. 30, which it hopes will attract more protesters than the Sept. 15 "siege."
Luo Shu-lei (羅淑蕾), a spokeswoman for the camp, said the rally will begin at Jinan Road at 3pm, and march along Zhongshan S Road, Nanjing E Road, Jianguo S Road and Renai Road.
The rally is scheduled to return to Jinan Road at midnight.
In addition to demanding the resignation of the president, the parade is also calling for ethnic reconciliation following violence between pro-Chen and anti-Chen protesters in several demonstrations around the nation.
"The goal of the campaign is to fight against corruption, but the focus of the protest has been shifted to ethnic confrontation. Therefore we want this parade to bring reconciliation to all ethnic groups," she said yesterday.
The rally, entitled the "seven-color peace parade," will also aim to move away from the focus on the color red -- with which the camp has become closely associated in recent weeks -- and embrace the colors of the rainbow.
The Taipei Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Wanda-Zhonghe Line is 81.7 percent complete, with public opening targeted for the end of 2027, New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) said today. Surrounding roads are to be open to the public by the end of next year, Hou said during an inspection of construction progress. The 9.5km line, featuring nine underground stations and one depot, is expected to connect Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Station to Chukuang Station in New Taipei City’s Jhonghe District (中和). All 18 tunnels for the line are complete, while the main structures of the stations and depot are mostly finished, he
The first global hotel Keys Selection by the Michelin Guide includes four hotels in Taiwan, Michelin announced yesterday. All four received the “Michelin One Key,” indicating guests are to experience a “very special stay” at any of the locations as the establishments are “a true gem with personality. Service always goes the extra mile, and the hotel provides much more than others in its price range.” Of the four hotels, three are located in Taipei and one in Taichung. In Taipei, the One Key accolades were awarded to the Capella Taipei, Kimpton Da An Taipei and Mandarin Oriental Taipei. Capella Taipei was described by
EVA Airways today confirmed the death of a flight attendant on Saturday upon their return to Taiwan and said an internal investigation has been launched, as criticism mounted over a social media post accusing the airline of failing to offer sufficient employee protections. According to the post, the flight attendant complained of feeling sick on board a flight, but was unable to take sick leave or access medical care. The crew member allegedly did not receive assistance from the chief purser, who failed to heed their requests for medical attention or call an ambulance once the flight landed, the post said. As sick
Minister of Economic Affairs Kung Ming-hsin (龔明鑫) yesterday said that private-sector refiners are willing to stop buying Russian naphtha should the EU ask them to, after a group of non-governmental organizations, including the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), criticized the nation’s continued business with the country. While Taiwan joined the US and its Western allies in putting broad sanctions on Russia after it invaded Ukraine in 2022, it did not explicitly ban imports of naphtha, a major hard-currency earner for Russia. While state-owned firms stopped importing Russian oil in 2023, there is no restriction on private companies to
RSS