Premier says Chen Chu's resignation not considered

Premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) yesterday confirmed he had received Council of Labor Affairs Chair-woman Chen Chu's (陳菊) resignation but also said that Chen does not have to step down because of Thai workers' rioting in Kaohsiung, as that investigation has not yet been finalized.

"I would affirm her courage to take responsibility [for the rioting] but this is not the right time for me to consider her resignation offer," Hsieh said. "Whether I will approve her resignation will depend upon the result of the investigation."

The premier made the remarks when he was approached by reporters yesterday and asked about Chen's status.

Hsieh told reporters yesterday that Minister Without Portfolio Hsu Chih-hsiung (許志雄) is currently investigating whether Chen should take any political responsibility for the Aug. 21 riot in Kaohsiung. Until Hsu's investigation is finalized, Chen will remain in her office, the premier said.

Meanwhile, Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) yesterday spoke of her recognition of Chen's move to resign.

"Her resignation showed that she, as a politically appointed governmental official, has the courage to claim political responsibility," Lu said.

Liao Fu-te (廖福特), convener of the task force in charge of immigrant workers' human rights under the Presidential Human Rights Advisory Commission, also lauded the Commission for Labor Affairs (CLA) for quickly completing an investigation report into the riot.

"The commission will visit the CLA tomorrow to discuss the shortcomings in Taiwan's immigrant laborers policy, which had been pointed out in the report, and to figure out how to make improvements," Liao said.