NY Times Washington Post AP PhotoPage (han-ji 漢字) Suspect 歹徒?
Taiwanese President Survives Assassination Attempt
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TAIPEI, Taiwan, March 19 — The president of Taiwan was shot today and the vice president was slightly wounded on the eve of bitterly contested national elections, but neither suffered life-threatening injuries and the Central Election Commission here said the vote would proceed on Saturday.
President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Annette Lu were standing in the back of an open-roofed red Jeep driving slowly through streets crowded with supporters in the southern city of Tainan, the president's hometown, when the president was struck in the stomach by a bullet, said Chiou I-Jen, the secretary general of the presidential office.
The supporters were discharging large numbers of firecrackers, and the president initially thought he had been hit by one of them, only to find his stomach becoming wet with blood, Mr. Chiou said at a news conference this afternoon at the presidential office here. The president and vice president were taken to the Chi Mei Medical Center in Tainan.
A bullet was found lodged between the skin of the president's stomach and his undershirt, having apparently torn a wound four inches long, an inch wide and an inch deep, Dr. Steve Chan, the medical center's president, said in a televised briefing.
Ms. Lu's injury was less clear. Mr. Chiou said that the vice president had felt a sharp pain in her right knee at the same time as the president was hit, but Mr. Chiou and other presidential officials declined to specify whether she had been struck by a bullet. Dr. Chan said she had a very shallow flesh wound on her knee.
President Chen and Vice President Lu were discharged from the hospital early this evening and aides said they would fly back here immediately.
Defense Minister Tang Yian-min said that the Taiwanese military had been placed on alert but that there had been no hint of any unusual activity across the Taiwan Strait in mainland China.
Nobody answered the phones this afternoon at the Taiwan Affairs Office in Beijing, while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs declined to comment. Evening television broadcasts in China did not report the shooting, and only at 7:56 p.m. did the mainland's official New China News Agency release a single-sentence statement noting Taiwanese news media accounts that Mr. Chen and Ms. Lu had been attacked.
But mentions of the attack began to appear by midafternoon in Internet chat rooms, possibly because many Chinese now have access to satellite television broadcasts from Hong Kong.
President Chen's Democratic Progressive Party and Lien Chan, the presidential candidate of the opposition Nationalist Party, each appealed for calm, canceled large campaign rallies scheduled for this evening and even urged their supporters not to gather in public places.
While attacks on political figures are almost unheard of in Taiwan, the island does have a long history of serious rioting in response to political developments, most recently in 2000, when Nationalist Party supporters violently protested Mr. Lien's loss in that election to Mr. Chen.
A crowd of more than 1,000 had gathered by this evening outside the Democratic Progressive Party campaign headquarters here. Some were crying as the crowd sang patriotic songs, but there was no sign of violence.
Mr. Lien said he had expected a million of Taiwan's 23 million people to attend the four large rallies across the country it had planned for this evening. He condemned the attack today and said that when he tried to call the president three hours after the incident, "his staff told me he was all right, it was nothing too serious."
Prime Minister Yu Shyi-kun of Taiwan said at a news conference this evening that there was no evidence yet of how many shots had been fired or who had fired them.
Wang Chin-wang, the deputy director of Taiwan's National Security Bureau, said that Taiwanese intelligence had not picked up any hint in advance of a possible attack on the president. Yu Cheng-hsien, who is Taiwan's minister of internal affairs and is not related to the prime minister, was with the president at the time of the attack and will oversee the investigation in Tainan.
Taiwan does not have a history of domestic terrorism or assassination attempts. President Chen's Jeep was not equipped with bulletproof glass and local television footage showed a bullet hole in its windshield; Taiwanese television reported that the Tainan police had found two bullet shells on the ground.
The government-owned Central News Agency quoted an adviser to Ms. Lu as saying that Ms. Lu believed a bullet had ricocheted off her and into the president. But the bullet hole in the Jeep's windshield appeared to be just in front of President Chen's lower stomach.
President Chen was not wearing his bulletproof vest, but he seldom does so even when he is not in his hometown, Mr. Chiou said. Mr. Chen has prided himself on being accessible to the public as part of this country's flourishing democracy, also opening the presidential office building to the public on weekday mornings.
Taiwan's National Security Council held a special meeting this afternoon, reviewing the effect of the shooting on civil order, international relations and financial markets. The shooting took place at 1:45 this afternoon, 15 minutes after the regular closing of the local stock market.
President Chen has long been an outspoken critic of the mainland and an advocate for greater Taiwanese independence from China. But Beijing has kept its public criticisms of him to a minimum during the election campaign, after its criticisms of candidates favoring greater independence in the 1996 and 2000 presidential races appeared to backfire, drawing a sympathy vote for those candidates.
Mr. Lien has called for closer relations with the mainland. He said this week that if elected, he would travel to Washington, then Tokyo and then Beijing before his inauguration.
While some lawmakers have visited Beijing, no president or president-elect has visited the mainland since the Nationalists fled here in 1949 after losing China's civil war to the Communists.
original story: http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/19/international/asia/19CND-TAIW.html?hp
By Philip P. Pan
Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, March 19, 2004; 6:44 AM
Taiwan President Chen Shia-bian looks down towards his stomach shortly after being shot in an assassination attempt today in Taiwan. (AFP | |
original story: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6817-2004Mar19.html
Taiwan president, vice president shot and slightly injured while campaigning
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) President Chen Shui-bian and his vice president survived an assassination attempt Friday while campaigning on the eve of a closely fought election focusing on the military threat from the Chinese mainland.
In a videotaped message hours after being grazed in the abdomen by a bullet, Chen looked stiff and tired but reassured viewers about his health and Taiwan's security.
''There's no problem with A-bian,'' Chen said, referring to himself by his nickname.
