A local court in Taipei pronounced Shih Ming-teh not guilty on Friday. He was charged with violating local assembly laws for organizing mass protests against former Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian.

Shih, former chairman of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), initiated the anti-Chen rally in September 2006. He was then joined by tens of thousands of Taiwanese trying to press Chen to step down for implications in corruption scandals.

The court also decided to clear the names of 15 other people who joined Shih in orchestrating the protests.

In 2006, tens of thousands of Taiwanese took to the streets for a grand rally in Taipei calling for the resignation of Chen Shui-bian. They wore red clothes and caps while carrying anti-Chen banners.

Chen remained in power after the protests and left office in May last year. He is currently in custody on charges of embezzling 104 million New Taiwan dollars (3.15 million U.S. dollars) in public funds and accepting bribes of about 9 million U.S. dollars in a land purchase deal.

(Xinhua News Agency February 21, 2009)