Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TAIPEI3038
2006-09-05 10:47:00
CONFIDENTIAL
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Cable title:
TAIWAN PROTESTS START OFF WITH A WHIMPER
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C O N F I D E N T I A L TAIPEI 003038
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/05/2031
TAGS: PGOV TW
SUBJECT: TAIWAN PROTESTS START OFF WITH A WHIMPER
Classified By: AIT Director Stephen M. Young, Reason 1.4 (b/d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L TAIPEI 003038
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/05/2031
TAGS: PGOV TW
SUBJECT: TAIWAN PROTESTS START OFF WITH A WHIMPER
Classified By: AIT Director Stephen M. Young, Reason 1.4 (b/d)
1. (C) Summary: Weekend protest demonstrations calling on
President Chen to step down appeared poorly organized and
under-attended partly as a result of heavy downpours. The
"Depose Chen" campaign, led by former Democratic Progressive
Party (DPP) Chairman Shih Ming-te, drew under 1,000
pre-registered participants during "trial" sit-ins on
Ketagalan Boulevard on Sept 1-3. The campaign headquarters
announced on Sunday that it was canceling further trial
sit-ins through the week, ostensibly to prepare for the
"massive" sit-in scheduled to start on Saturday, September 9.
The Democratic Action Alliance, which also held its
"Democracy Night Market" and anti-Chen rallies at Chiang
Kai-shek Memorial Park this weekend, saw around 500 people
turn out for its activities. Both protests were overshadowed
Friday night by a free open AIR pop concert at Chiang
Kai-shek Memorial, unrelated to the anti-Chen protests, that
drew several thousand. End Summary.
2. (C) On its first weekend of mobilization the "Depose
Chen" campaign turned in a lackluster performance, drawing
only 500-800 participants for its "trial" sit-ins in front of
the Presidential Office on Ketagalan Boulevard Friday and
Saturday nights. Heavy rains caused the cancellation of
activities on Sunday evening. Participants were required to
sign up in advance for 1 hour slots for one of 230 seats,
which probably worked to keep the crowd small. The overall
turnout (including bystanders) came in well below the 10,000
mark predicted by some media and AIT contacts from the
opposition pan-Blue camp. Soochow University Professor and
"Depose Chen" campaign's international press spokesman Emile
Sheng acknowledged to AIT September 5 that the small turnout
has the campaign's leadership concerned that their movement
is losing steam.
3. (C) "Depose Chen" memorabilia vendors at the sit-in said
business was extremely slow and well below their
expectations. Many of those in attendance seemed to be from
the surrounding neighborhood, a deep Blue district, and in
their 50s and 60s. Enthusiasm was rather muted and guest
speakers appeared to have a difficult time energizing the
crowd. Turnout at the nearby "Democracy Night Market,"
sponsored by the Democratic Action Alliance, was also sparse.
Both events had less resonance with the public than a free
open AIR pop concert on Friday night that brought several
thousand youth and young families to Chiang Kai-shek
Memorial.
4. (C) During the weekend sit-in, "Depose Chen" campaign
leaders appeared disorganized and rent by highly public
internecine squabbling. On Sunday they halted the trial
sit-ins, originally scheduled through the rest of the week.
The campaign's spokesman announced that campaign members had
gained enough experience at handling "a large" gathering and
needed to focus on preparing for the main sit-it expected to
start Saturday, September 9. Media coverage, however,
focused on splits within the campaign's leadership, which
forced the previous spokeswoman to step down. Sheng told
AIT the fallout was in part driven by disagreements over what
strategies to use to attract more participants for the main
sit-in. Despite these troubles, campaign leaders raised
their public projections for turnout on September 9 to
300,000 from their initial goal of 200,000.
Comment
--------------
5. (C) The "Depose Chen" campaign in its first demonstration
activities appears to have gotten off to a lackluster start.
Shih initially capitalized on widespread public
dissatisfaction with President Chen and collected over NT$100
million (USD 3 million) in donations two weeks ago. Shih now
faces an uphill climb to restore enthusiasm and build up
momentum ahead of the main sit-in scheduled for September 9.
