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DPP says stance on illicit donations won't change

Democratic Progressive Party campaign director Chiou I-jen, left, and chief campaign finance liaison officer Lin Wen-yuan yesterday show the press a copy of the thank-you award that was issued to the fugitive former chairman of the Tuntex Group Chen Yu-hao for his two NT$5 million donations to then-presidential candidate Chen Shui-bian during the 2000 election. PHOTO: CHIEN JUNG-FENG, LIBERTY TIMES

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday said that President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) acceptance of campaign funds from one of the nation's most wanted fugitives during the 2000 presidential race did not alter the government's tough stance on political donations.

Reacting to the fugitive former chairman of the Tuntex Group Chen Yu-hao's (陳由豪) accusation on Monday that the president had accepted funds from him in the run-up to the 2000 presidential election, the DPP's chief campaign finance liaison office Lin Wen-yuan (林文淵) yesterday confirmed that the party had received two NT$5 million donations from Chen Yu-hao's Tuntex Group during the 2000 presidential campaign.

"According to our investigation, the DPP's 2000 presidential campaign headquarters received two donations from Chen Yu-hao's associated organization and the party issued the `thank you awards' [as receipts] to the the donors to validate the donations," Lin told reporters at the DPP's campaign headquarters in Taipei.

Lin said the two donations were made by check on March 1, 2000 from the Bank of Taiwan to the DPP's campaign headquart-ers, and the receipt awards issued by the party were dated March 1 and March 6 of the same year.

Explaining the party's stance on accepting political contributions, Secretary General to the Presidential Office and DPP campaign director Chiou I-jen (邱義仁) yesterday said, "It is normal and legal for private enterprise to make political donations during the election campaign, and we appreciate their contributions. But it doesn't mean that the Chen administration has to tolerate illegal behavior by fund donors, if any."

Chiou said, "Chen Yu-hao's listing as one of Taiwan's 10-most wanted fugitives further proves that the Chen administration won't give [Chen Yu-hao] any special treatment regarding the charges against him, including embezzlement [of his own company], simply because we took a NT$10-million donation from Chen in 2000."

Although Chiou admitted the DPP took money from Chen Yu-hao, he said the DPP denied all other accusations made by the former Tuntex head.

In three letters faxed to pan-blue lawmakers on Monday, Chen Yu-hao alleged he had paid a private visit to Chen Shui-bian's home and offered the cash in person to him. He also said that Chen Che-nan, who is now deputy secretary general to the Presidential Office (陳哲男), and Chang Ching-sen (張景森), who now sits as the vice chairman of the Council for Economic Planning and Development, had accepted donations from the business tycoon on behalf of Chen Shui-bian.

Chiou also denied media reports that the DPP-affiliated Formosa Foundation (福爾摩沙基金會) had accepted a NT$20 million political contribution from Chen Yu-hao.

"The foundation is listed under the Taipei City Government and is required to make annual financial reports to the city government," Chiou said. "If any financial irregularities had occurred, the city authorities, headed by Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), should have already discovered the problem."

Also see story:
Editorial: Why credit an alleged embezzler?
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