Police had no suspects in the shooting of Chen, 53, and Vice President Annette Lu, 59, who was hit in the right knee, as they rode in an open Jeep along a street jammed with Chen's supporters in his hometown of Tainan.
At least two shots were fired, and there might have been more than one gunman, said Liu Shih-lin, deputy chief of the National Police.
''The bullets come from different directions,'' Liu said.
The vote will go ahead as planned Saturday, an election official said. In addition to the presidential contest, an unprecedented referendum spearheaded by Chen will ask voters whether the island should increase its defenses against hundreds of Chinese missiles pointed at it.
The United States has expressed its displeasure at the referendum, along with France, Germany, Japan and South Korea.
Some analysts predicted the attack could boost Chen's chances in what had been seen as a close vote. Chen has angered the Nationalist opposition and Beijing by championing a separate identity for Taiwan.
China, which claims Taiwan is part of its territory and insists the two should be unified, fears the referendum could lead to a vote on Taiwanese independence. Beijing has bitterly denounced Chen, although it toned down its attacks recently.
Philip Yang, a political scientist at National Taiwan University in Taipei, said the shooting ''could bring out sympathy votes'' for the president but could also consolidate the Nationalist Party.
China is a volatile topic in Taiwanese elections. The two sides split when the Communists took over the mainland in 1949. Beijing wants Taiwan to unify and has threatened to attack if Taiwan seeks a permanent split.
Beijing waited more than six hours to publicly report the shooting, and then only in a two-sentence report on its official news agency.
Taiwanese officials refused to speculate about who fired the shots.
A ''deranged individual'' seemed the most likely suspect, said Steve Tsang, director of Asian Studies Center at St. Anthony's College, Oxford University, adding that the referendum might have heightened tensions and pushed an emotional voter over the edge.
''Elections in Taiwan are always emotional and when the referendum issue was raised, it all became much more emotional and passionate,'' Tsang said. ''That could well have had the effect of turning one person to doing something very, very silly.''
Tsang said it was ''inconceivable'' the opposition or the Chinese government could have been behind the attack.
Chen enjoys street campaigning and frequently wades into big crowds. Security is relatively relaxed because there's no tradition of violence against leaders on the island, and Chen and Lu were not wearing bulletproof vests.
People were setting off celebratory fireworks as the vehicle drove by, and early reports said the injuries were caused by firecrackers.
''The vice president first felt pain in her knee and she thought it was caused by firecrackers,'' said Chiou I-jen, secretary-general in the Presidential Office. ''Then the president felt some wetness on his stomach area, and then they realized something was wrong.''
After the shooting, the president ''was very conscious and he walked into our emergency room,'' said Chan Chi-hsien, head of Chi Mei Hospital.
His supporters gathered outside the hospital, chanting for his victory in the election. Some waved green flags, the color of Chen's Democratic Progressive Party.
Chen left the hospital about five hours later and returned to Taipei.
Doctors showed photos of a 4½-inch-long wound just under Chen's navel. Chan said the bullet didn't penetrate deeply and no internal organs were damaged.
Hundreds of people flocked to Chen's downtown Taipei campaign headquarters Friday night to show their support for the president. The opposition Nationalist Party condemned the attack.
''We were very, very shocked,'' said Lien Chan, Chen's election opponent. ''We wish President Chen and Vice President Lu will recover soon. We strongly condemn any form of violence.''
Chen has accused the Nationalist Party of involvement in a 1985 incident in which his wife, Wu Shu-chen, was run over three times by a truck, leaving her paralyzed from the waist down. The truck driver and party insisted it was an accident, and the driver wasn't charged.
The election has been an emotional race dominated by negative campaigning even though Lien and Chen agree on most of the basic issues involving China policy. Neither candidate favors immediate unification, and both are highly distrustful of the Communist leadership.
Chen has been more aggressive in pushing for a Taiwanese identity separate from China, raising tensions with Beijing.
Terrorist act in Taiwan mustn't
disrupt election
Yomiuri Shimbun (Japan)
The incident was something that should not have taken place in a democratic society. It was a barbarous act that deserves to be harshly condemned. Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian was shot and injured Friday. Fortunately, his injuries reportedly were not life threatening. We sincerely hope he will recover as soon as possible. The incident happened on the campaign trail the day before the presidential election. The shooting was an act of political terrorism against a candidate in a democratic election that will determine Taiwan's future. Nothing is known about the suspect's identity or the background to the attack. We urge Taiwan's law-enforcement authorities to make the utmost efforts not only to arrest the suspect, but also to clarify the whole picture of the incident. The presidential election is a neck-and-neck race between Chen of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and opposition candidate Lien Chen of the Chinese Nationalist Party. ===
Poll symbolizes progress This will be the third time for the president of Taiwan to be elected by direct vote. The direct election is meant to put the finishing touches to Taiwan's democratization process, which started in the mid-1980s. Taiwan, which was isolated in the international community in the early 1970s, was able to make its presence felt in the world thanks to its remarkable economic growth and progress in democratization. The international community was no longer able to ignore the democratized Taiwan. Following the lifting of martial law, it became possible to form political parties in Taiwan, ending the despotic government by the Nationalist Party. With this, Taiwan moved toward a multiparty system. In this regard, democratization and "Taiwanization" are two sides of the same coin, and the people of Taiwan have become gradually aware of their identity as Taiwanese. The presidential election is a symbol of Taiwan's democratization. In the presidential election four years ago, Chen, who led the DPP, then in opposition, defeated his Nationalist Party rival. It was the first time for the Nationalist Party to become an opposition party. To achieve its victory, the DPP certainly took advantage of divisions within the Nationalist Party. But against the background of the political changeover was people's deepening awareness of their identity as Taiwanese. ===
Let voters decide The handover of political power through elections takes place only in democratic societies. It should be people's votes that decide where political power lies. During campaigning for Saturday's race, there has been a heated war of words over Taiwan's relationship with China. Chen claimed that both China and Taiwan are states, insisting that Taiwan should build a more independent relationship with China. On the other hand, Lien stressed the need to improve Taiwan's relationship with China, shelving disputes over Taiwan's sovereignty concerning whether Taiwan should be unified with China or become independent. A single bullet should not decide Taiwan's future and its relationship with China. The presidential vote will go ahead as planned on Saturday. We hope the election will be unaffected by the shooting and that it will confirm the fact that a democratic political system has taken root in Taiwan.
