Mon, Nov 06, 2000 page1

• President offers apology to Lien Chan

  ACT OF CONTRITION In an attempt to defuse the political crisis and avoid a recall vote , the president went on TV to say he was sorry for the timing of the announcement that the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant would be canceled

  • STAFF WRITER
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  President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday apologized to the nation and KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) on television in an effort to quell growing dissatisfaction with his administration and its decision to scrap the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant.

  "I must support the determination of Premier Chang [Chun-hsiung (張俊雄)] to delay the decision no longer, but as for the problem of the timing of the announcement, I must take full responsibility.

  "I understand that Chairman Lien Chan is not concerned about `saving face,' but I must sincerely express my apology to Lien Chan and to the rest of the nation," Chen said during his video taped address.

  

  Shoppers stop yesterday to listen to President Chen Shui-bian say he was sorry that the timing of the announcement of the cancellation of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant had caused such political turmoil.

  PHOTO: CHANG CHIA-MING, TAIPEI TIMES

  In his comments, Chen said that since this was Taiwan's first transition of power and because he faces a majority in the Legislative Yuan, the new government "was bound to make some mistakes, no matter how hard it tried."

  "Since I stepped into office, I've worried considerably about the many problems this country faces, including cross-strait relations and foreign affairs," President Chen said.

  "In focusing on resolving some problems, I've overlooked the feelings of some people," he said.

  The KMT became irate after the government announced its decision to stop construction of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant minutes after Chen had held a live televised meeting with Lien on Oct. 27, their first meeting since Lien's loss to Chen in the election.

  After the announcement, the KMT called Chen "rude" and Lien Chan had said, "We can't afford to allow the government to be ruled by amateur players."

  The furor continued to build as lawmakers soon began considering moving to recall Chen over the policy decision.

  Even People First Party Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) decided to sit down with Lien Chan, once a bitter rival, and rally forces against the new government. Some even joked that, "It took [former president] Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) 12 years to split the KMT and Chen Shui-bian five months to bring them back together."

  But, just as all of this was coming to a climax, Taiwan was hit with two major disasters, the crash of Singapore Airlines flight SQ006 and Typhoon Xangsane.

  The disasters cooled the debate a little, but when President Chen personally called Lien Chan at his home to express his apologies for the ill-suited timing of the announcement cancelling the power plant, he was told that Lien had already gone to bed. Hence, yesterday's broadcasted apology.

  It is unclear, however, whether this apology will quiet cries from the opposition to recall the president. The legislature could, on Tuesday, push forward with the recall.

  The KMT, which holds a majority in the legislature, was untouched by Chen's contrition.

  "We can accept Chen's apology to the nation but it's unnecessary to apologize to Lien Chan," said KMT spokesman Jason Hu (胡志強), in a press conference called after the release of the tape yesterday.

  "As far as I know, the apology has had no affect on the thinking of the KMT's legislative caucus," Hu told reporters.

  He also queried the message of the apology saying, "What everyone is concerned about is not Lien Chan's personal feelings."

  Hu urged the president to respect the Constitution and to remember the importance of the constitutional powers of both the Legislative Yuan and the Executive Yuan.

  "The announcement to stop construction came even before it had been discussed in the legislature," Hu said.

  However, just days before the Oct. 27 announcement came, KMT lawmakers were threatening to boycott the budget if the government didn't make a decision on the matter by Nov. 3.

  Following Chen's comments, DPP heavyweights in the legislature urged him to take one further step and ask former president Lee to step in and help resolve the dispute.
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