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| 2005/6/7-9 [Politics/Domestic/California, Politics/Domestic/California/Arnold] UID:38014 Activity:high |
6/8 [ Re-posted after deletion by motd censor. It's not even 24 hours
old fer chrissakes - originally from 6/7 ]
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4616043.stm
Taiwan assembly passes changes: Future amendments will have to be
decided by referendums, which means the Assembly has effectively
voted for its own abolition.
But, later on, it says this:
However, analysts point out that the threshold for passing amendments
- 50% of the entire electorate, not just those who turn out to vote
- is very high, making it difficult to pass any controversial changes.
Here, it says, typical turnout is around 60%... http://csua.org/u/ca0
That means, in the future, for any amendments to pass, 82% of voters
need to approve, unless turnout is abnormally high.
\_ The failed assassination attempt on Ah Bian proves that Four
Eyes can't shoot.
\_ Yes, DPP has set up Taiwan for Buku-Bucks and big time detente.
Politically they're capitalizing on the KMT's pro-China visits.
You know how GOP folks complain about Democrats co-opting their
goals and vice versa? Same thing.
\_ Can you explain, elaborate, and/or provide url's? How does this
generate cash(Beacoup Bucks?). How does this represent the DPP
co-opting KMT's goals? As far as I understand, this just
makes it practically impossible to pass any kind of amendment.
Does it also make it impossible to pass other legislation? -op
\_ http://csua.org/u/cal (Post)
It makes it harder to pass changes to the Constitution, such
as: Taiwan is an independent and sovereign country, separate
from China (PRC).
\_ That's what it sounds like... then why did the DPP do it?
I thought their platform was independence. This legis-
lation basically cements the current status quo forever:
no independence, no merger, no changes, period. I know
that the KMT wanted this, in fact, this was part of their
election platform, but I thought the DPP ran on change.
\_ They saw a dead-end following a hard-line approach.
\_ it's more than that. DPP want to do it mainly because
this "reform" will squash smaller party, Taiwan
Solidarity Union," headed by Li Deng Hui. the TSU
has becoming more of a threat to DPP than an ally.
Further, you would argue that DPP gained a small
victory because in the past, changing the soverign
territory (such as remove the Chinese mainland)
impossible. With new rule, it's highly improbable, but
not impossible.
\_ Is there any significant difference left in between
the two main parties, then? As far as I understood
the recent elections, the biggest difference was
their stance vis-a-vis re-unification/independence.
Now that issue is no longer on the table, so what's
left? I guess this also pretty much resolves the
entire reunification/independence debate.
\_ in my eye, the differences is still there.
KMT still calls for eventual unification with
the mainland, under the condition that China
would become richer and more democratic.
DPP still want to be independent. If it requires
USA to nuke China off face of the earth, then
they will do everything they can to drag USA
into it.
The blurr you see is more to do with the fact
that lousy economy has made people to think
"may be getting a job is better than pursuit
my own identity;" And the fact that DPP was
ran on a "reform" platform... and it turned out
while KMT was corrupt, it left technocrats to
run most of its government / economic policies;
DPP is more blatently corrupted, and it has
essentially destroyed the civil servant
machines. Major government post are fill by
those who are loyal to DPP or made significant
contribution to the campaign. Political
correctness overrides any economical / political
consideration. This is why under DPP rule,
TW went from a meager 1% fiscal deficit to
30+% deficit today. -live in TW now.
\_ thanks for all the replies. What party, if
any, do you support? -op
\_ i am completely disillusioned with
democracy for Chinese in general now.
I prefer rapid unification with some
degree of self-goverance for three reasons:
1. so TW can jump onto the Chinese economic
bandwagon. People in taiwan can make most
differences, AND benefit most from China's
boom.
2. DPP build its power based upon fueling
racial tensions. Want to get rid of that
before this racial tension turned into
sectarian violence
3. it is only way to remove this potential
flash point which may cost hundreds of
millions of Chinese lives... i.e.
full confrontation with United States.
- denizen of Chinese Republic.