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 20)
陳呂中槍傷勢穩定
大選照常
林淑玲、陳嘉宏、蕭旭岑、翁順利、汪慧星/中國時報
台北報導
3/20/04 8:am (Taipei time)
在總統大選投開票前夕,陳水扁總統與副總統呂秀蓮昨日下午在台南市掃街拜票時,竟遭到槍擊,這樁我國選舉史上國家元首遭槍擊的事件,立即震撼國內外,各國際媒體紛紛顯著報導;藍綠陣營都在第一時間宣布停止競選活動,譴責暴力。總統府國安會議也在最快時間召開,並確定今天的總統大選和公投如期舉行。
針對這件正副元首遭槍擊案,國安局初步已排除政治暗殺的可能性。
行政院長游錫堃於晚間召開治安會報,下達懸賞一千萬元,全力緝兇令。檢察總長盧仁發昨天深夜在警政署召集海巡署、憲、警、調等情治單位首長召開「○三一九」專案會議,決定由警政署提供舉發獎金一千萬元,檢舉電話是:(○六)二二六九一四五和○八○○二一一五一一至二。台南市政府提出三百萬獎金緝兇,國親總部也提出一千萬元的緝兇獎金。警政署副署長劉世林表示,從現場彈孔看來,子彈是來自不同方向,研判全案不是一個人所為。
陳水扁和呂秀蓮是在昨日下午一時四十五分於台南市文賢路與金華路口發覺遭到槍擊,當時隨扈警官已經察覺有異,陳總統仍勉力與群眾揮手,接著即緊急變更行車路線,轉往奇美醫院就診。
奇美醫院在下午五時許說明陳總統確遭槍擊,所幸只有肌肉層的擦傷,傷口長約十一公分寬二公分,縫了十四針,同時在皮膚與夾克間找到一枚子彈頭。副總統呂秀蓮則是在右膝有一到二公分的傷口。
晚間七時卅分,陳呂離開台南奇美醫院,搭乘空軍一號返回台北。基於安定國人的考量,陳總統主持簡短的國安會議後,以電視錄影方式發表談話。
陳總統神情略顯疲憊地表示,非常感謝國人同胞的關心,在醫護人員的悉心照顧之下,他沒有問題,請大家放心。在事件發生之後,國安單位及政府相關因應機制已經啟動,台灣的安全沒有問題,請大家能夠安心。 副總統呂秀蓮表示,總統跟她有驚無險,安然無恙,本來總統和副總統就是要為全國同胞擋風、擋雨,請各位寬心。她並呼籲民眾,在總統大選及公民投票重要日子,務必行使神聖的國家主人權利,一定要去投票。
游揆昨日下午已經先在總統府主持國安會議,啟動國安機制,晚間則回行政院主持治安會報,下達指令,全面緝兇,務必在最短時間內破案。游揆也呼籲全國民眾能夠冷靜理性,共同維護社會安定。
警政署昨晚也呼籲各媒體將昨天下午在台南市事發現場拍到的影帶、照片,送交警方協助調查。警方已成立專案小組,進駐台南,撒下天羅地網追緝兇手。
藍綠陣營都宣布停止競選活動,但支持者熱情不減,陳呂總部特別請前黨主席林義雄出面安撫民眾情緒。國親聯盟也將支持群眾帶往總部,將造勢晚會改為祈福座談會。
連戰強力譴責任何形式的暴力,指這違反了民主政治的基本原則。為陳呂祈福之外,國親聯盟也要求政府必須盡快公布真相,讓全國民眾在今天前有所瞭解;立法院長王金平嚴肅地表示,執政黨的候選人遭槍擊,是相當嚴重的事,有關單位必須立即對外說清楚,「不要到了選後,才發現其中有矛盾之處。」
(2004/03/20) 為台灣祈福
陳水扁總統在台南遊街受到槍傷送醫事件傳出後,扁呂彰化競選總部主委翁金珠與支持者昨晚在8點8分8秒,以燭光點亮台灣模型,為台灣祈福,同時也為受到槍傷的陳水扁及呂秀蓮祈禱。(劉宗龍攝)
陳水扁總統遭槍擊各國駐WTO代表團紛表關切
陳水扁總統及副總統呂秀蓮遭到槍擊受傷已成為全球新聞焦點,台灣駐世界貿易組織 (WTO)代表團今天上午接獲許多國家代表團的慰問及關切電話。
在台灣總統大選投票前夕,陳總統及呂副總統遭到槍擊的消息,立即受到全球注意,台灣駐WTO常任代表顏慶章就接到哥斯達黎加、巴拿馬等多國大使的電話,他們都表示了關切及慰問的立場。
顏慶章感謝他們的關心,並說明陳總統情況穩定,台灣也非常安定。
代表團副代表鄧振中出席WTO一項非正式會議時,許多國家代表團官員也表達了關切態度,並詢問詳情,另一位副代表高碩泰也接到許多官員及友人的電話。
CNN及英國廣播公司(BBC)整個上午的新聞都集中在陳水扁總統被槍擊事件,隨時與派往台北的記者連線報導最新發展。
陳總統呂副總統受槍傷 達賴親筆信關心祝禱 中央社
