Print

Mail

wiki links

Cabinet officials battle `319' committee

Government Spokesman Chen Chi-mai, left, fields questions from Stephen Chen, right, a former representative to the US and one of the pan-blue camp's nominees for the March 19 Truth Committee, during a visit by members of the Executive Yuan and the Ministry of Justice to a meeting of the committee yesterday. PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING, TAIPEI TIMES

Five senior Cabinet members yesterday visited the March 19 Shooting Truth Investigation Special Committee (三一九槍擊事件真相調查特別委員會), but the visit descended into chaos immediately upon their arrival at the committee's office.

The five Cabinet members, including Minister of the Interior Su Jia-chyuan (蘇嘉全), Minister of Justice Chen Ding-nan (陳定南), Cabinet Spokesman Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁), Chief Accountant Hsu Chang-yao (許璋瑤) and Minister without Portfolio Hsu Chih-hsiung (許志雄), were assigned by Premier Yu Shyi-kun to visit former Judicial Yuan president Shih Chi-yang (施啟揚), who is now the convener of the committee.

Shih greeted the five with a question as they stepped through the door.

"Excuse me, but why do you think the existence of this committee is against the law, against the Constitution?" Shih asked, smiling. "What makes you think so?"

Su responded that it was difficult for the Cabinet to accept the statute -- drawn up quickly to form the committee before the end of the last legislative session -- because it was too vague in the powers and limitations it endows on the committee.

"Well, I suppose that is because `Mr. Minister' did not study his law books very well," committee member Chai Tsung-chuan (翟宗泉) said, in response to Su's remark.

Chen Chi-mai tried to smooth over the awkward start to the meeting, saying that the visit was meant to try and work out differences, not to create more problems.

"We are here to show our sincerety and hope that we can work something out, since many people have an issue with the statute," Chen Chi-mai said.

Chen Ding-nan said that the pan-green camp has filed an application requesting a constitutional interpretation regarding the statute.

"It is quite possible that the grand justices will rule the statute invalid, since it is against the Constitution," Chen Ding-nan said.

"The committee should suspend its operation until the grand justices come up with a decision. That is my sincere hope," he added.

Chen Ding-nan's remarks immediately sparked a screaming match, with numerous committee members competing to get their voices heard above the fray.

"If this is an illegal committee, then what are you here for, and why are you here now?" committee member Stephen Chen (陳錫蕃) said. Chen is a former Taiwanese representative to the US.

After a short row, the committee told the five Cabinet members to leave, saying it appeared little progress would be made with the meeting.

Meanwhile, committee members ordered prosecutors from Tainan to come to Taipei for interviews yesterday, but the prosecutors did not show up, and did not explain the reasons for their absence.

Committee spokeswoman Wang Ching-fong (王清峰) said that the prosecutors' failure to acknowledge the committee's order was of no consequence, as the committee will send members to visit the Tainan District Prosecutors' Office today.

The Executive Yuan yesterday expressed regret over the fruitless meeting, but reiterated their staunch refusal to cooperate with the committee in any way until the committee's legality has been established.

"Our stance on the matter is clear. We'll continue to negotiate with the committee," Chen Chi-mai told the press conference held after their return from the failed visit. "Our door is always open, should they want to talk. We'll also continue to try and arrange another meeting, if possible."

Chen Chi-mai said the Cabinet's position on the matter is that it supports an investigation into the assassination attempt, but opposes carrying out an investigation in an unconstitutional manner.

Hsu Chih-hsiung said the statute allows opposition parties to usurp powers reserved for the state. The Cabinet will take responsibility for the consequences of its actions, should the ruling on the statute run against it, he said.

"The least the people -- and the government -- can do, in the face of a law which is unconstitutional and violates human rights, is to disobey it," he said. "Of course, we're responsible for the risk we are taking and the consequences that are entailed should the judiciary decide we're wrong."

Chen Ding-nan said that he managed to express his opinion about the contentious legislation during the meeting, although he failed to catch hold of the microphone.

"We're concerned about how to make up for the losses when people's rights are violated and government authority is encroached upon," Chen Ding-nan said.
This story has been viewed 2724 times.