Its call for dialogue with govt follows flak over bloody protests during Chinese envoy’s visit
AP 10 November 2008
TAIPEI: Taiwan’s main pro-independence opposition said yesterday that it has called for dialogue with the ruling party following bloody protests against a landmark visit by a top Chinese envoy.
Angry pro-independence supporters dogged Mr Chen Yunlin, the highest Chinese official to visit the self-ruled island in nearly six decades, at every turn during his five-day visit - at one point leaving him trapped inside a hotel.
The demonstrators were angry over what they saw as President Ma Ying-jeou’s overly friendly China policy. The protests ended in violent clashes last Thursday between police and demonstrators that left more than 110 people injured in the island’s capital of Taipei.
Mr Chen left Taipei on Friday. But his departure did not quell the controversy surrounding the visit and the Kuomintang (KMT) government’s policy towards China.
Dozens of college students yesterday braved the rain to continue their sit-in protest, which entered the fourth day. The students, who gathered at the National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall near the Presidential Office, are demanding an apology from President Ma, and the resignation of Taipei’s police chief over what they said was the official mishandling of the protests.
While Mr Ma has drawn flak for underestimating objection towards Mr Chen’s visit, the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) - which spearheaded many of the protests - seemed to have shouldered a larger share of the blame for the clashes.
In what some see as a damage-control move, DPP chairman Tsai Ing-wen has over the weekend called for dialogue with the KMT to heal the rift within the society on Taiwan’s ties with China.
Mr Chen’s controversial visit ‘has polarised the country, which is the last development we want to see’, said Ms Tsai.
‘If this continues, it would be harmful to Taiwan’s democratic development,’ she said in a statement released by the party on Saturday.
‘Therefore, we would like to sit down and discuss with the ruling party to work out a more healthy interaction mechanism that would prevent the existing differences from widening any further and leading to clashes.’
The Presidential Office said yesterday Ms Tsai has yet to formally approach Mr Ma for talks.
DPP lawmakers yesterday supported Ms Tsai’s call. Some KMT lawmakers also welcomed her proposal but cautioned the DPP against using the meeting to make impractical demands.
During Mr Chen’s trip, four pacts were inked - on direct cargo shipping, postal links, adding passenger flights, and cooperation in food safety.
While the agreements have brought the former foes closer economically, the outcry over the envoy’s visit has shown that both sides remain deeply divided over their political ties.
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Taiwan opposition seeks to heal rift
Its call for dialogue with govt follows flak over bloody protests during Chinese envoy’s visit
AP
10 November 2008
TAIPEI: Taiwan’s main pro-independence opposition said yesterday that it has called for dialogue with the ruling party following bloody protests against a landmark visit by a top Chinese envoy.
Angry pro-independence supporters dogged Mr Chen Yunlin, the highest Chinese official to visit the self-ruled island in nearly six decades, at every turn during his five-day visit - at one point leaving him trapped inside a hotel.
The demonstrators were angry over what they saw as President Ma Ying-jeou’s overly friendly China policy. The protests ended in violent clashes last Thursday between police and demonstrators that left more than 110 people injured in the island’s capital of Taipei.
Mr Chen left Taipei on Friday. But his departure did not quell the controversy surrounding the visit and the Kuomintang (KMT) government’s policy towards China.
Dozens of college students yesterday braved the rain to continue their sit-in protest, which entered the fourth day. The students, who gathered at the National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall near the Presidential Office, are demanding an apology from President Ma, and the resignation of Taipei’s police chief over what they said was the official mishandling of the protests.
While Mr Ma has drawn flak for underestimating objection towards Mr Chen’s visit, the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) - which spearheaded many of the protests - seemed to have shouldered a larger share of the blame for the clashes.
In what some see as a damage-control move, DPP chairman Tsai Ing-wen has over the weekend called for dialogue with the KMT to heal the rift within the society on Taiwan’s ties with China.
Mr Chen’s controversial visit ‘has polarised the country, which is the last development we want to see’, said Ms Tsai.
‘If this continues, it would be harmful to Taiwan’s democratic development,’ she said in a statement released by the party on Saturday.
‘Therefore, we would like to sit down and discuss with the ruling party to work out a more healthy interaction mechanism that would prevent the existing differences from widening any further and leading to clashes.’
The Presidential Office said yesterday Ms Tsai has yet to formally approach Mr Ma for talks.
DPP lawmakers yesterday supported Ms Tsai’s call. Some KMT lawmakers also welcomed her proposal but cautioned the DPP against using the meeting to make impractical demands.
During Mr Chen’s trip, four pacts were inked - on direct cargo shipping, postal links, adding passenger flights, and cooperation in food safety.
While the agreements have brought the former foes closer economically, the outcry over the envoy’s visit has shown that both sides remain deeply divided over their political ties.
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