\_ I'm not Chinese, and I know very
little about this. However if I were
Taiwanese, I think I would be very
nervous about reunification until
China makes some democratic reforms
and builds up a better track record.
Can't argue with 3 though.
\_ I agree with you.
Not many people in Taiwan is in
a hurry to "re-unite" with PRC.
However, it is important to
get a dialogue going, and not
constantly provoke PRC (mostly
by DPP, etc. for domestic
political consumption). It would
also be nice to reach some form of
understanding with PRC on some
guidelines, necessary
conditions, etc. for co-existence
and possible eventual unification,
while Taiwan still has the
political, economic, and military
capital to do so, cause unless
you think PRC will suddenly
collapse, time is on PRC's side,
unfortunately. Very few in
Taiwan are willing to pay the
price for dejure independence.
The best thing to do is to
maintain defacto independence,
not unnecessariy provoke PRC,
set guidelines and conditions
on what PRC needs to do before
unification can be considered,
and observe and bid time. The
problem is everytime someone
tries to do that, the more
extreme TI supporters will
start yelling "traitors",
"sellouts", and fan emotions and
fears.
\_ I concur.
\_ Interesting. These Taiwanese
conservatives sound just like
the NeoRepublicans of America.
\_ Huh? What do you think
then?
\_ DPP, because they don't buy votes and
they're not full of wackos who think Chen
shot himself.
\_ I don't know whether he shot himself
or not, but I wouldn't call people
who think so wackos cause the whole
incident and how it was handled do
smell fishy.
\_ ^wackos^Wackjobs
DPP's biggest problem is it doesn't know
how to handle corruption among its own.
\_ wacko's version of assassination:
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article5911.htm
\_ Wackjob.
If Chen really wanted to stage the shooting, don't you think
he would have done a lot better job acting? Not, "Oh,
what's this blood on my shirt?" but "Shit, what the fuck was
that that just blew into my stomach?!"
\_ huh? the wikipedia article pretty much supports
the claim that the whole thing smells fishy.
\_ Okay, I took out the URL and gave you the reason why
they're all wackjobs.
\_ otoh, it could just be ah bian being his usual
self: a clown and a bad actor
sorry, but I don't buy your "he couldn't be so
dumb" defense.
\_ Wackjob. Go home. Think about it.
\_ wikipedia article reposted:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3-19_shooting_incident
\_ what is the big deal? we got a president who staged an
assassination; his wife made millions in stock markets, put
his house servant on government payroll, sued and searched
opposition newspapers and magazines, and allow cronies to escape
island after embazzled millions, flare racial tentions for his
political gain and completely ignore the
Consititution since the it states One-China policy... are you
trying to say this "reform" is significant in some way?
\_ Oh gawd, you're still on the assassination theory?
\_ don't know about that, but ah bian's fat belly
(supposedly scratched by the bullet) is certainly
world famous now.
\_ not to mention the suspect they "caught" died
one year ago. the will which suppose to proof
he was the assassint was burnt... and that is the
official end to this assassination... you don't call
this a cover up?
\_ ^cover up^conspiracy theory
\_ url for these accusations?
