[3098] PCT says allegations against Lee shed light on systemic flaws, not character flaws

PCT says allegations against Lee shed light on systemic flaws, not character flaws

Reported by Lin Yi-ying

Written by Lydia Ma

In recent weeks, Taiwan’s Supreme Prosecutors Office Special Investigation Panel (SIP) accused former President Lee Teng-hui of graft and money laundering. In response to these accusations, President Ma Ying-jeou quickly called a press conference to absolve himself from all responsibility and distance himself from Lee.

The President’s response triggered a joint statement issued by more than 20 civil society organizations in Taiwan in which his previous words and promises to the nation were called into question. Signatories of the statement wanted to know why, despite Ma’s promises of respecting judicial autonomy, politicians from the DPP camp and Ma’s political foes have been the only ones prosecuted on graft changes  during the past 3 years of his presidency.

A press conference was organized by these organizations at National Taiwan University on July 4, 2011. PCT Church and Society Committee Secretary Huang Che-yen was among those present at the press conference, along with Wang Hsian-chi, a member of Yikuang Presbyterian Church and the founder of Taiwan Republic Campaign.

Wang described the KMT as the richest mafia on earth and the ROC as the largest criminal organization in the world. He underscored that KMT’s treasury was filled with illegally obtained cash prizes. In contrast, the people of Taiwan live like foreigners abused by a government in exile as the KMT can prosecute anyone it wishes, such as former presidents Chen Shui-bian and Lee Teng-hui.

“The reason I’m speaking out for Lee today isn’t because he is some great hero. Likewise, the reason I support Chen Shui-bian isn’t because I have some special connection with him. I just want to remind everyone that ROC is a government in exile and anyone who threatens its rule will be prosecuted by the judiciary. James Soong, Chen Shui-bian, and now Lee Teng-hui are prime examples,” said Tsai Ting-kuei, convener of Alliance of Referendum for Taiwan, adding that the only way ensure the judiciary isn’t used as a weapon against political foes is to vote the KMT out of office.

Pointing to the irony of prosecuting two former presidents for corruption on ROC’s 100^th anniversary, Huang Che-yen said these weren’t random or unrelated occurrences. Rather, they indicate there’s a problem within the governmental system. “If you want to accuse these two on charges of corruption, you need to go all the way back and investigate everyone who’s ever been President of the ROC,” he said.

Whether it’s the controversy surrounding the Special State Affairs Fund or the National Security Bureau Fund, Huang underscored that the root of the problem is systemic. If the SIP were sincere in getting to the bottom of it all, it’d also include in its investigations the Chiang Kai-shek and Chiang Ching-kuo presidencies. “If that were the case, it’d mean the SIP is serious. In which case, I’d applaud its efforts and support its cause!” Huang said.

But recent allegations are obvious forms of political persecution and smear campaign, prompting the PCT to join other civil society groups in issuing this statement.

Speaking on behalf of the PCT, Huang counseled the Ma administration to focus on overhauling regulations rather than resorting to such tactics. Otherwise, President Ma himself wouldn’t be spared from being examined and tried by the whole nation in due time.