V.P., PREMIER CALL FOR DPP INTERNAL UNITY IN FACE OF CRISIS
ROC Central News Agency
2006-11-04 04:03:38
Taipei, Nov. 4 (CNA) Both Vice President Annette Lu and Premier Su Tseng-chang have called for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to stage a "tableau of unity" amid the current crisis over President Chen Shui-bian's alleged role in a corruption scandal.
Lu and Su were quoted as having voiced their views at an extraordinary meeting of DPP bigwigs held Friday evening after prosecutors said earlier that day that they had sufficient evidence to indict Chen on corruption charges in connection with his handling of a special state affairs fund set aside for his discretionary use.
Noting that the administrative team's main functions are to keep the government running normally and maintain social stability, Su said now is a crucial moment to the country's development and that the DPP must stay united to find the best possible way out of the current predicament.
Su reportedly also said at the meeting that he is always ready to give up his post so long as such a move serves the party's interest or national well-being.
According to other participants to the meeting, Presidential Office Secretary-General Tan Sun Chen said that President Chen himself was caught off guard by the earlier-than-expected conclusion of the prosecutorial probe into the alleged state affairs fund misappropriation.
Tan Sun Chen said the chief prosecutor in charge of the case, Chen Jui-jen, was originally scheduled to meet with the president for a third time on Nov. 6 or Nov. 7 for questioning about certain suspicious points with regard to the use of the state affairs fund. "It came as a surprise to the president that the prosecution reached a conclusion on its investigation so early," Tan Sun Chen was quoted as having said at the DPP meeting.
Given the complexity and sensitivity of the issue, the Presidential Office decided to remain silence for the time being, officials said.
At the DPP meeting, some lawmakers were quoted as having urged DPP Chairman Yu to push President Chen to withdraw from the party to salvage the party's image.
However, Yu said the party should wait until after the president give a public account on his handling of the state affairs fund.
According to a four-point consensus reached at the meeting, the DPP headquarters demanded the president explain to the public his alleged role in the scandal.
After months of investigations, the Taipei Prosecutor's Office decided to indict the first lady Wu Shu-jen on charges of forgery and corruption.
Wu was accused of falsely attempting to claim NT$14.8 million in state affairs expenses between July 2002 and March of this year. Prosecution authorities said out of all the invoices Wu had used to claim NT$26.8 million in reimbursements from state affairs funds, only around NT$12 million was used appropriately -- to pay a U.S. public relations firm and exiled Chinese democracy activists.
Of the NT$14.8 million in "illicit gains," Wu used US$1.3 million to buy herself a diamond ring, according to the indictment. Her son, daughter and son-in-law used invoices to have NT$1.8 million of their personal expenses reimbursed from public funds.
The indictment also said Wu had "committed criminal acts jointly with a public office holder." The president was named along with the first lady on corruption charges, but not charged because of constitutional immunity from criminal prosecution while holding public office.
It was also decided at the DPP extraordinary meeting that the four indicted DPP members, including Wu, will be referred to the party's disciplinary committee to decide whether or how to punish them in line with party regulations.
The first lady's indictment was the latest blow in an ongoing scandal that has prompted mass protests and calls for the president's removal.
So far, the DPP has been steadfast in its support for the embattled president, who has survived two opposition motions in the legislature to hold a national referendum on Chen's recall and brushed aside weeks of vociferous street protests by anti-Chen demonstrators.
Following the first lady's indictment, main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Ma Ying-jeou was quick to renew his call for Chen to step down over the alleged misappropriation of the state affairs fund.
Now that Chen has been deemed by the judiciary as allegedly corrupt and implicated in document forgery, Ma asked Chen to quit the post as soon as possible for the country's sake and that of the people, arguing Chen no longer has the public's confidence to carry out his obligations as head of state.
Ma said his party will organize a mass rally in southern port city of Kaohsiung Saturday and another one in Taipei Sunday to press for Chen's resignation.
Moreover, Ma said his party will mount its third attempt to have Chen recalled if the president insists on remaining in the post. The KMT's legislative caucus will come up with a third recall motion in the legislature Monday, which can be put to a vote Nov.25 to pave the way for a referendum on Chen's fate, Ma added.
Meanwhile, People First People Party Chairman James Soong said after a meeting with Ma that his party will cooperate with the KMT in launching a third recall motion against Chen.
If necessary, Soong said that the two "pan-blue alliance" parties will also cooperate in launching an impeachment motion in the legislature to add up "institutional pressure" on the president.
The DPP's "pan-green" ally -- the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) -- said it would support a third presidential recall vote in the legislature and asked the DPP to face up to the reality by correctly handling the situation. TSU lawmakers cast invalid ballots in the previous two recall votes.
(By Sofia Wu)
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