DBAHO Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 TAIWAN's president and vice-present were shot on their final day of campaigning today but their lives were not at risk and tomorrow's presidential poll would go ahead, officials said. President Chen Shui-bian was shot in the stomach and vice-president Annette Lu was hit in the right knee as their motorcade cruised the streets of the southern city of Tainan. Chiou I-jen, secretary-general in the Presidential Office, said Chen and Lu were conscious and had immediately called for calm ahead of tomorrow's vote. "They did not suffer life-threatening injuries. They urge the public to cool down," Chiou told reporters. Chen was riding in a red convertible four-wheel drive vehicle past crowds lining the streets in his hometown. People were setting off celebratory fireworks as he drove by and early media reports said he was injured by firecrackers. But Chiou said: "It was definitely a gun attack". Officials had found one bullet. "The vice-president first felt pain in her knee and she thought it was caused by firecrackers," Chiou said. "Then the president felt some wetness on his stomach area, and then they realised something wrong." Election officials said the election would go ahead. "According to the election law, the election will proceed unless one presidential candidate dies," a Central Election Commission official said. Tomorrow's election pits Chen against opposition leader Lien Chan, who has promised to take a softer approach with China, AP reported. China regards Taiwan as a rebel province to be recovered by force if necessary and has been highly critical of Chen's policies, labelling them "splittist". The Chinese government made no immediate comment on the shootings. The Foreign Ministry referred questions to the Cabinet's Taiwan Affairs Office, which did not answer telephone calls. China and Taiwan split when the Communists took over the mainland in 1949, and Beijing is pressuring Taiwan to unify. Lien and Chen agree on most of the basic issues involving China policy. Neither candidate favours immediate unification, and both are highly distrustful of the Communist leadership. However, Chen has been more aggressive in pushing for a Taiwanese identity separate from China's, and this has raised tensions with Beijing. Chen also raised China's ire by planning an unprecedented island-wide referendum on the day of the election. China regards the referendum as a first step towards a future vote on independence. Voters will be asked whether Taiwan should beef up its defences to guard against hundreds of Chinese missiles pointed at the island. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goldmember Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 :headshake Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 This is a pic of the Presidents wound Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Queen Prawn Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 Somebody - stitch him up quick!!!! Oh, and :puke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1549 Posted March 20, 2004 Share Posted March 20, 2004 odd that he didn't feel a bullet go into his stomach. Seems like something of that nature would be extremely painful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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