Taiwan's opposition Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Ma Ying-jeou said
yesterday he will issue an open letter on Saturday requesting that
the Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian to step down for alleged
corruption.
Ma's letter will coincide with the start of a protest headed by
Shih Ming-teh, former chairman of Chen's ruling Democratic
Progressive Party (DPP), to oust the scandal-tainted leader,
according to Taiwan media reports.
His open letter will be advertised in major newspapers of Taiwan
on Saturday, the reports said.
At a meeting in Taipei, Ma said he will personally support the
campaign launched by Shih to ensure the DPP doesn't divert public
attention from the anti-corruption drive.
Ma, also mayor of Taipei, told reporters that a leader should
not be allowed to stay in power when corruption allegations are
that serious. He stressed that he will call on DPP Chairman Yu
Shyi-kun and "Premier" Su Tseng-chang to state clearly their
stances on the issue.
Both Yu and Su as well as the DPP oppose the anti-Chen
campaign.
Ma, who had been widely criticized for his apparently
indifferent attitude to the anti-Chen bid, said he will go to the
protest site on Saturday to show his support.
His high-profile decision comes just days before Shih starts the
indefinite round-the-clock sit-in protest on Saturday in front of
Chen's offices.
Shih has secured the endorsement of more than one million people
for his "anti-graft, anti-greed" campaign.
Chen has pledged to stay in office.
"Different political ideas should be solved through the
constitutional system and any corruption allegations through
judicial investigation," he said in a speech on Sunday before
departing for Palau.
"Any violation of the law, any attempt to make trouble or any
attempt to challenge the government's authority will not be
allowed."
In June, Chen survived an unprecedented recall motion launched
by the KMT and People First Party. His troubles began in May after
his son-in-law Chao Chien-ming was detained on suspicion of insider
trading and bribe-taking.
(China Daily September 5, 2006)