Thousands of people rallied in front of the offices of the Taiwan authorities in Taipei Saturday, demonstrating for the resignation of Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian, according to Taiwan reports.

 

Kuomintang (KMT) Party chairman Ma Ying-jeou and James Soong, chairman of Taiwan's opposition People First Party (PFP), spoke at the four-hour rally which started at 2:00 PM.

 

Agitated protestors tossed water balloons at Chen's portrait in a demonstration of discontent over the authorities' slow response to a mounting scandal surrounding Chen and his party, according to Taiwan media.

 

Last Thursday, Chen's son-in-law, Chao Chien-ming, was detained on suspicion of insider trading of shares in a government-owned property company. Earlier, the opposition had accused Chen's wife Wu Shu-chen of other financial wrongdoings.

 

If Chen failed to respond to public demands, the opposition had to call for his removal, Soong told the crowd. If Chen's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) remained deaf to the calls, the party must take responsibility for covering up for Chen, he said.

 

Chen Shui-bian had to step down before the full extent of the scandals was revealed, Taiwan media quoted Soong as saying.

 

Ma showed up at the assembly unexpected at around 5 PM after the 1st plenary meeting of the 17th KMT session finished.

 

Ma said the session had reached consensus that the only goal of "ouster" and "impeachment" is that Chen steps down, and the session had called for joint moves by opposition parties to make "the Legislative Yuan" to oust Chen, according to reports.

 

Ma Ying-jeou told protestors that Chen had claimed to "clarify himself", "conduct reformation" and "cede powers", but had remained silent on whether he and his family were involved in the scandals.

 

His silence indicated that he had no remorse for what he had done, which was unacceptable to the public, media quoted Ma as saying.

 

"Your days are numbered," Ma shouted.

 

Two of Chen's close aides Ma Yung-cheng and Lin Chin-chang resigned Thursday in a call by opposition party to step down amid accusations of involvement in scandals.

 

(Xinhua News Agency June 4, 2006)