Former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairman Shih Ming-teh (施明德) yesterday lashed out at the DPP for mobilizing crowds to counter his protest against President Chen-Shui-bian (陳水扁), comparing the party to the Nazis and former Italian dictator Benito Mussolini.
"Only the Nazis, Mussolini's fascist Italy or the Chinese Cultural Revolution would mobilize crowds [in this way]. Because the military and police were controlled by the ruling party, their mobs believed they had nothing to fear under the government's umbrella," Shih said at Ketagalan Boulevard.
Shih made the remarks in response to the DPP's plan to mobilize people to attend a pro-Chen rally initiated by Taiwan Society, a pro-independence group, at Ketagalan Boulevard tomorrow.
The former DPP chairman said that Chen was behind the decision to mobilize a crowd, and would have to take full responsibility for any clashes between pro-Chen protesters and people attending his own sit-in demonstration.
"If a single person is harmed, President Chen will be the one to take responsibility. No one else in the pan-green camp can take the responsibility for him," Shih said.
"We will not provoke [the pro-Chen protesters]. Chen Shui-bian will have to shoulder the responsibility for any blood shed," he said.
While the pro-Chen rally is scheduled to be held on Ketagalan Boulevard tomorrow, Shih's camp plans to launch a symbolic "siege" of the Presidential Office and the president's official Yushan Residence tonight, followed by a march to Taipei Railway Station.
According to Shih, the siege will begin with the reading of a "peace pledge" at 7pm and end at 10pm. The protesters will return to their site off Ketagalan Boulevard at 12am.
Safety concerns prompted the Shih camp to cancel plans for protesters to hold candles during the parade, and participants are now being encouraged to bring flashlights or glowsticks instead.
Plans to hold a parade tomorrow and on Sunday were abandoned after the anti-Chen protesters failed to receive the Taipei City Police Department's approval, although they did receive permission to do so from Monday to Wednesday.
Facing concerns over possible clashes between the pro-Chen and anti-Chen crowds, Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (
According to a Central News Agency (CNA) report last night Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) Chairman Shu Chin-chiang (蘇進強), relaying comments made by former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝), said that street protests cannot replace democratic governance.
According to Shu, Lee also said that a nationwide strike would result in economic problems, and that the partisan split would give rise to more conflict and hatred -- all of which would harm Taiwan.
Shu said that Lee believes Chen should take responsibility for his problems and that legal procedures should be followed, adding that the media should refrain from making themselves the final judge of events.
In related news, an unidentified member of the DPP, apparently upset by the anti-Chen protest, committed suicide yesterday, the ETToday online newspaper reported.
The DPP member, who hanged himself, left a suicide note criticizing Ma and Shih and said he was disappointed by the sit-in protest as it failed to ensure a better future for Taiwan.
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