\_ google is your friend. |
| 4/3 |
|
| news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4616043.stm Printable version Taiwan assembly passes changes National Assembly delegates - 6/6/05 The Assembly has voted for its own dissolution Taiwan's National Assembly has approved important constitutional changes which supporters say will strengthen the island's democracy. Future amendments will have to be decided by referendums, which means the Assembly has effectively voted for its own abolition. The move will alarm China, which fears referendums could be used to edge Taiwan towards formal independence. Smaller parties are also angry because the changes will reduce their role . The package of amendments was backed by 248 votes - 23 more than the requ ired three-quarters majority in the 300-member Assembly. The two largest parties, the Democratic Progressive Party and the main op position Nationalists, both backed the changes. But delegates from some other parties held up Tuesday's proceedings, with one holding a banner reading "Absurd constitutional reforms cause troub les for 10,000 years". The new measures are designed to streamline the way the island is governe d, cutting the size of the 225-seat legislature in half. Under the old electoral system, as many as 10 lawmakers were elected from some Taiwanese constituencies. The new reforms will cut this number to one delegate elected by voters, a nd one chosen proportionally according to party affiliation. The BBC's Taiwan correspondent, Chris Hogg, says independence activists h ope the new measures will be a step towards formal statehood for Taiwan - a move that China has warned could lead to war. China regards Taiwan as a breakaway province which should be re-united wi th the mainland. It fears the new policy of referendums to decide the island's constitutio nal affairs could enable Taiwan's independence-minded President Chen Shu i-bian to fast-track measures that Beijing does not like. However, analysts point out that the threshold for passing amendments - 5 0% of the entire electorate, not just those who turn out to vote - is ve ry high, making it difficult to pass any controversial changes. Its critics called it "the eternal parliament", with delegates representi ng constituencies on the mainland to justify a claim by Taiwan's then go vernment, the Nationalist Kuomintang (KMT) party, that they were the leg itimate rulers of all China. Every six years the National Assembly would rubber stamp the KMT's choice of president. In return the delegates received generous pay cheques and lived in luxury in government compounds. The Assembly was substantially weakened when it lost the right to elect T aiwan's leader in 1996, after direct presidential elections were introdu ced. Formally disbanded in 2000, it was briefly revived last month to ratify t hese new constitutional changes. |
| csua.org/u/ca0 -> www.whittierdailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,207~24637~2870000,00.html Verdict may hinge on weirdness factor Ruling party wins Taiwan election Anti-reunification forces in control By Peter Enav , Associated Press Taiwan's ruling party won an election Saturday for a special assembly cha rged with amending the constitution, in a boost for President Chen Shui- bian's policy of resisting unification with mainland China. The result appeared to be vindication at home for Chen's independence-lea ning policies, after recent visits to the mainland by two opposition lea ders put him on the defensive and transformed Saturday's National Assemb ly election into a test of strength for his ruling party. China gave a lavish welcome to the two opposition leaders Lien Chan of th e Nationalist Party and James Soong of the People First Party who favor eventual reunification with the mainland and have criticized Chen's effo rts to strengthen Taiwan's status as a self-governing entity. Taiwan and China split in 1949 after a protracted civil war, and Beijing has threatened to take the island by force if it moves toward formal ind ependence. In the election, voters chose a party list of delegates to consider a pac kage of constitutional reforms reducing the legislature from its present 225 members to 113, extending lawmakers' terms from three to four years , amending the electoral system to reduce the number of lawmakers per co nstituency, and enshrining public referenda as the only means for approv ing future constitutional changes. Chen's supporters had urged followers to vote in large numbers, saying th at a vote against the DPP was a vote for eventual unification with China . Vice President Annette Lu of the DPP congratulated the party for its vict ory, and took a backhanded swipe at China for what she said were its fai led efforts to influence the results. "I would like to thank the Chinese Communist Party, because each time the re is pressure from China, the people show that democracy is what people embrace here in Taiwan,' she said. "One billion three hundred million Chinese friends on the mainland and (C hinese) President Hu Jintao, you have heard the voice of Taiwan's people . Both the DPP and the Nationalists support the changes the special assembl y is tasked with doing. China's nightly news made no mention of the elections but showed a series