TAIWAN: President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Annette Hsiu-lien Lu Shot While Campaigning

Government Information Office, Taiwan

Friday, March 19, 2004

 

President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Annette Hsiu-lien Lu were shot today at approximately 1:45 p.m. while campaigning in Tainan City. At a Presidential Office press conference, Secretary-General to the President Chiou I-jen said that the president was wounded in the belly and that the vice president was hit in the right knee. The injuries are not life-threatening, and both candidates are fully conscious. They were taken to Tainan's Cimei Hospital for treatment.

The president and vice president urged citizens to remain calm. Secretary-General Chiou said that national security mechanisms have been activated. A meeting of the National Security Council has been called, and the results will be released as soon as possible. KMT presidential candidate Lien Chan and his

running mate James Soong have been notified of the incident, and the government will take full responsibility for their safety.

Secretary-General Chiou emphasized that the president and vice president's injuries are not life-threatening and that they are both fully conscious. He advised citizens not to worry and said that calm must prevail.

 

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Premier Yu Shyi-kun gave the following instructions at a National Security Council meeting held at 4:30 p.m. on March 19, 2004:

1.The national security mechanism has been initiated.

2.National affairs will proceed normally without being affected by the incident.

3.The election will be held as scheduled and voters are urged to vote rationally.

4.The incident will be investigated to reveal the truth, and the attacker speedily arrested and brought to justice. The National Police Administration will be in charge of establishing a special task force in conjunction with the national security system.

5.The medical taskforce will be in charge of releasing information about the medical condition of both the president and the vice president.

6.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be in charge of international press releases through consular and representative offices.

7.Secretary-General to the President Chiou I-jen will brief the heads of the five branches of government on the situation and situation management.

8.The National Security Council and the Central Election Commission will brief the Kuomintang and People First Party alliance on the situation and situation management.

9.All ministers and relevant supervisors will cancel leaves and remain on call.

10.Financial and economic situations will be met with careful responses, and a meeting will held next Monday by Vice Premier Lin Hsin-i.

11.All ministries and agencies will convene subordinate units to respond to the situation and handle related affairs in order to accomplish effective crisis management.

 

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Premier Yu also directed the following actions:

 

1.The prosecutor general is instructed to convene law enforcement agencies-including prosecutorial, police, investigative, and coast guard units-to commit every effort to arresting the attacker and solving the case within the shortest period of time.

2.Prosecutorial and police units are instructed to establish a mechanism for presenting a full explanation to the public tonight concerning the investigative process and the latest developments in order to reassure the people.

3.Prosecutorial and police units are instructed to devote all efforts to enhancing security measures for the candidates, the headquarters of all political parties, and the election campaign headquarters of the candidates, in order to guard fully against any occurrence that may jeopardize social order.

4.Vice Premier Lin Hsin-i is instructed to convene a meeting with the Ministry of Finance, the Central Bank of China, and other relevant agencies, before the opening of the stock and forex markets next Monday, to safeguard the normal operations of the stock and forex markets in accordance with established economic and financial response plans.

5.Election administration units are instructed to raise their guard and ensure that the voting and ballot counting process is accomplished smoothly.

6.All citizens are urged to remain calm and rational, and work together to preserve social stability.