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Taiwan's president resigns as Nationalist Party leader

Protesters blame him for party's election loss

March 20, 2000
Web posted at: 6:29 a.m. HKT (2229 GMT)

In this story: Nationalists lose 51-year hold on power Gesture to the Nationalists RELATED STORIES, SITES

From staff and wire reports

TAIPEI, Taiwan (CNN) -- With thousands of angry protesters demanding he resign, Taiwan's president announced Sunday that he will step down as chairman of the ruling Nationalist Party to take responsibility for his party's loss in the island's presidential election.

Chen Shui-bian, of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party, defeated the Nationalist Party candidate, Vice President Lien Chan, who finished third in Saturday's presidential election.

President Lee Teng-hui served as president for 12 years. His resignation from the party post will take effect in September, said party spokesman Huang Huei-chen. Lee was supposed to hold the post for another two years. His term as Taiwan's president ends in May.

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Several other top party officials also agreed to step down, Huang said.

The announcement came as about 3,000 protesters surrounded the Nationalists' headquarters in Taipei, honking horns and throwing eggs and sticks at police. The demonstrators blamed Lee for the party's defeat in Saturday's election, which cost the party its 51-year grip on the presidency.

Riot police in helmets and carrying shields used water cannon to hold back the angry demonstrators, who also pelted them with rocks and empty cans. Barbed wire barricades were set up around the multistory building.

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"Down with Lee Teng-hui," the protesters chanted, punching their fists into the air.

Earlier in the day, protesters smashed windows of limousines as they drove away from the headquarters building and attacked at least one party official, punching him to the ground and then beating him with wooden poles.

Chen, whose party openly supports independence from China, won largely because of a split in the Nationalist Party caused by the expulsion of James Soong, a popular leader who refused to support Lien and launched his own independent campaign. The protesters blamed Lee for causing the rift.

Chen must form a new government and deal with China, which threatened to invade if Taiwan declares independence and has issued threats aimed at Chen's party.

On Sunday, Chen visited the grave of political mentor Huang Hsin-chieh. Huang was an early leader of the Democratic Progressive Party. Chen burned incense and told the "founding father" of Taiwan's democracy about the "great victory yesterday."

Chen and the vice president-elect, Annette Lu , made a conciliatory gesture toward the Nationalists, saying they hoped Lee would have a legacy that grants him the title "Mr. Democracy."

Chen praised Lee for his plan to form a small transitional working group to oversee the change in government that comes in May.

Chen captured 39 percent of the vote and Soong got 37 percent. An estimated 83 percent of Taiwan's 15 million eligible voters cast ballots.

Hong Kong Bureau Chief Mike Chinoy, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

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Chen Shui-bian's campaign homepage (in Chinese)
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Lien Chan's campaign homepage (in Chinese)
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James Soong's campaign homepage (in Chinese)
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CIA World Factbook -- Taiwan
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Inside China Today
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