Politics: President meets rescuers

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) met with three rescuers who successfully saved the lives of nearly all of the Chinese sailors stranded on a floating hostel ship that caught fire while at sea last month. Yang Jui-chi (楊瑞吉), Kuo Liang-chi (郭良吉) and Tsai Ping-hung (蔡炳宏) from the Marine Rescue Association of Pingtung County, southern Taiwan, defied strong winds and high seas brought by Typhoon Nakri on July 9 and rushed to the place where the ship Yuanshen was anchored, 1.85km off Kaohsiung reclaimed land, after learning about the accident by radio. The rescuers saved 133 of all the 134 Chinese fishermen aboard the floating hostel. One man jumped into the sea to escape the flames and was killed. His body has still not been recovered. President Chen said he was touched by the actions of the rescuers, and expressed his gratitude on behalf of the government and the people.