Chen Shui-bian

"Assassinating Chen Shui-bian" about a plot to kill the island's former president, a report said Thursday. The film is based on a novel set during the Chen presidency about a woman who finds out her husband has had an affair and demands he tries to kill the leader to prove his love for her, the local ETTV news channel said. "There are very few films (in Taiwan) about presidents but I think Chen Shui-bian is definitely qualified as he is well known internationally," Chu said.

Read more: Taiwan director plans Chen Shui-bian assassination movie | In this article: Chu Yen-ping, Taiwan, Beijing, and China

Chen told US officials that as a new president had been elected, his government was a "caretaker" and should not make major decisions, the statement said. The decision to relax the beef policy was made by the new administration, the statement said. Yet after the public outcry, the new government "did not examine itself to determine the problem but instead shifted blame onto the former government,"

Read more: NSC blames beef panic on poor communication | In this article: US, Taiwan, Washington, Cattle, and WTO

Coast Guard Administration spokesman Hsieh Ching-chin said: "We received the order from the special investigation unit around 9:20 pm last night saying former president Chen was barred from leaving the country."

Read more: Wu Shu-chen | In this article: Wu Shu-chen, Taiwan, Democratic Progressive Party, and Kuomintang

"There should also be a rule of civility," he said, adding that as Chen was unlikely to escape, handcuffing the former president had been unnecessary.

Read more: Chen Shui-bian | In this article: Chen Yi-hsiung, Taiwan, Lee Teng-hui, People's Republic of China, Kuomintang, Taipei, and Ma Ying-jeou

"Ex-president Chen Shui-bian's crimes are major," said Chen Yun-nan, spokesman for the Supreme Court's special prosecutor's office.

Read more: Chen Shui-bian | In this article: Chen Yi-hsiung, Taiwan, Lee Teng-hui, People's Republic of China, Kuomintang, Taipei, and Ma Ying-jeou

Chen announced that the name change reflected the desire of citizens "to bid goodbye to the old age and to show that we Taiwanese are all standing firmly behind the universal values of freedom, democracy and human rights."

Read more: Renaming of Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall | In this article: Ministry of Education, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Chiang Kai-shek, Democracy, Taiwan, Executive Yuan, Taipei City, and Ma Ying-jeou

"You didn't declare Taiwan independent and hold a referendum on independence. You could have done it but you didn't and you let the Taiwanese people down," Chen wrote, addressing himself. In the letter to Chinese President Hu Jintao, he claimed that Beijing "dared not"

Read more: Jailed Taiwan ex-president to publish third book: report (AFP) | In this article: Taiwan, Hu Jintao, China, Beijing, Apple Daily, Ma Ying-jeou, Taipei, and Japan

"Very few people still believe Mr Chen is innocent, even among the [DPP] supporters," Professor Chen said.

Read more: Taiwan's former president jailed for life | In this article: Taiwan, Kuomintang, Wu Shu-jen, China, Taipei, Democracy, and Democratic Progressive

the DPP who has to face the prospect of Chen Shui-bian's case becoming a liability for them," said Mr Chen, the professsor. "The difficulty for the DPP is that it cannot distance itself from Mr Chen without losing support of its hardcore supporters but it doesn't draw a line with Mr Chen then that would affect the moderate voters. "

Read more: Taiwan's former president jailed for life | In this article: Taiwan, Kuomintang, Wu Shu-jen, China, Taipei, Democracy, and Democratic Progressive

Now incarcerated again, Chen said it was not for "treason," but for "corruption," the essence of which he described as "political persecution, regardless of the accusation. "

Read more: Let it be, Chen Shui-bian says ahead of graft verdict | In this article: Taiwan, Democracy, Typhoon Morakot, Harvard University, Elmer Feng, and Wu Shu-jen