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Champagne corks pop in celebration

(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-11-13 08:15

Many people in Taiwan on Wednesday welcomed the arrest of the island's former leader Chen Shui-bian on suspicion of corruption and money laundering.

They accused him of being "greedy".

But pro-independence supporters insisted Chen was innocent and was being politically persecuted.

After the Taipei District Court Wednesday ordered Chen, 57, to be arrested, some people set off firecrackers and popped champagne corks to celebrate.

Local television news reported that Chen's cell measures about 6.6 sq m and his prison number is 2630.

China News Agency reported that a handcuff-free Chen yesterday went into his cell "without having breakfast".

The menu for lunch included fried taro, bacon with vegetable and taro tortilla soup, but it was not clear whether he ate the meal.

His daily food expense is calculated at NT$51 ($1.5).

Chen is expected to face trial before the end of the year on charges that include embezzling government funds, laundering money, accepting bribes and committing fraud.

Each charge carries a minimum five-year jail term, and if convicted, Chen could be sent to prison for 30 years.

An online poll by the United Daily News newspaper showed that 23,621 people, or 96 percent of the respondents, thought arresting Chen was justice done while 833 called it political persecution and 28 said they had no opinion.

But supporters of Chen, who advocate 'independence' for the island, warned that their camp would rise up to protest Chen's arrest.

Local reports said some DPP supporters in southern Taiwan, the base of the pro-independence party and where Chen was born, are planning to stage protests in Taipei in support of Chen and will not rule out the use of radical measures.

But the DPP issued a statement yesterday, urging its supporters to be calm and rational toward Chen' s arrest.

Analysts said Chen's detention showed Taiwan was maturing.

"This is the first time a former 'president' of Taiwan has been arrested over graft allegations," political commentator Hu Chung-hsin said. "It shows our judicial system has improved and is moving toward independence."

Hu lamented Chen's fall because in his earlier days he was so promising.

"He is the son of a farmer and was called 'The Son of Taiwan,' but a politician is judged by how he exits the political stage," Hu said.

Cheng Wen-lung, Chen's defence attorney, said the former leader insists he is innocent.

Chen did not appeal yesterday's court decision because he believes it to be political persecution and he wants to "carry the cross" for the Taiwan people, Cheng said.

Analysts said Chen's arrest had further tarnished the DPP's image but could also spur the opposition party to cut off its ties with Chen and start anew.

"If the DPP cuts off Chen, who is like a poisonous tumor, it can reorganize itself to prepare for the 2009 local elections," Shi Cheng-feng, a professor at Tamkang University, said.

"If the DPP wins the local elections, there is still a chance that it could return to power in the 2012 'presidential' polls."

China Daily-Agencies