TSU expels lawmaker

The TSU's Central Executive Committee, the party's highest decision-making body, yesterday decided to expel TSU Legislator Su Yin-kuei (蘇盈貴) from the party for falsely accusing his comrade, TSU Legislator Lo Chih-ming (羅志明), of illegal lobbying.

The decision to expel Su was made at the end of a three-hour meeting of the committee, which involved extensive discussion as well as a face-to-face debate between Su and Lo, said TSU Legislator Chien Lin Whei-jun (錢林慧君), the party's legislative whip.

Su, a former lawyer, last Thursday accused Lo of involvement in illegal lobbying of judicial and police authorities on behalf of video arcade owners in Kaohsiung City. Lo denied Su's accusations, saying he was innocent of any illegal lobbying.

"After the confrontation [between the two] as well as a party investigation of the evidence provided by Su, the committee concluded that the grounds for Su's charge against Lo were insufficient," said Chien Lin at a press conference held after the committee meeting.

Before the meeting, the TSU legislative caucus yesterday morning had suggested Su's party membership be suspended.

"The committee used such harsh discipline against Su in order to provide justice for Lo," said Chien Lin.

According to Chien Lin, Su had incorporated material in his evidence of Lo's alleged wrongdoing which was designed to mislead.

"The issue addressed in Su's document was about patent cases which Lo had previously handled in response to individuals' requests," said Chien Lin.

"[The documents offered by Su] had nothing to do with the video arcade case that was the basis of his allegations against Lo," she said.

"As a lawyer, Su knew that he could not make such serious accusations without first verifying the available evidence," said Chien Lin, adding that Su had refused to apologize despite the discrepancy between his claims about the documents and their true nature being pointed out to him during the meeting.

Expressing regret over the party's decision to expel Su, TSU Secretary-General Lin Jih-jia (林志嘉) said: "It was a difficult decision the party had to make."

"It is understandable that ... the party would encounter some unavoidable setbacks in the course of its growth," Lin said. "Su's personal conduct nonetheless has seriously damaged the party's image."

A young party, formed in 2001, and holding only 13 seats in the Legislative Yuan, the TSU is planning on celebrating its second anniversary on Saturday.

Lo expressed his gratitude toward the party for restoring his good name and reputation.

"I appreciate the effort the party authorities took in defending my innocence. Nevertheless it is regrettable that Su has been expelled from the party," Lo said at a news conference yesterday afternoon.

Saying that Su was an outstanding lawyer and had been a fine comrade, Lo said he hoped society as a whole would give Su an opportunity to continue to serve it.

While Su was unavailable for immediate comments after the party's decision to expel him, he had said prior to the committee meeting yesterday: "I care only for the truth and not whether the party will expel me or not."