of interviews with people on the mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan praisin g the recent meeting between Hu and Soong. "It showed how much we value improving ties between the two sides,' said Xue Jianlong, a university student from China's central Henan province. "The voting results were not conclusive because of the low turnout. If yo u have 50, 60, 70 or 80 percent that's different,' said Chan. "If it hadn't been raining so hard in the north, our result would have be en better,' Nationalist spokeswoman Cheng Li-wen said, alluding to the s trong Nationalist support in Taipei and its environs. The People's First Party garnered only 61 percent of the vote, coming in fourth behind the Taiwan Solidarity Union, a pro-independence party, wh ose spiritual godfather is former President Lee Teng-hui. Outside the region, China and Taiwan have used dollar diplomacy for decad es to win over small nations, including in the Caribbean, where Taiwan's foreign minister on Sunday began a visit to St. In recent years, China's growing economic clout has persuaded several Car ibbean countries to sever decades-old ties with Taiwan. The most recent was Grenada, which established ties with Beijing in January despite Taiw an's offer of $40 million to help the island rebuild its cricket stadium after Hurricane Ivan. |
| csua.org/u/cal -> www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/07/AR2005060700562.html All RSS Feeds Taiwan Raises Legal Standards For Move Toward Independence By Edward Cody Washington Post Foreign Service Wednesday, June 8, 2005; Page A15 BEIJING, June 7 -- Taiwan revised its constitution Tuesday to shrink the size of parliament by half, streamline election rules and set difficult standards for any constitutional amendment that would move the island to ward independence. The changes, endorsed by a special assembly, include a requirement that a ny future amendment be approved by a three-quarters majority in the legi slature and then submitted to a national referendum. To pass, such an am endment would require approval of 50 percent of all eligible voters, not just a majority of those voting. Sign Up Now Political analysts in Taiwan said the high threshold would make it diffic ult to pass changes designed to formalize Taiwan's de facto independence . In that light, the constitutional shifts seemed likely to assuage Chin ese leaders, who have expressed fear that President Chen Shui-bian might propose constitutional amendments that would promote Taiwanese independ ence. "Unless there is a major change in the political landscape, it will be im possible for constitutional changes to happen," said Phil Yang, a politi cal specialist at National Taiwan University. On the other hand, the new rules left open the possibility of such amendm ents if they drew support from a large enough majority of the island's 2 3 million inhabitants -- a possibility, however remote, that Beijing had sought to close off. Yang pointed out that Taiwanese law allows for oth er referendums if the government deems Taiwan's ability to defend itself to be in question. China, which regards Taiwan as a province that must return to Beijing's r ule, repeatedly has warned against any politically significant changes t o the constitution, saying they could lead China to resort to force. The Chinese government's Taiwan Affairs Office, responding to Tuesday's ref orms, declared that China remains "decisively opposed" to any referendum s in Taiwan that would advance the cause of independence. The constitutional reforms were approved by Taiwan's 300-member National Assembly, an electoral college that was chosen in voting last month expr essly to ratify the reforms. The changes, which were endorsed last year by the Legislative Yuan, or parliament, were approved Tuesday with 249 v otes, easily topping the required three-quarters majority. The revised document lowered the number of Legislative Yuan members from 225 to 113 and changed the island's voting rules to lower the chances of small parties gaining seats. The result, analysts said, was likely to b e increased dominance by Taiwan's main parties, Chen's Democratic Progre ssive Party and the chief opposition group, the Nationalist Party. The clout of smaller parties with minority agendas could be reduced, they added, perhaps increasing efficiency in the Legislative Yuan, which is often deadlocked. As a result, the Taiwan Solidarity Union, which pushes for swift moves toward independence, and the People First Party, which advocates reunification with China, opposed the reforms. Special correspondent Tim Culpan in Taipei contributed to this report. |
