Sunday, March 21, 2004
Seattle Times March 21, 2004 (compiled from wire reports): TAIPEI, Taiwan — A convenient — or worse, faked — assassination attempt? Blatant fraud at the ballot box? Conspiracy theories abound in Taiwan's disputed presidential election. . . .
It all began Friday, when bullets nicked President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Annette Lu as they campaigned. The shots, which caused only minor injuries, turned out to be a life-saver for Chen, who was trailing challenger Lien Chan by up to 6 percentage points, then apparently won a narrow victory yesterday.
No one has been arrested in the shooting, and no one has claimed responsibility, leaving people to blame just about everyone from China and the participating political parties to a gambling ring that stood to drop a fortune if Lien won.
Among the rumors feeding the speculation:
• Chen used the attack as a pretext to activate the national security apparatus, meaning 200,000 military and police — traditionally Nationalists — were too busy to vote.
• The invalidated ballots — 337,297 in a race won by 29,158 votes — were three times the number rejected in the 2000 presidential election.
• Stories that Chen, while running for elected office in Tainan 18 years ago, appeared at an election eve rally wheeling an intravenous drip and claiming that he had been poisoned by the opposition Nationalists. He reportedly appeared healthy the next day. . . .
• The seemingly relaxed security around the president before the shooting. He stood in a roofless vehicle driven slowly through a crowded, two-lane street and did not wear a bulletproof vest. .....---
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