陳水扁總統和副總統呂秀蓮受槍擊消息,引發國際關注。達賴喇嘛傍晚時透過駐台達賴喇嘛基金會基金會董事長才嘉傳一封親筆信給陳總統與呂副總統兩人,表達他的關心,希望陳總統和呂秀蓮能夠復原,並安排一項西藏儀式的特別祈禱,為陳總統和呂秀蓮祝禱。
總統府高層指出,陳總統兩人受傷消息傳出後,引發國際關注,達賴喇嘛在傍晚時、特別透過駐台的達賴喇嘛基金會董事長才嘉傳一封親筆信給陳總統和呂秀蓮,達賴喇嘛在信中寫著﹁聽到你們︵陳總統和呂秀蓮︶因為一宗暗殺企圖的事件受傷的消息,我感到震驚,對於這項企圖沒有成功,則感到寬心,希望你們能夠從受傷中復原,我們現在正在安排一項西藏儀式的特別祝禱為你們祝禱﹂。
陳水扁遇襲日相小泉及官房長官同表慰問之意 中央社台灣驚傳現任正副元首遭槍擊負傷事件,日本首相小泉純一郎今晚在官邸接受媒體訪問時表示,政治人物經常面臨可能遭暗殺的危機,但幸好這次行刺並未釀成不可收拾的局面,個人謹對陳水扁表達由衷的慰問之意。
此外,日本內閣官房長官福田康夫也同申慰問之意。福田表示,希望陳水扁早日康復。
針對陳水扁總統和呂秀蓮副總統今天下午雙雙遇襲受傷一事,日本最大在野勢力的民主黨,今天有多位眾議員發表共同聲明,強烈譴責這項法理難容的暴力行徑。此外,他們也祈禱陳水扁和呂秀蓮早日康復。
共同署名發表聲明的民主黨眾議員,包括:中津川博鄉、長島昭久、岸本健、黃川田徹、大江康弘。
民主黨眾議員在聲明中指出,陳水扁和呂秀蓮遇襲是一件悲劇。不管行凶者的身份或意圖何在,下手行刺不僅是對民主的攻擊和挑釁,更是法理難容的卑劣行徑。同一聲明進一步表示,同樣身為自由民主國家的政治人物,民主黨的有志議員必須以最嚴峻的言辭強烈譴責凶嫌和背後的藏鏡人(如果真的存在的話)。
聲明強調,下手行刺的凶嫌,堪稱是自由和民主的最大公敵。
五位民主黨眾議員在聲明文的最後,祝福陳水扁和呂秀蓮早日康復,同時,他們也深切期待台灣的自由和民主能更上一層樓。
中華文化總會秘書長蘇進強今晚接受媒體訪問時表示,今天這起槍擊正副總統事件,顯然是有計畫、有預謀的行動,如此的恐怖行動應該全國共同來譴責,不應該以政治立場或假借專家名義來解讀。
他認為,國家元首的安全至關重要,發生這樣遭槍擊的情事當然是非常不幸,除希望全國觀眾理性看待外,不要出現冷血的說辭來為整起不幸事件給合理化。
蘇進強說,從報導中可知,整個射擊的子彈共有三到六發,車子的擋風玻璃有一發、呂秀蓮副總統的腳也被一發子彈擦傷,而陳水扁總統腹部又有一發,這已經至少有三發子彈。他說,如果按照軍事專業角度來解讀,三到六發在一瞬間絕對是有可能發生,所以並非同一發子彈,先打中擋風玻璃,再擊中陳總統,然後再擦傷呂副總統,這是錯誤判斷。
至於有人質疑兇手為何不打頭部或胸部的說法,蘇進強說,這必須看射擊角度在哪裡及射擊距離,如果兇手是站在平擊角度或比車子還低,這當然只能打到陳總統的腹部。
他指出,當然詳細精確判斷,還是須從軍事專業的角度,或整個彈道做一刑事專業檢驗。
蘇進強表示,他聽到有人說這是陳總統的競選苦肉計,他認為這是非常荒謬的解讀,其實不管是哪一組總統候選人,大家都應去保護他們的安全,也要去對特勤人員的防護措施是否出現漏洞進行必要的檢討。
陳水扁總統遭槍擊事件發生後,支持群眾從今天下午開始不斷湧入水蓮配全國競選總部,晚間有相當多群眾從中山足球場步行至競選總部,為陳總統加油及祈福。水蓮全國競選總部總指揮張俊雄表示,台灣民主道路是打不倒的,而且要繼續走下去,陳總統明天一定會投票,希望大家冷靜。
陳總統與副總統呂秀蓮因拜票時受槍傷,在台南奇美醫院醫治,晚間返回總統官邸休養,關心陳總統、呂秀蓮傷勢的支持者,得知消息後陸續湧入水蓮配全國競選總部,支持者面色凝重,不斷高喊「阿扁加油」、「阿扁凍蒜」,希望陳總統、呂秀蓮平安。
水蓮配全國競選總部宣布晚上全省四場造勢晚會取消,仍有部分支持者前往中山足球場,在勞委會主委陳菊勸導疏散人群之後,熱情支持民眾隨即步行轉往水蓮配全國競選總部。支持群眾手持競選旗幟、沿途不斷鳴放汽笛,高喊「阿扁凍蒜」,由於支持者越來越多,警方將水蓮配全國競選總部前的民生東路封鎖。
陳菊在活動指揮車上向所有支持群眾表示,陳總統在奇美醫院的醫治下,已經平安搭機回總統官邸,支持群眾高興的搖旗吶喊。
由於支持群眾越聚越多,總部方面由張俊雄、前民進黨主席林義雄出面安撫群眾情緒。張俊雄說,上天保佑,陳總統沒事,台灣民主的道路是打不倒的,台灣民主的道路要繼續走下去。