| www.informationclearinghouse.info/article5911.htm The officials are unable to offer a reasonable scenario. The event clearly boosted president's support, and may very well be a setup. What's more, the ballots th at are invalid (improperly marked usually) are 3% of the overall vote. In ot her words, if only 10% out of the "invalid" votes for KMT are intentionally dismissed, the result of the vote is reversed. The pol ls are then stopped according to the election law. The ensuing week has even ts unraveling one after another all in favor of the KMT, because they show t he degree of corruption that is going on for DPP in it's first 4 years of running the government. The resulting vote broke every expert's predictio n, across the board. The polls conducted by medias have been ongoing for months, and have all shown similar levels of support throughout the campaign. Due to the turn out of the supporters, numbering 10s of thousa nds crowded in the street. Was able to land on both candidates, one shot eac h Causing either of them minor wounds. Official deducts that since bullets and casing/shell's "trajectory" analysis indicate the weapon is homemade, the shot has to be in close distance (no more than 10m) in order to be this accurate. one shot registered on the front windshield of the car Chen is in. Chen is in second row, another person sit in the front of him, who is a major or local city official, ye t the magic bullet did not harm the this person. You may want to re-read what I am describing because we just cannot believe this bold faced lie! Chen's belly was hit side way, opening a wound measuring 3/4 i nch wide, 5 inch long, and 1/2 inch deep cut. But the bullet hole on the windshield indicate that the bullet should have penetrated his belly from head on direction. Not surprisingly, Officials developed a few versions to try and explain away the inconsistencies, eg. the bullet that made the hole on windshield is not the one hit the president, but hit the VP's right knee when she is sittin g down at the time (angle, trajectory analysis make this seems impossible), or another version, the car is turning corner and president was waving sidew ay (this cannot be, because if the car is not moving on a straight line, the assassin cannot possibly made 2 hit out of 2 shots on each target, it's a miracle worthy of Tiger's two hole in one on 17th and 18th hole). This obviously can't make sense when 47 is claimed at the same time! At the same time, it is not the closest hospitals in the vicinity, but it's 6km away from where president realized he's shot. The hospital's staff were notified on 3/18 to mobilize without reason. How brave and equa lly patriotic on par with Bush's landing on carrier. Maybe couldn't made the trip to their designated voting station next day. It is widely accepted that soldiers are among the most supportive for KMT and against Chen, because their parents and grand pare nts are the same group who fled to Taiwan in 1949 with ChiangKaiSheik when ROC retreated from mainland. Chen effectively blocked them from voting for the KMT candidate. His 10m in delayed realization could be either 1 he was nervous and didn't aware th at the act is underway 2 He was nervous as to what to act, not enough rehearsal perhaps, and didn't act thinking through it moments later. They ferried him to a friendly, alread y secured hospital, locked him with all the security people inside emergenc y room. They lay him on the operation table, locally anesthetized abdominal area, and used a silenced gun to produce a side way wound scraping the belling to make it authentic. They have to sh ow the wound somehow in later investigation, so they make the most doable fa ke shot - a perfect side way scratch! They collected the bullet, claim its found in Chen's jacket, saying look, the blood on the bullet matched. And during the 3 hours of frantic action within the operating room, various proposals of "story" were prepared, including a bullet showing X- ray by placing a bullet above Chen while taking a X-ray photo. This photo was later unwittingly presented when it shouldn't because the story they went with is supposed to be sideway scratching shot. Ironically, the culprit i s not caught on camera anywhere during the usual continuous TV coverage of Chen's tour made possible by Chen's government resources. Then the culpri t was able to get away unnoticed by thousands of people. The shells of his two shots were promptly found where he allegedly fired them. Those were o f course dropped there by the aids, after the operating room operation. The narrow lead of 8 to 10% enjoyed by KMT is prompted reduced to maybe 1 or 2 percent when DPP members engaged in an all-out mouth-to-mouth propaganda campaign. But then he subsequently went to the TV station, and broadcast the message to the entire island, that he is stron g and healthy, claiming the limelight all to himself in the nigh hour of election. The end result is Chen's vote (DPP) edged Lien (KMT) by mere 022% with inval id votes tally 3% of overall 13 million votes! Yet they went ahead and claim ed victory after dust had settled. The opposition has been gentle in approaching the public with their message all along, cannot be shuffled anymore, and demand the recount and the sealing of all votes. But despite any recounting that might prove that Lien actually won narrowly, the dama ge is done, because Lien couldn't have gotten more de facto validation from the voting public. Finally, I want to tell the friends at Democracy Now, I am a avid followe r of today's world events, also depend on your no non-sense daily coverage. I am aware that 911 is unsolved mystery too, that Iraq war and Afghan war a re both preplanned, and has nothing to do with 911. At the same time, the daring policies implemented by US are out of the play book of the group called Neocons, with their "Project for New American Century" as