Organizers of the "Million Voices Against Corruption" campaign
announced yesterday that it will initiate a "soft strike" on October 9
as part of a nationwide measure calling for President Chen Shui-bian's
(陳水扁) resignation.
Chien Hsi-chieh (簡鍚?), the campaign's deputy executive commander,
urged workers to take the day off and students to take 30 minutes off
to participate in that day's activity, which will take the form of a
15-minute flash mob.
While Taipei city and county residents will gather at the No. 1 exits
of various MRT stations at 11: 45 a.m., residents in other cities and
counties will gather at local railway stations or coach stations and
students will gather at the entrance of their schools, Chien said.
The protesters will chant the slogan "Down with corruption to save
Taiwan. Chen Shui-bian step down." Motorists will also be invited to
join the demonstration by sounding their horns four times, he said,
adding that a rehearsal will be held October 5 to ensure the activity
proceeds smoothly.
He said the "soft strike" is not a labor strike but a demonstration
against a "corrupt regime, " claiming that "one day of inconvenience
will bring changes to Taiwan."
Meanwhile, a government decision to give October 9 as a hoilday for its
workers drew mixed reactions.
While some people welcomed the announcement, some businesses said it
could potentially put a kink in their operations and put a damper on
some people's travel plans.
On Friday night, the Central Personnel Administration issued a
last-minute statement that all government offices and banks will be
closed on Monday October 9, one day before the Double Ten national
holiday. This would allow workers will enjoy a five-day break - from
Friday, October 6 for the Mid-autumn Festival through to Tuesday,
October 10.
In addition, the stock market and universities will be closed during
those days, but like banks and government offices, they must make up
the day on the following Saturday, October 14.
Schools and private business can decide whether to take the holiday at
their own discretion, the government said.
Although the news came as a pleasant surprise for some people, railway
workers and those in manufacturing industries say the last minute
change could be disruptive to their routine. Some holiday travelers
also complained that the government's "kind gesture" came too late.
One Christmas ornament manufacturing plant operator surnamed Lin told a
Chinese language newspaper reporter that October is the peak season for
holiday trinket exports. Foreign customers will not be empathetic if
the shipment is one day late, he said.
The Chinese National Federation of Industries Standing Counsel Chen
Wu-hsiung (陳武雄) said the government should not have waited until
after work hours on Friday to announce its decision.
"Most companies will only have four days to re-adjust their schedule
since Friday is a holiday. It is too rushed," Chen said, adding it
would not be prudent for many businesses to take the day off because
they already have their set schedules.
Airline businesses, on the other hand, welcomed the announcement and
said the extended break might encourage people to take a longer
vacation than originally planned, according to a China Airlines
representative. However, the lateness of the announcement makes it
difficult for passengers to book any last-minute seats.
The Taiwan Railway Administration also complained about the late
change, saying the announcement had caused many people to demand a
refund for their October 8th seats.
The TRA had already arranged for extra trains to run Sunday evening to
accommodate the expected peak in the number of travelers.