President Chen's decision to forge on with his four-day trip
to South Pacific allies, on the other hand, is now paying
dividends as media coverage has focused heavily on his
efforts to boost Taiwan's diplomatic relations.
YOUNG
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/05/2031
TAGS: PGOV TW
SUBJECT: TAIWAN PROTESTS START OFF WITH A WHIMPER
Classified By: AIT Director Stephen M. Young, Reason 1.4 (b/d)
1. (C) Summary: Weekend protest demonstrations calling on
President Chen to step down appeared poorly organized and
under-attended partly as a result of heavy downpours. The
"Depose Chen" campaign, led by former Democratic Progressive
Party (DPP) Chairman Shih Ming-te, drew under 1,000
pre-registered participants during "trial" sit-ins on
Ketagalan Boulevard on Sept 1-3. The campaign headquarters
announced on Sunday that it was canceling further trial
sit-ins through the week, ostensibly to prepare for the
"massive" sit-in scheduled to start on Saturday, September 9.
The Democratic Action Alliance, which also held its
"Democracy Night Market" and anti-Chen rallies at Chiang
Kai-shek Memorial Park this weekend, saw around 500 people
turn out for its activities. Both protests were overshadowed
Friday night by a free open AIR pop concert at Chiang
Kai-shek Memorial, unrelated to the anti-Chen protests, that
drew several thousand. End Summary.
2. (C) On its first weekend of mobilization the "Depose
Chen" campaign turned in a lackluster performance, drawing
only 500-800 participants for its "trial" sit-ins in front of
the Presidential Office on Ketagalan Boulevard Friday and
Saturday nights. Heavy rains caused the cancellation of
activities on Sunday evening. Participants were required to
sign up in advance for 1 hour slots for one of 230 seats,
which probably worked to keep the crowd small. The overall
turnout (including bystanders) came in well below the 10,000
mark predicted by some media and AIT contacts from the
opposition pan-Blue camp. Soochow University Professor and
"Depose Chen" campaign's international press spokesman Emile
Sheng acknowledged to AIT September 5 that the small turnout
has the campaign's leadership concerned that their movement
is losing steam.
3. (C) "Depose Chen" memorabilia vendors at the sit-in said
business was extremely slow and well below their
expectations. Many of those in attendance seemed to be from
the surrounding neighborhood, a deep Blue district, and in
their 50s and 60s. Enthusiasm was rather muted and guest
speakers appeared to have a difficult time energizing the
crowd. Turnout at the nearby "Democracy Night Market,"
sponsored by the Democratic Action Alliance, was also sparse.
Both events had less resonance with the public than a free
open AIR pop concert on Friday night that brought several
thousand youth and young families to Chiang Kai-shek
Memorial.
4. (C) During the weekend sit-in, "Depose Chen" campaign
leaders appeared disorganized and rent by highly public
internecine squabbling. On Sunday they halted the trial
sit-ins, originally scheduled through the rest of the week.
The campaign's spokesman announced that campaign members had
gained enough experience at handling "a large" gathering and
needed to focus on preparing for the main sit-it expected to
start Saturday, September 9. Media coverage, however,
focused on splits within the campaign's leadership, which
forced the previous spokeswoman to step down. Sheng told
AIT the fallout was in part driven by disagreements over what
strategies to use to attract more participants for the main
sit-in. Despite these troubles, campaign leaders raised
their public projections for turnout on September 9 to
300,000 from their initial goal of 200,000.
Comment
--------------
5. (C) The "Depose Chen" campaign in its first demonstration
activities appears to have gotten off to a lackluster start.
Shih initially capitalized on widespread public
dissatisfaction with President Chen and collected over NT$100
million (USD 3 million) in donations two weeks ago. Shih now
faces an uphill climb to restore enthusiasm and build up
momentum ahead of the main sit-in scheduled for September 9.
President Chen's decision to forge on with his four-day trip
to South Pacific allies, on the other hand, is now paying
dividends as media coverage has focused heavily on his
efforts to boost Taiwan's diplomatic relations.
YOUNG