the brai n child and their think tank outlet. htm You will see that, the y completely support the referendum for Taiwanese independence, which is patented in DPP's party bylaw! The Neocons are hell bent on creating a Ea st Germany for China, so the two can fight their death duel while the world look on, cheering privately. This is NOT what the majority of the Taiwane se people want (meaning at 55% or 60%), as demonstrated by the shoe-in referendum that held on the same day as the president election. The referendum asks Q1 "Should we buy more weapons from US to bolster our defense to counter Chinese threat?" And Q2 "Should we negotiate with Chinese for a peaceful resolution?" These two are ridiculous questions, i f Taiwanese goes independence, Chinese will not negotiate, I even support s uch action, being a native Taiwanese. Nor will China drop their missile installation along the Taiwan Strait as a deterrent for such move by Taiwanese DPP supporters simply because the Q1 or Q2 referendum are passe d! The voters demonstrated their intelligence by negating the validity of this referendum by not casting a vote at all. By legislation, when the voting turn out is less than half of eligible voter s, the referendum is nullified, which is the case this time. Roughly 65 million people cast their referendum vote (including yes or no) out of eligible voter base of 16 million. In other words, the opposition party, KMT has successfully mounted a superb counter punch (with the help of the public) to prevent any flare-up in cross strait relationship. Saying all these is trying to point out, DPP share the same vision as US conspirator s, the neocons, as evident in their past articles (see the link for yourself ), and they are trying to take away democratic process, hijack it for their purpose, just as they do in the US, in Venezuela, Haiti, and countless ot her places! The world has to wake up to this gross injustice being played on the Taiwanese people, this is a disgrace for a people who has been lauded as the light of hope of democracy to take root in Asia. The "Democratic Progressive Party" in the end will become the "Democratic Terminator Party"! President Chen, touted by supporters as "S on of Taiwan", has clearly failed in his tenure in the past four years to br ing peace between ... |
| en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3-19_shooting_incident convertible jeep moving slowly through a crowded street. One b ullet struck Chen's stomach and was later found in his clothes; Chen rec eived a flesh wound 8 cm long and 2 cm deep (four inches long, an inch w ide, and an inch deep). Another bullet grazed Lu's knee and was found in the jeep. At first both believed that they had been hit by firecrackers , which are common in Taiwanese political parades and rallies. Chen real ized that it was something more serious when he noticed that he was blee ding from the stomach and that there was a bullet hole in the window. At around 1:45 pm, Chen reported pain in his stomach, and Lu, in her knee . At 2:00 pm, they were both taken to the Chi-Mei Hospital. Chiou I-Jen, announced that the "National Security Mechanism" has been activated. At 5:30 pm, both the P an-Blue and Pan-Green coalitions announced that they would cease all sch eduled campaigning activities. At 5:45 pm, the hospital announced that t he president suffered a 11 cm long, 2 cm wide gash across his abdomen. A t 6:00 pm, two shells were found on the campaign route where the apparen t assassination attempt took place. At 9:00 pm, the president returned t o his official residence. And finally at 11:00 pm, in a video released t o the public, the president urged the Taiwanese people to remain calm an d indicated that neither his health nor the security of Taiwan were thre atened. The next day's election was not postponed, as Taiwanese law only allows f or suspension of election upon the death of a candidate. Wang Jyng-ping tried to visit Chen on the night of the incident, but were unable to see the pre sident because he was resting. Chen Shui-bian appeared in public the nex t day when he turned out to cast his vote. theorize d that the incident was faked in order for Chen to gain sympathy votes. These speculations were, however, considered highly offensive by Pan-Gre en supporters, and were not condoned by the Pan-Blue leadership until af ter Chen won the election. Two bullet casings were found by a civilian under a police car after it w as driven away. The two casings found suggested that only two shots were fired at the motorcade. Their assembly also suggested that they were fi red from home-made guns. It is unclear as to whether they were fired fro m the same gun, or from different guns. The police did not find or identify any suspect involved in the shooting. A few had shown up when they recognized themselves on the broadcast, but these have proved to be inconclusive. The bullet trajectory proposed by the police was that a bullet struck the windshield, entered Lu's knee, and then fell out. Another bullet fired from the jeep's side struck Chen's stomach and travelled through his jac ket and stayed in the back until recovered by the hospital crew. Henry C Lee on April 9 After examining the je ep, he deduced that the shots were fired from the