Approximately 100,000 people in Taiwan took to the streets of Taipei on Sunday to protest against the Taiwan authority's incompetence, corruption and "pro-independence" stance, local media reported.

 

Braving chilly winds and a heavy drizzle, demonstrators chanted slogans like "Fighting for livelihood, Saving Taiwan," and "Against arms procurement".

 

An assembly was held in the square where Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian's office is located. Present at the assembly were Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Ma Ying-jeou, former KMT chairman Lien Chan, People First Party (PFP) chairman James Soong, and senior official Wang Jin-pyng.

 

They demanded that Chen abandon his "pro-independence" stance and focus instead on improving the livelihood of the Taiwan people.

 

Ma reproached Chen's administration for "not caring about the livelihood of the people" and the "successive exposure of corruption scandals," and protested against Chen's decision to disable the functions of the "National Unification Council". Ma alleged that Chen's decision was made in the sole interest of him and his party.

 

(Xinhua News Agency March 13, 2006)