Failed accord on recount
Taipei (AsiaNews/Agencies) An agreement between the majority and opposition parties for a recount of votes has failed to materialize, despite the still hotly-contested victory of President Chen Shuibian in recent elections. Meanwhile the 5-day deadline set by the High Court of Taiwan (within which the parties had to make a common proposal to proceed with a recount) has expired,.
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in power and the opposition coalition formed by the nationalist Kuomintang (KMT) party and People's First Party (PFP) have agreed on the need to recount votes, but not on the ways with which to proceed.
High Court justice Wu Ching-yuan said both parties have turned their own written proposals. "The 3-judge panel will examine the proposals and will soon hold another hearing", he said without specifying when.
Meanwhile the opposition has withdrawn its request to cancel elections for fear of going against the second legal procedure underway to invalidate Chen Shuibian's. According to the opposition the supposed assassination attempt on the lives of president and vice-president Annette Lu on the day before elections likely "rigged" the outcome in favor of reelecting Chen.
On April 10 there is another opposition protest scheduled to take place, organized by the KMT and PFP parties..
Yesterday Taipei police rejected a request to revoke the permit needed to protest, since there was no clear evidence to suggest that the rally threatened public safety.
Fears that the demonstration may turn violent had been advanced after last week's clashes with police and opposition supporters at another similar rally. (MR)
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12/12/2004
