Despite suicide attempt, DPP standing by Chang

Though Betty Wong's (汪鳳英) suicide attempt has prompted expressions of regret from DPP officials, the party still refuses to reconsider her complaints against legislator Parris Chang (張旭成).

Wong claims she and Chang had an extra-marital affair. In addition, she says the DPP lawmaker in the past has sexually harassed other women.

"I feel sorry about what she has been through, but I hope she will now learn that life is precious," said DPP central standing committee member Lawrence Gao (高志鵬). "And I hope that everyone around her can encourage her to move on."

Gao had conducted the party's investigation into the dispute, but his report failed to satisfy Wong, who criticized him for "taking a male chauvinistic mentality" toward the case.

Though she said she empathized with Wong, a female member of the Central Standing Committee yesterday said that Wong's behavior was irrational.

"Chang's not worth doing that for. Wong's suicide attempt will not get her any justice," Liu Shih-fang (劉世芳) said. "There are other women who suffer more than her."

Listed in a stable condition in the hospital yesterday, Wong told reporters that she had no regrets about what she had done.

"I've made myself clear in seven letters, of which a magazine has published the full text. I'll leave society to judge whether I'm right or wrong," Wong said while at the hospital.

Wong added that her husband has decided to file a lawsuit for adultery against Chang. That would help unveil the truth about the relationship between Chang and herself, she said.

Chang has denied any relationship between himself and Wong, a former aide.

Wong then refused to comment further on Chang, saying, "The wolf is not worth mentioning again."

Other senior DPP figures, however, yesterday were less sympathetic to Wong.

"It's an extra-marital affair, so the real victim is Chang's wife, who could sue Wong if she wished. It is Wong who intruded upon the Changs' marriage," said DPP Chairman Frank Hsieh (謝長廷).

Reiterating that the party had closed the case, party secretary general Wu Nai-jen (吳乃仁) refused to comment, but appeared to express a sense of helplessness while commenting on Chang, saying, "It's not possible for human beings to eliminate all houseflies."

While the case may have involved an extra-marital affair between Chang and Wong, the party has declined to consider accusations -- made by Wong -- that other women have been sexually harassed by Chang.

One reason for this is that no official complaint has been filed.

In addition, the party's regulations governing sexual harassment are only binding on party officials, not its legislators or government members.

The party has therefore decided to amend the regulations so that they will apply to all party mem-bers. But the amendments will only take effect after the DPP's national congress has reviewed and passed them in September.

"If she's willing to bring up her case again under that mechanism then -- that should help resolve things," Gao said.