Taiwan protestors continue anti-Chen rallies

TAIPEI, Sept. 10 Kyodo

Mass protests against Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian entered their second day on Sunday, with Chen remaining unwilling to respond directly to calls for him to resign over a string of corruption scandals besetting his inner circle.

Braving heavy overnight rain and chilly winds, thousands of people continued their unprecedented around-the-clock protests outside the presidential office.

''We are deeply moved by the people's support and their spontaneous participation in the sit-ins,'' veteran political activist Shih Ming-teh told a press conference. ''This is a new chapter in history and we invite more people to join.''

On Saturday, an estimated 100,000 people from across the island, dressed in red and packing the streets around Chen's office, chanted anti-Chen slogans in venting their anger on the leader and his administration.

The president visited his hometown in Tainan in the south on Saturday and amid tight security went to eastern Hualien County on Sunday. Chen has characterized the antagonism towards him as a matter of ''power struggles.''

The campaign has received widespread recognition since it was initiated by Shih in August, with NT$100 million (about US$3 million) collected from a million people within six working days to realize the rallies.

Shih, 65, a dissident jailed for almost 25 years during the Kuomintang's authoritarian regime and chairman from 1993 to 1996 of Chen's Democratic Progressive Party, which he quit in 2000 due to a disagreement with Chen, has said the campaign will be non-violent and will not end until the president quits.

Chen, whose popularity has plummeted to an all-time low, has been under fire since his son-in-law was detained in May, and then indicted in July, over insider trading.

His wife has been accused of receiving vouchers from a department store in exchange for lobbying, and a close aide has been charged with corruption and insider trading.

In addition, a probe into Chen's alleged misuse of state funds has begun after the Ministry of Audit found in late June possible irregularities in financial reports by the president's office and the opposition accused him of embezzlement, a charge Chen denied.

Chen has pledged to stay in office until his term ends in 2008. He survived a recall motion in parliament in June.

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