Thousands of Chen supporters rally

Police estimated about 60,000 people showed up for the pro-Chen event, but organizers said 150,000 people attended.

On Friday the “anti-corruption and depose-Chen” partisans drew 360,000, according to a police count, though organizers claimed a million people took part in the 5.5-kilometer procession, which wound its way from the Presidential Office to Taipei’s main railway station.

The “anti-corruption” campaign supporters were forced to move from the arena near the Presidential Office to the train station to continue the sit-in after Chen’s supporters successfully disrupted their campaign by booking the site in a preemptive action.

The pro-Chen rally took place under a steady drizzle, as Typhoon Shanshan skirted Taiwan’s northeastern coast.

Demonstrators waved green flags emblazoned with the Chinese characters for “Taiwan,” emblematic of their support for Taiwan independence, a cause associated with Chen’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party.

One of Chen’s top aides appeared at the rally to confirm Chen’s determination to stay on until the end of his term in May 2008. “With everybody’s support, President Chen will persevere and serve until May 20, 2008,” said Tan Sun Chen, no relation of the president.

DPP Chairman Yu Shyi-kun became the only top DPP leader to attend the event as three other party heavyweights — Vice President Annette Lu, Premier Su Tseng-chang and former Premier Frank Hsieh — decided not to go.

Police said some 2,800 officers were stationed nearby to prevent clashes between the rivals.

However, at the pro-Chen event, protesters surrounded stages set up by two cable TV stations they saw as being biased against the president, and threw bottles at the reporters. They took down equipment and forced reporters to leave.

A DPP lawmaker tried to calm down the crowd and escorted reporters out of the area.

Friday’s anti-Chen march came at the end of a week of boisterous demonstrations led by a former ally of the president who said he was fed up with the culture of corruption that has flourished in Taiwan under Chen’s leadership.

Earlier this month the Presidential Office acknowledged that prosecutors had questioned Chen about the use of false invoices to account for part of a secret fund used to sustain Taiwanese diplomatic activities abroad.

Chen denied any wrongdoing in the affair, and insisted he will stay until the end of his term.

In July, Chen’s son-in-law Chao Chien-min was indicted for insider trading involving a local development firm — a charge he denies.

First lady Wu Shu-chen is also under investigation for allegedly profiting from the transfer of an upscale department store to new owners. Chen’s office insists she was not involved.

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