Four female college students who work as interns in the DPP's department of youth development have accused the department's director of sexual harassment.
On March 9 the four women made the accusations against the department's director, Wang Ming-yuan (
But Wang has flatly denied the allegations.
Hsu Jen-tu (許仁圖), DPP deputy secretary-general, yesterday briefed reporters about the allegations after he received the interns' petition.
"One of the female interns said that the director [Wang] told terrible jokes at her birthday celebration in early March," Hsu said at a press conference yesterday.
"Another said that she was patted on the shoulder and the thighs, while another said she was forced to take a ride with Wang and said his hands were all over her," Hsu said, adding that he had mediated a discussion between both parties on March 16.
Hsu said that "during the mediation, the director rejected all of the allegations but admitted that he had touched one of the girl's hands, but only out of concern since it was cold out that day. There is a discrepancy between what happened and what has been said in the petition."
Hsu said he believed there was a misunderstanding between the two parties.
He added he had made a report to DPP Chairman Frank Hsieh (謝長廷), and that Hsieh would decide what to do about the incident.
According to local media reports, the petition said that Wang had verbally harassed one intern by complimenting her on her "nice body and big breasts."
Wang was also accused of "trying to forcibly kiss one of the interns" while he offered her a ride.
The interns have asked the party to deal carefully with the incident and requested that Wang publicly apologize and step down from his post.
In a response yesterday, Wang said he had been candid and believed that political manipulation was a factor in the interns' petition.
"I confronted them in the presence of Hsu and it is obvious that they exaggerated everything and lied," Wang said in a written statement yesterday.
Wang added that if his accusers could show any evidence or proof of sexual misconduct, he was willing to take the blame.
Wang, a former delegate of the National Assembly, also worked as the director of the party's Welfare State faction (福利國) when Hsieh was one of the faction's leaders.
Wang was appointed director of the party's youth department to recruit younger DPP supporters after Hsieh was elected chairman in July.
Hsu, nevertheless, said he suspects that the alleged sexual harassment might result from Wang's style of leadership and that his staff may have different opinions about it.
Hsu yesterday cautioned all male directors and DPP politicians to carefully monitor their behavior.
Hsieh yesterday in Kaohsiung said that he believed Wang might have made a minor mistake by physically touching the interns, but that the incident was still under investigation.
"However, it did not happen in the office or during office hours and it's not such a serious incident. ... The party's secretariat has been dealing with it," Hsieh added.
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