Speaking to thousands of supporters on Jinan Road from a platform truck, Tsai related that 2008 marks the 60th anniversary of the proclamation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and stated that "the DPP feels honored and solemn that we must return to the streets and struggle for freedom of speech and other fundamental human rights."

The DPP chairwoman noted that "hegemonic Chinese officials can arrogantly go wherever they want, but when they come to Taiwan they have to travel in secret and with massive police protection."

"Are you proud of this?" Tsai asked the crowd, who responded with a loud "Yes!"

"Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) has tossed away Taiwan's sovereignty, wrecked the economy and has been weak toward China but has suppressed his own people so that Chen Yunlin will not hear their voices," Tsai said.

"It is Ma Ying-jeou who bears the greatest share of responsibility and who is not fit to be the president of Taiwan," stated Tsai, who declared that it was "this violent government which has forced the people to take to the streets."

"In the face of the weak Ma government and an hegemonic China, I believe we will be together in the streets with the people and that the people in the future will use their votes to push out this incompetent government," said Tsai amid cries of "Down with Ma, Out with Chen!"

The march had been originally timed to coincide with a scheduled meeting between President Ma Ying-jeou of the Kuomintang government and People's Republic of China's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait Chairman Chen Yunlin at the Taipei Guest House at 4:30 p.m.

However, Tsai and other DPP leaders launched the march at 12:45 p.m. instead of 2 p.m. after Ma suddenly changed the time for his meeting with the PRC envoy to 11 a.m.

During a news conference at the DPP headquarters, Tsai stated the opposition party had followed its scheduled parade route and had completed the march peacefully and rejected claims by Ma that the DPP had not kept a promise to demonstrate peacefully.

General Wang To stated that clashes on Zhongshan South Road and the Chingfumen traffic circle were the result of the confusion caused by sudden advance of the Ma-Chen meeting which contradicted understandings between the DPP and the presidential office and Interior Minister Liao Liao-yi that the Ma-Chen meeting would be held at 4:30 p.m.