Anti-Chen campaign enters 3rd day in Taiwan

TAIPEI, Sept. 11 Kyodo

Protestors remained resolute in their demand for Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian step down as an around-the-clock sit-in outside the presidential office entered a third day Monday.

Tens of thousands of participants sat through heavy overnight rain and chilly winds during the weekend to demonstrate their will for a power transfer, but the turnout was much smaller on Monday with most people going back to their normal lives.

Campaign leader Shih Ming-teh, a veteran political activist who considers the September movement a watershed for Taiwan's democracy, urged the people to hold on until the last minute.

''This is probably the last battle in my life. This is a lofty ideal and is something worth fighting for and dying for,'' said Shih, 65, who underwent surgery for liver cancer two months ago.

On Saturday, an estimated 100,000 people from across the island, dressed in red and packed the streets around Chen's office, chanting anti-Chen slogans.

Organizers claim the number peaked at 200,000 when Shih appeared on the stage.

Amid tight security, Chen visited his hometown Tainan in the south on Saturday. He characterized the antagonism toward him as a matter of ''power struggles.''

He also expressed concern for Shih's health on a trip to Hualien on Sunday.

Chen returned to work Monday, but said nothing about the rally outside his office.

The campaign, initiated by Shih in August, gathered NT$100 million (US$3 million) said collected from a million people within six working days to realize the rallies.

Shih, 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, has said the campaign will be nonviolent and will not end until the president quits.

Shih quit the party in 2000 due to a disagreement with Chen.

Chen, whose popularity has plummeted to an all-time low, has been under fire after 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.

A probe into Chen's alleged misuse of state funds began after the Ministry of Audit found in late June possible irregularities in financial reports by the president's office.

The opposition has accused him of embezzlement. Chen has denied any wrongdoing.

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