TAIPEI - Tens of thousands of opposition supporters marched in the
streets of Taipei on Sunday to protest Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian's
termination of a council responsible for unification with the
mainland.
On February 27, Chen announced that the 15-year-old "National
Unification Council" would cease to function, provoking angry condemnation from
Beijing and strong criticism from Taiwan's Nationalist Party and its legislative
allies.
Supporters of
Taiwan's main opposition Nationalist Party shout slogans during a protest
march in Taipei March 12, 2006. Thousands of people marched through Taipei
on Sunday to denounce "president" Chen Shui-bian, accusing him of fanning
tensions with the mainland. [Reuters] |
The
opposition, which supports eventual unification, says that instead of provoking
the mainland, Chen should work to improve the island's economy, which has
struggled to make the transformation from manufacturing powerhouse to service
provider.
"What the majority of people in Taiwan want, is that the
struggle about unification and independence stops, and that the government
concentrates all its efforts on economic issues," said Nationalist spokeswoman
Cheng Li-wen.
"We don't need Taiwan independence. We want to live,
we want to survive," said a retired veteran surnamed Lee.
"Taiwan
independence is a dead end. It is (Chen's) own personal view, not the view of
the majority of the people," Lee said.
Sunday's march took place under a
leaden gray sky and chilly temperatures.
Demonstrators carried banners
criticizing Chen's independence-leaning policies, and demanded he "terminate
(his) corrupt regime."
As the march got underway, Taipei city councilor
Wu Guo-dong told demonstrators that their action was necessary to save Taiwan
from disaster.
"We have to fight against Taiwan independence which will
bring us to the brink of war," he said.
Thousands of
supporters of Taiwan's main opposition Nationalist Party gather in front
of the "presidential office" during a protest march in Taipei March 12,
2006. Thousands of people marched through Taipei on Sunday to denounce
"president" Chen Shui-bian, accusing him of fanning tensions with the
mainland. [Reuters] |
Taipei housewife Yang Mei-li
said she did not support unification with the mainland, but believed that Chen's
policies were undermining Taiwanese economic growth.
"All we want is to
raise Taiwan's living standards so we can have a better life," she said. "But
Chen is coming up with all kinds of political ploys."
Sunday's march was
to end in front of the "presidential office" building, where Nationalist leader
and prospective 2008 presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou was to address the
crowd.
"The government has one scandal after another and people are
suffering, but our president chooses to make unification versus independence his
main agenda," the KMT leader said.
"We must let our government hear the
real voice of the people," said Ma, whose party opposes independence and favours
closer ties with the mainland.
Businessman Chiang Chien-min agreed: "I am very
dissatisfied. I am dissatisfied with the economy, the corruption cases and the
incompetent government."
