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Pan-blue camp attacks Cabinet

Pan-blue camp lawmakers yesterday attacked the Cabinet by questioning its recent announcement of the nation's ten most wanted fugitives.

The legislature's Judicial Committee yesterday invited top-ranking law enforcement officials, including Minister of Justice Chen Ding-nan (陳定南), Bureau of Investigation Director-General Yeh Sheng-mao (葉盛茂), National Security Bureau Deputy Chief Wang Chin-wang (王進旺), National Police Administration Deputy Director-General Hung Sheng-kun and Criminal Investigation Bureau Commissioner Hou You-yi (侯友宜), to make their annual presentation regarding public order and the latest investigation reports of important criminal cases.

However, the Cabinet's announcement on Nov. 25 pertaining to the ten most wanted fugitives in Taiwan became a target for the pan-blue lawmakers' political attack.

They alleged that the Cabinet wanted to win more support by announcing the list of fugitives, especially as next year's presidential election is drawing closer. In addition, the reward for informers whose tips may lead to the arrest of these fugitives may only be propaganda, because it is almost impossible to arrest fugitives who have escaped to a foreign country.

"As far as I am concerned, seven of these ten fugitives are now in China, while two of them are in Canada and one in the UK," said People First Party (PFP) Legislator Chin Hui-chu (秦慧珠).

"I am more interested to know how our law enforcement officers can arrest them in foreign countries," she said.

PFP Lawmaker Lee Tung-hao (李桐豪) said that although the Cabinet announced a NT$10 million reward for informers whose tip-offs lead to the arrest of any of the fugitives, it will remain just that -- an announcement.

"Even when we know where they are, is it easy and possible for our men [law enforcement officers] to arrest them outside this country?" Lee asked.

"In addition, who will pay the NT$10 million reward? The Cabinet? I haven't seen any budget plan for this that we lawmakers have to review and approve."

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Kao Yu-jen (高育仁) affirmed the Cabinet's announcement, but said that it is quite difficult to persuade people that the announcement about the fugitives at this point in time had nothing to do with politics.

"The list can be announced at any time. Why now?" Kao asked.

"It is very difficult to persuade people not to believe that the Democratic Progressive Party [DPP] government did not make the announcement with an eye to the presidential election next year," he said.

In answering lawmakers' questions, Chen admitted that as long as these fugitives do not break the law in foreign countries, there is no way that Taiwanese law enforcement officers could arrest them and escort them back to Taiwan.

"The announcement shows our determination to fight against criminals. As law enforcement officers, we always have to try our best to complete our missions no matter if they are difficult or impossible," Chen said.
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