張俊雄指出,為了台灣的安定和諧,競選總部已經宣布停止所有競選活動,希望大家冷靜,回家休息,明天都能去投票。
民進黨前黨主席林義雄也上台發表聲明,希望大家在關鍵時刻,一同冷靜祈禱,大家心要靜下來。
針對陳文茜立委召開記者會指接到檢舉,質疑奇美醫院在整個搶救過程有竄改病歷等情事,奇美醫院院長詹啟賢凌晨召開記者會澄清,奇美是台南縣最好、最大的醫院,而且奇美也是總統「祥泰專案」指定醫院,總統受傷送奇美急救是很正確的。
詹啟賢表示,原本單純事件,因為總統大選關係,很多民眾打電話希望多了解搶救過程,另外也為了該院榮譽,所以特別召開記者會對外說明。他說,奇美是台南縣當地最大、最好的醫院,這是當地人都知道的,奇美也是總統「祥泰專案」指定醫院,總統受傷送到奇美醫院是一很正確。
急診護理部門主管也出面澄清,奇美急診部門人力足夠,沒有事先要求護士停休或改班,更不須另外調人力支援,外面傳言是不正確的。奇美李副院長表示,他醫學院畢業二十七年,以他多年經驗,陳總統今日受到槍傷是沒有錯的,他是一般外科,希望他會診是查看陳總統內部器官是否有受到傷害,檢視後他判斷並未傷到臟器。
詹啟賢表示,陳總統的傷口是在急診室進行縫合,共有二位醫生、二位護士直接參與救治,他則是在旁守候。另外有人質疑公布的照片未見到陳總統臉部,李副院長表示,如果國人不信,只有陳總統親自掀起衣服讓大家看。
自由時報 社論 中華民國93年3月20日星期六 8:00am (Taipei time)
用選票為台灣的民主傷痕療傷止痛
現在是特別需要理性、冷靜的時候!
就在大選、公投投票日的前一天,陳水扁總統與呂秀蓮副總統在台南掃街拜票時,遭到不明槍擊雙雙受傷。陳總統傷及腹部,幸而傷勢並不嚴重,沒有生命危險。呂副總統則傷及右膝,傷勢比較輕微。總統府秘書長邱義仁表示,目前政府國安機制已經啟動,另一組候選人也同時加強安全戒護,他呼籲全國同胞保持冷靜。
陳總統與呂副總統遭到槍擊,是大家都不願見到的不幸。我們與全體國人一樣,慶幸他們兩人沒有大礙。我們的國家正副元首遭到槍擊受傷,可說是史無前例的緊急變故,因此國內外同表震驚。目前,此一槍擊的行兇者及背後動機,檢調與安全單位正在深入調查。此時此刻,大家一定要沈著、鎮定、理性、冷靜,不要任意揣測,更不要聽信謠言,以致對我們的國家造成二度傷害。在槍擊事件發生之後,藍綠兩個陣營各自約束支持者,並紛紛取消昨晚的最後大型造勢活動,這對冷卻民眾情緒、維護社會秩序是正面的。
一個國家的正副元首遭到槍擊,即使在平時都是非同小可的事。因為,這對民主秩序,社會安定,經濟活動,甚至國家安全,都會形成不小的衝擊。更何況,這次的槍擊事件,發生在選舉的倒數時刻,其敏感性更不容小看。最近以來,兩個陣營的你來我往,幾乎已到劍拔弩張的地步,偶會出現支持者的零星摩擦。現在,發生這件不幸意外,大家都能自我節制,一起冷靜面對此一特殊變故,顯見台灣民主成熟的一面。
陳總統與呂副總統既是現任國家正副元首,也是兩組大選候選人之一。這起槍擊的目的何在,有待檢調與安全單位調查,但其極為可能的目的是要影響我們大選和公投的順利進行,進而破壞我們的民主秩序。所以,關心這起槍擊事件的民眾,當前最為重要的是避免自亂陣腳,將確保大選和公投的圓滿完成視為第一要務,盡一己之力確保社會穩定與國家安全不受任何影響,不要讓迷信與訴諸黑槍暴力的人得逞。
民主政治的可貴之處,就是用人頭取代子彈,也就是用選舉投票,取代流血暴力。而且,在民主政治之下,每個人都有自由,可以支持或不支持某一種主張。有道是,我可以不同意你的主張,但也要尊重你發言的權利。以目前的情況為例,今天的大選與公投,不論你是支持哪一組候選人,不論你對公投贊成與否,你的表達工具都是選票,絕對不是子彈或其他的暴力工具。當然,選舉時是這樣,平時也是這樣。
同樣的,民主政治的優點,也要在理性冷靜的條件下,才能夠彰顯出來。因為,唯有透過理性溝通,才能對公共事務取得共識,創造最大多數人的最大幸福。相反的,如果有人以煽動為能事,不斷刺激民眾的情緒,製造社會的矛盾對立,只會製造更大的分歧,讓社會共識更難達到,公民社會無法形成。令人遺憾的是,這次大選、公投期間,有人就是處心積慮要撕裂台灣,寧可危害台灣也要謀取私利。如今,槍聲響了,大家還能冷眼旁觀嗎?