outside because there were shards of glass on the jeep's floor. But due to the incompleteness of evidence preservation, and the lack of an accurate record on the jeep 's speed at the day of procession, he points out that it might be imposs ible to determine from which direction the bullets entered the jeep. Tsai Chao-ming stepped down the week before to take responsibility for the shooting, keeping with Ta iwanese tradition that government officials take responsibility for prob lems. Legis lative Yuan, each party will appoint members for the new commission. The commission will have the right to interview government officials and de mand documents, and will be asked to present its findings to the legisla ture infinitely without time constraint. As part of the law, no one is p ermitted to elect silence or to influence the commission's investigation . August 29, 2004 He concluded that the incident was not an assassination attempt because "a more powerful weapon than a homemade pistol would have been used." He was unable to make a conclusi ve report, but indicated his findings would help locate the gun and its factory. Two suspects are named, they are Chen, Yi-Hsuon and Huang , Hun-Ren. Both of them were dead in a short period of time following th e 319 incident. Chen was living around the vicinity and looked very simi lar to one of the unknown person shown on police tapes in the hotzone (t he yellow coat bold guy). The tape was released by the police on March 2 6, 2004, and Chen was found drowned at a harbor on March 28, exactly two days later. The connection of Chen and the weapon maker was established by confirming Chen being the 5th hand of a possible weapon, in addition family members of Chen stated that Chen left suicide notes, which accor ding to Taiwanese police's interpretation hinted that he committed the c rime, though the notes had been burned by the family, and the interpreta tion held by the police is at best teneuous. Additionally the family mem bers were reported to have recalled strange behavior of Chen following t he 319 shooting. On the other hand, Huang was also found suicide with a gun that was made from the same weapon maker after the incident, and the bullet found share traits with the one that hit the Vice-President. Pan-Blue and counterclaims * Pan-Blue supporters argued that the wounds inflicted upon the Preside nt and Vice President were light and improbable, asking why Chen was hit in the abdomen instead of the head and how the bullets turned to hit the targets. Investigators have said that the gun was made in an illegal workshop. Many suggest that the shooting was done by a gangster who was connected to illegal gambling rings on the election and sought to injure Chen to influence certain bets. However, more than once during his election campaign, Chen himself visited a gangster in Tainan well known for profitting much from organizing such illigal gambling rings, presumbly to earn the gangster's support for his compaign. The shooting incident took place exactly in the region in which that gangster exerts great influence. bulletproof vests and proceeded slowly on the congested two-way street. Pan-Green supporters said that this was to be expected as Taiwan has not had experienced political violence over the past decade and no assassination attempt against a President has been made before. bulletproof vest occasionally throughout their campaign. It is reported that the guards were wearing earplugs because they could not stand the noise from firecrackers during the procession. However, this does not explain why they did not notice the bullet hole on the windshield. Tainan locals countered that Chi-Mei Hospital is the best and quickest hospital to go in Tainan on that day, and that the director of Chi-Mei Hospital, Jan Chi-hsien, is an advisor to the Kuomintang Party. Chi-Mei hospital was not on the list of hospitals designated to treat the President in case of emergencies. The bullet casing was found by spectators under a police car when it was driven away more than three hours after the shooting. However, the majority of the people in Tawian regarded the police's claim to have made a great progress as very doubtful. Pan-Blue supporters found this suspicious because the military and the police are traditionally aligned with the Pan-Blue coalition. However, the figure has been disputed by government spokesperson Lin Chia-lung, who claimed that as per military regulations, only 13,000 servicemen were on duty. Finally, the voting pattern of military personals in Taiwan would not have been that much different from the gerneral population since Taiwan requires universal conscription. The verdict of the "elected invalidly" trail by the Taiwanese court on November 4th, 2004 confirms that there is no usual or increased number of personnels in the force. In one ironic episode, the National Security Bureau denied that there was any National Security Mechanism being activated because only the Defense Department had the power to do so. The Defense Department denied this and said that the Mechanism was only a "concept," not an administrative procedure. This caused more questions and bickerings in the investigation. The verdict of the "elected invalidly" trial also confirms that the NSM is... |