Taiwan's President Chen and VP LU shot during campaigning...

[From an e-mail I sent out shortly after I heard of the shooting]

It's about 4 pm in Taiwan, and Molly and I have just become aware of an event which took place at 1:45 pm in the southern city of Tainan. During this last day of campaigning for the presidency, President Chen and VP Lu were in a motorcade moving down a narrow, crowded street [in his hometown] when the President and VP were shot — President Chen in the abdomen, and VP Lu in the leg. The noise of the fireworks concealed the shots, and the would-be assassin escaped.

The President was not even aware that he had been shot until he noticed the blood on his abdomen. Both the President and VP were rushed to the hospital, and government sources report that both are in good condition, and the president is awake and alert. Government sources also say that tomorrow's voting will proceed as scheduled. [They are.]

I'm writing this before you all see it on the international news and wonder what's going on. We are safe and sound, and, as far as I can see on the local Chinese TV, other than strong shock and disbelief, there does not appear to be any sort of disturbance or violence taking place anywhere on the island. I just spoke with a Taiwanese brother in Christ who attends CCT, and he did not seem unduly alarmed or indicate that he was afraid that wide-spread social unrest would result form this act.

Personally, I can not quite take it in. In the early days of democratic reform in Taiwan, back in the 70's and 80's, there were large and often chaotic demonstrations demanding political reform and the institution a multi-party system. Occasionally, there was property damage -- as when the fire station and police station were burned down in Chungli when we lived there. (That violence, however, was concerned with local election fraud in a closely contested race, and was the result of poor crowd control and overheated emotions.) By and large, the people people of Taiwan showed amazing patience and endurance as political reform became a reality without the need for "revolution."

This assassination attempt simply does not jibe with my understanding or experience of Taiwan as we have come to know it during 34 years of dramatic social and political change. I am sure that it is abhorred by our Taiwanese friends of BOTH parties. I hope, and believe, that this was a random act of violence on the part of a unbalanced individual — at least I hope and pray that this is the case! I certainly shy away from the idea that a foreign power or a political agenda was involved. Perhaps I am hiding my head in the sand, but that's my "read."

Please pray with us for speedy recovery for President Chen and VP Lu. Pray for Taiwan and for our Taiwanese friends and neighbors who must surely be having a difficult time coping with this bizarre incident. And ask the Lord of all nations to bless this country with a spirit of calm and reflection as it's citizens go to the polls tomorrow (Saturday).

Hoping in the King of Kings,
Chuck

PS/ Here is a link to a write-up on the incident from the Washington Post...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6817-2004Mar19.html