過去十餘年的民主改革,尤其是二○○○年的政權輪替,促使台灣躋身民主國家之林。這一系列的寧靜革命,使台灣成為全球第三波民主化國家的典範。而今,國際媒體群集台灣之際,卻發生正副元首遭到槍擊事件,有人稱之為台灣的民主之恥,實在值得大家省思。我們希望,這起槍擊事件,在台灣的民主發展中,成為最後的絕響。
回顧這次大選與公投,雙方勢均力敵,勝負難分難解,支持者壁野分明。特別是,各種負面文宣的手法,把選情炒到火熱。可貴的是,至少兩個陣營的作法,都是動口不動手,動員不動亂,唾棄暴力,譴責暴力。這種熱鬧而不激烈的景象,是三次總統直選洗禮的成果,也是台灣民主傲人之處。這個令人稱道的成果,正是二千三百萬人的共同貢獻。台灣的民主遊戲規則逐漸走向完備,台灣的民主持續走向成熟,是世界都看得到的事實。
「三二○歡喜選總統」,「三二○歡喜去公投」,原來只是平凡的競選文宣。但是,來自台南的槍聲,卻提醒大家,從過去以來民主就是爭取來的,不是坐著等就會從天上掉下來。令人震耳的槍聲說明,「歡喜選總統」,「歡喜去公投」,事實上得來不易,一定要倍加珍惜。今天,是大家用選票化解黑槍暴力的日子,我們一定要以沈著、鎮定、理性、冷靜,來徹底消弭開槍者意圖激起的爭端,我們也要審慎投下總統、公投選票,心平氣和接受大選、公投結果,為台灣的民主傷痕療傷止痛。
Suspect: 170cm中年男子
孤身行刺 陳水扁總統遭槍擊案,警方專案人員漏夜查訪,比對跡證,試圖勾勒案發經過、重建槍擊現場。辦案人員透露,行兇歹徒扮成扁迷,頭戴安全帽,身著挺扁T恤,混入阿扁票倉人潮中,利用鞭炮喧鬧聲伏擊。據了解,歹徒是持八釐米小型改造槍枝,在十公尺內朝阿扁連開兩槍,逞兇後單獨一人騎車逃逸。
陳水扁總統遭槍擊後,國安系統統籌檢警憲調情治單位,投入上百人力偵辦。辦案人員根據阿扁昨日遊街拜票路線,過濾鎖定案發第一現場為金華路三段十二號前,案發時間為昨天下午一時四十五分。
據透露,目擊者指出,行兇歹徒疑為一名身高約一百七十公分的中年男子,該名男子身著挺扁T恤,騎機車到達後,仍戴著安全帽,擠在路旁擁扁群眾中守候,男子手持阿扁旗幟,並以身旁的大型競選旗幟作掩護,伏擊總統車隊。
專案成員指出,根據查訪,該名男子中午即已觀察陳水扁總統遊街拜票路線,選定明興路接金華路這段人潮聚集最多的商圈埋伏。當總統車隊由南萣橋出發後,沿路挺扁民眾放起蜂炮、高呼凍蒜,聲音響徹雲霄。
阿扁車隊行抵金華路三段十二號前,歹徒利用旗幟、鞭炮聲和群眾呼喊聲為掩護。先以手中八釐米改造手槍,以正面三十度角,朝阿扁吉普車平射,開了第一槍。
這一槍貫穿吉普車右前擋風玻璃後,餘勢未消,再打中呂秀蓮副總統右膝。總統安全隨扈此時未發現異狀,車隊仍緩緩前行,距伏擊歹徒約七公尺時,歹徒面向車上的阿扁總統,射出第二槍。兩槍間隔時間約在五秒內。
專案人員說,由於歹徒以改造槍彈行兇,子彈射速不如制式,加上距離短,子彈初速威力大減,彈頭才在擊中總統腹部後,留在衣內。不過因為是近距離狙擊,萬一擊中要害,後果仍不堪設想。陳水扁總統遇刺僅受輕傷,可說是不幸中的大幸。
據透露,歹徒行兇後,並未逗留現場,待總統車隊駛過,即獨自一人騎車離開,目擊者未見有同夥接應。
偵辦正副總統陳水扁、呂秀蓮遇襲槍擊案檢警專案小組,漏夜調閱清查槍擊現場附近監視錄影帶與查訪目擊者,上午鎖定一名騎乘機車、頭戴安全帽的男子進行過濾,全力解析車牌追查中。
據了解,台南市警察局與刑事警察局組成的「0319」專案小組,昨晚地毬式訪查案發地點金華路三段十二號附近攤販與商家後,獲得三名目擊證人指證,大約在昨天下午一點三十分左右,一名騎乘機車、頭戴安全帽的男子,在案發地點附近徘徊,且曾下車探頭觀察附近人群聚集情形。
據目擊者表示,這名男子年約二、三十歲略壯,身著類淺白色夾克,與扁呂競選服相近,專案小組相當重視這項線索。 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Suspect (2):
專案私下研判:兇手一人鎖定扁 雖然檢警上午在記者會中表示目前無法由子彈研判兇槍和兇手的人數,然而據參與專案小組的警方透露,由跡證顯示,開槍兇手應該只有一人,在十公尺的近距離內持8釐米改造手槍連開二槍,目標是陳水扁,呂秀蓮只是子彈折射誤傷。
由於警政署副署長劉世林昨日才在行政院記者會中表示,由子彈方向研判槍手不只一人,因此警方專案小組上午的說法,等於推翻了昨日的警署版本,也勢將影響案情未來的走向。
