Taipei, March 24 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian said Wednesday he will do whatever he can to "heal the rift" in local society in the wake of his narrow re-election victory.
Chen made the pledge while meeting with 11 key opinion leaders at the Presidential Office to seek their advice about how to resolve the post-election dispute and how to increase social harmony and unity.
During the meeting, he also said he is willing to meet with the opposition "pan-blue alliance" presidential and vice presidential candidates -- Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan and People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong.
Nevertheless, Chen expressed hope that the two opposition leaders will ask their supporters still demonstrating in front of the Presidential Office to disperse so that both sides can have a more "calm, rational and objective" dialogue environment.
Chen noted that the demonstrators have endured hardships, including chilly drizzle, over the past four days. "I hope the opposition leaders can persuade their supporters to go home as soon as possible so that calmness can resume in our society," he added.
But the president said he has no intention of making an end to the demonstration a premise for a meeting with Lien and Soong. In fact, he said, he has always been willing to meet with the two opposition leaders. "The meeting need not be held inside the Presidential Office. I'm willing to visit them at a place of their convenience. In addition to discussing matters related to the election, I also hope to seek their counsel about a broad range of national affairs and policy issues, " Chen said.
In an effort to calm an increasingly divided public, Chen said the 23 million Taiwan people share a common destiny. "All of us are masters of this island, regardless of their ethnic origin."
During his second term, Chen went on, he will listen to "different, diverse voices, " particularly opinions from the opposition camp. "The coming four years mark a new hope. My last election battle is over. I no longer have 're-election' pressure and I'll work selflessly for our homeland," Chen said.
Referring to the election-eve assassination attempt against him, Chen said his brush with death has had an impact on his view of life. "I'll dedicate myself to service. I'll push for Taiwan's economic growth and reform in various aspects. I'm the president of the 23 million Taiwan people, not just the president of the 647 million people who voted for me," he pointed out.
The 11 opinion leaders included Red Cross Society President C.V. Chen; China Times Group General Manager Huang Chao-sung; noted writers Bo Yang and Huang Chun-ming; Clean Election Promotion Association President Tsai Sung-lin; former Taipei Society President Chu Hai-yuan; Public Television Service Chairman Wu Feng-shan; and National Policy Adviser Hsiao Hsin-huang.