Featuring an array of songs for the entertainment of her supporters, Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu (陳菊) of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), staged an unconventional rally last night.
A number of old-fashioned singers, including Su Lan (素蘭) and Si Ching (西卿), were invited to perform at the event, which was titled: Our Love for Our Hometown, Our Songs.
Classic Taiwanese folk songs, such as Flower in the Rainy Night (雨夜花), were performed prior to Chen’s appearance on stage to make her campaign speech.
PHOTO: HUANG CHIA-LIN, TAIPEI TIMES
Participants at the rally cheered as Tainan County Commissioner Su Huan-chih (蘇煥智) spoke of Chen’s contribution to the nation’s democracy and human rights development. The crowd booed when Su mentioned Kaohsiung County Commissioner Yang Chiu-hsing (楊秋興), who withdrew from the DPP to run as an independent candidate.
“Kaohsiung residents must prove to everyone in Taiwan that they are capable of making the right choice by voting for the daughter of Taiwan, who has been fighting for Taiwan for 40 years,” Chen said.
During a trip to Kaohsiung County’s Cishan Township (旗山) earlier yesterday, Chen said she welcomed prosecutors’ decision not to indict her following an accusation from the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) that she neglected her duties during the typhoon on Sept. 19, saying that she was always honest with residents of the city.
“I will fight for support from voters with my character and administrative performance,” she said.
Kaohsiung prosecutors on Friday concluded an investigation into the accusation made by KMT Great Kaohsiung mayoral candidate Huang Chao-shun (黃昭順) and KMT Legislator Chiu Yi (邱毅), deciding not to indict Chen because although Chen did spend 2 hours and 36 minutes in her residence rather than at the city’s Disaster Prevention Center, she did not leave the center unattended.
Prosecutors said the law does not require mayors or deputy mayors to stay within the center throughout natural disasters.
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