另據目擊證人指出,行凶歹徒疑為一名170公分中年男子,頭戴安全帽、身穿挺扁T恤、手持支持旗幟,混在群眾當中開槍,事後迅即騎機車離去。對此說法,專案小組已漏夜調附近商家錄影帶解析中。
據專案小組透露,研判彈頭彈殼是否為同把槍枝所擊發,除了彈頭來福線痕外,還有彈殼彈底痕、抓子痕、退子痕等三項佐證,只有其中任何一項佐證吻合,就可證明是同把槍枝,據了解,鑑識人員目前已由其中一項佐證查出二發子彈由同把手槍擊發的可能性非常大,如果檢驗結果兇槍只有一把,等於證實開槍歹徒只有一人!然而,專案小組也表示,由於土製手槍的製造技術粗劣,面對這麼敏感的案子,在兇槍及兇手沒有到案前,警方才選擇暫時對外採取保留態度,以爭取辦案空間。
專案小組並由現場吉甫車彈痕、陳、呂二人傷勢位置研判,陳總統的夾克彈孔是在右邊,而站在陳總統左側的呂副總統所穿長褲的彈孔也是在右邊,證實兇手是站在吉甫車的右側開槍。
由於呂的左側有陳總統擋住,呂的受傷部位又是在右腿膝蓋位置也是在吉普車門以下,以正常推斷,槍手根本沒有角度射中呂的膝蓋,唯一合理的解釋,是兇手第一槍打中了吉普車的擋風玻璃,子彈角度因此產生偏折,才會誤傷呂副總統。
由擋風玻璃的彈孔位置,證明槍手的目標是瞄準陳總統,槍手發現第一槍沒打中後,於是在車隊行經面前時以平行角度又開了第二槍,子彈才會由橫向穿越陳的皮膚。
警方表示,由於土製手槍的射程只有三十到五十公尺遠,而造成傷口有燒灼現象,則必須縮短到十公尺的距離,經總統醫師團隊證實,陳總統的傷口有燒灼痕,因此確定槍手是在十公尺距離開槍,以當時的位置而言,兇手最可能就是混在右側夾道歡迎的群眾之中。
王守成、吳俊陵/台南報導、黃文博、吳俊陵、王守成/台北報導
3/20/04
廖嘯龍、蔡旻岳/台北報導
3/20/04
陳呂遭槍擊/黃衣藍褲禿頭男 警方列可疑對象清查
2004/03/26 10:47
地方中心/綜合報導
黃衣藍褲禿頭男,警方列為總統槍擊案可疑對象。
檢警偵辦總統槍擊案又有新的進展,專案小組過濾槍擊案附近的監視錄影帶發現,有一名穿著土黃色夾克、藍色長褲的禿頭男子相當可疑,目前已經展開全面的清查。
專案小組是在調閱離案發地點約100公尺的路口監視錄影帶發現,當天下午1時48分,也就是槍擊案發生後,有一名年紀3、40歲的男子,從金華路三段右轉快步走進武英街,在附近東張西望約40秒,然後戴上安全帽,騎乘粉紫色的重型機車迅速離開,形跡相當可疑,警方正設法追查車主,也將印製相關照片供民眾指認。
呂秀蓮發表「319中彈紀實」:陳總統與她正好互換位子 傳新聞簡訊給朋友
三一九中彈紀實 呂秀蓮2004.4.4.
三一九槍擊事件,迄今仍屬案情撲朔迷離,且被誣指為自導自演,做為第一槍挨子彈的人,自覺有必要將第一時間發生的經過向各界說清楚,講明白。
話說大選投票前一天的三月十九日,陳總統與我的共同行程是車隊遊街高雄市、縣,而後台南市、縣。那天下午一點半我們在高雄縣與台南市交界的南定橋搭上台南市競選總部為我們準備的紅色吉普車,吉普車非常迷你,總統跟我上車之後根本沒有太多空間,以致我們的座車隨扈只好一腳在車內,另腳在車外隨車扈從,而總統侍衛長就坐在吉普車右前座,總統的正前方,至於我的警衛隊伍則全被排在第13號車隊以後。
那天我們的掃街車隊經過台南市灣裡區轉入金華路,沿途民眾熱情歡迎,鞭炮聲更不絕於耳,總統與我在吉普車上左顧右盼揮手答禮,既興奮又心懷感激。忽然間我聽到「碰!碰!」兩聲巨響,頓時煙硝與炮屑糢糊了我們的視線,我感覺到右膝蓋遭到強大震擊,奇重也奇痛無比。我脫口大叫:「好—痛—喔!」然後低頭下視,發現灰黑絲絨長褲破了一個洞,鮮血滲透褲管。上週腳傷未立即止血的教訓提醒我必需在第一時間DIY。我於是轉頭要隨扈盧孝民遞給我隨身攜帶的黑色手提包,一邊告訴他我受傷了,一邊掏衛生紙,低頭處理傷口。我捲起絲絨褲管一看,淡褐色的棉質護膝有一片血跡,再拉開護膝,只見右膝蓋骨外側一個大窟窿,我先用濕紙巾擦拭傷口四週再把整包衛生紙塞進護膝裡面止血。心裡怵然一驚,「難道我中彈了?」。
就在此時,我的手臂碰觸到站在我右邊的總統的夾克下擺,有點黏濕,我抬起頭:「總統,您也—?」,我不敢說中彈,因為我並不敢確定。他的臉上泛起苦笑,一隻手摀著下腹,另隻手仍在向沿途熱情的民眾揮舞。待我身子坐定,隨扈盧孝民手指向吉普車右前方的擋風玻璃,我看到一片輻射狀的裂痕,中央有一個明顯的破洞,果真是槍擊!
