DPP lawmaker victim of a `political assassination'

After the DPP Central Review Committee decided to expel her from the party on Monday, legislator-at-large Chiu Chang (邱彰) held a press conference yesterday, claiming that the party has set a very bad example for Taiwan's politics by using "political assassination" against her.

Chiu alleged that the DPP completely ignored the facts and used political force to interfere in the review committee's operations.

Chiu also went to the Taipei District Court (台北地方法院) yesterday afternoon to apply for a court injunction in an attempt to "freeze" the party's expulsion decision and to maintain her party membership.

The party alleged that Chiu had seriously violated party discipline rules and had stained the party's image by refusing to show her ballot to the DPP's voting witness and by shouting on the legislative floor during the legislative vice-speaker race on Feb. 1.

Chiu was accompanied at the press conference by DPP lawmakers Lin Kuo-hua (林國華), Lu Po-chi (盧博基) and Lin Yu-sheng (林育生).

She said that, in accordance with party procedures, she had appealed to the DPP's Arbitration Committee to revoke the punishment, because she did vote for the party's candidate, Hong Chi-chang (洪奇昌), rather than spoiling her ballot, as her accusers claim she did.

The Arbitration Committee said it had received her appeal.

Lin Kuo-hua said that some party members violated the criminal code by forcing their colleagues to show their ballots. "It is hoped that Minister of Justice Chen Ding-nan (陳定南) will look into the case," Lin said.

Chiu claimed that it is evident that her case was interfered with by political forces. She said review committee member Cheng Hsin-chu (鄭新助) had phoned her before the press conference, saying that he could not attend because of pressure from the party's "upper level."

DPP Central Standing Committee member Lawrence Kao (高志鵬) also disclosed that the decision to oust Chiu was made after high-level manipulation, Chiu said.

If Chiu fails in her appeal, her legislator-at-large seat will be filled by former lawmaker Lin Wen-lang (林文郎).