我倒抽一口冷氣,腦子裡閃出美國總統甘迺迪在德州遇刺的那一幕,再偏頭看總統,他依然全神貫注於揮手拜票。我們都還活?!我心生感動,旋即又想,正副元首??中彈可是未曾有過的大事,這一定出於精心策劃的暗殺計劃,萬一狙擊手還在現場,萬一有一個暗殺集團?萬一是恐怖攻擊?萬一是……「離這裡最近的醫院在哪裡?」我俯身向前問司機。「成大醫院,還有奇美。」司機回應。
「我們都受傷了,趕快離開現場!有一必有二。」我想到的是,狙擊手看到我們沒有倒下,可能連續開槍,或者暗殺集團可能在我們已曝光的掃街路線佈下連環狙擊計劃,所以必須立即離開現場。
或許四週太吵,我的話沒人聽到,吉普車繼續跟在前導車之後沿街前行,兩旁民眾時多時少揮手相迎。
「有一必有二!趕快離開現場,侍衛長!趕快連絡醫院。」我轉向侍衛長,他正在用手機講電話。車子繼續走,前後左右,沒有人發現出大事了,我想還是不要驚動地好,於是偏頭跟總統說:「這是重大政治事件,應該做政治處理。底下的選舉活動不必進行了,也不用再拜票,我們趕緊離開現場吧,有一必有二」。
總統仍在揮手拜票,但我發現他的臉色有點發黑,而且略顯痛苦的表情。「還撐得住嗎?總統!」我問他,他微微點頭,一隻手仍忙著向兩旁民眾揮動。大概傷口太痛,他叫站在背後的隨扈張春波組長幫他用小護士抹肚皮。張組長繞到侍衛長椅背彎下腰掀開總統的衣服,我瞄到總統下腹一長條綻裂開來的血紅傷口,心想用面速力達姆豈不更刺痛?於是大叫:「趕快連絡醫療小組!趕快開往附近醫院就診!我們中彈了!」。
我順手比著正前方擋風玻璃的彈孔,「原來是槍擊!」總統臉色大變,「我一直以為只是被鞭炮打到。妳為什麼不早說?」他看了我一眼,我發現他臉色更黑,人也更虛弱了。心裡十分焦急,好在不多久,用摩托車載來的兩位醫療小組的醫師跳上吉普車,一前一後幫他照料。吉普車也在前導車引導下逐漸脫離掃街路線,幾分鐘之後終於停在奇美醫院門口。
總統怎麼進去的,我看不見,因為他被一大群安全人員包圍住。我下車後因右腳舊創加新傷,無法走路,盧孝民立即躬身把我揹進醫院,然後把我放在輪動式病床上推進急診室。我舉起左手腕看錶,正好下午二點鐘,心裡暗忖從中彈到現在,約略十五分鐘吧,後來證實槍擊果真是在一點四十五?六分之間在金華路12—20號之間發生的。
首先,有兩件不幸中的大幸必需敘述:
由於三月十三日那天,我趕完馬祖、台中與台東的行程之後,又要趕到高雄六十萬人的超大型晚會發表重要演說,因此甫下車就飛奔舞台,一不留神右腳踢到大舞台斜坡的粗厚木板,只覺奇痛無比,卻無暇他顧,就上台講話。接著總統到場又拉著我的手在超巨型的凱旋門左、右、前方伸展台共約六00公尺來回奔馳,接受民眾歡呼。當時其實已經流血不止,但我未敢吭聲,直到活動結束登上飛機脫下鞋子,這才赫然發現右腳趾頭及整個腳盤、腳踝早已瘀紫肥腫有如?麵龜?。下機後,我只作簡易療傷,第二天拄著柺杖就又東奔西跑拼選舉去了。接著選戰是越來越急,傷勢也是越積越重,因此最後掃街拜票時根本無法用腳站立,只好在吉普車上綁著一張高腳椅,人坐上去還得把腳墊高,以免加重傷處壓力。其實若非腳傷嚴重,那敢在陳總統站?拜票時我卻坐椅子?而若非我坐高椅,又墊高右腳,以致右膝蓋的高度正好擋住由擋風玻璃射進來的子彈,那天我早已一槍斃命,或至少肚破腸流!
其次,按陳總統在吉普車所站的位置,過去幾次他都沒有站靠馬路的右邊,出事那天,我坐的高腳椅,早先就綁好在左邊,因此陳總統站在右邊。如果照過去幾次那樣他站左邊,那第一顆威力較強的銅製子彈必定射中總統的胸腹部,後果更不堪設想。
結語
本文是319槍擊事件發生兩週之後,本人腳傷漸癒,身體大致復原後親撰的回憶,追憶的內容只以槍擊發生到奇美就醫前十五分鐘的親身經歷為限。
本文至少證實以下諸事:
第一、
陳總統與我確實在三月十九日下午遭受槍擊,絕非虛構。
第二、
第一槍中彈的是我,最先發現擋風玻璃彈孔的是我的座車隨扈,因此最先認知槍擊事件的是我。
第三、
案發時車隊綿延行駛,民眾夾道而立,鞭炮煙硝四起,我中彈後力持鎮定,只催促速離現場,並未大呼小叫,因此安全人員除吉普車隨行者外,根本不知已發生意外。我曾研判若大驚小怪,非但無濟於事,恐徒增慌亂,或更予歹徒再行狙殺之機。
第四、
我因一週前腳傷而坐高椅,並用兩箱礦泉水紙箱墊高右腳,致右膝蓋正好擋住子彈而未傷及身體;又因當天穿上厚軟的絲絨長褲並套棉質護膝,因此穿透擋風玻璃射擊過來的銅質子彈沒有貫穿我的膝蓋骨頭,只銼傷二公分肌肉之後反彈掉落在紙箱縫隙間,堪稱一奇。
第五、
擊中陳總統的鉛質土製子彈從他夾克的右前方穿透白襯衫和內衣,在下腹部刮破長十二公分,深二公分的傷口之後,再穿透內衣和白襯衫,停留在夾克左邊的襯底,而未穿出來打到我,也是不幸中的萬幸。
以上追憶各個情節既真實也離奇,因為絕對真實,所以陳總統跟我非但未渲染傷勢,反而力持鎮靜,強忍痛楚,為的是要安定社會,告慰國人,以展現國家領導者的風範。設若一切自導自演,我們勢必裝腔作勢,誇大傷情以假亂真。或許也因為槍擊之後一連串「不幸中的大幸」太過不可思議,以致產生一連串疑義,從而引爆朝野的互信危機,則是不幸中的大不幸,亟需國人以更大的誠意與耐心加以修補。