Former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) should pay People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) NT$10 million (US$298,500) for saying that Soong had abandoned pan-blue supporters after an April 10 demonstration against President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and returned home to play mahjong, the Taipei District Court ruled yesterday.
"Former president Lee was unable to offer any evidence that Soong played mahjong on April 10, and the court considers Lee's claims against Soong to have defamed him," the court's ruling said.
In addition to the NT$10 million compensation, the ruling said Lee must publish half-page notices of apology in nine Chinese-language newspapers for three days in a row.
The PFP filed a libel suit against Lee in May, alleging that he had slandered Soong.
Lee said in a speech on April 24 that the "defeated candidates in the presidential election who stirred up demonstrators in front of the Presidential Office left their supporters out on the streets and went back home to sleep, or even worse, to play mahjong."
The PFP also sued Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) Legislator Cheng Chen-lung (
However, the ruling said the two lawmakers' remarks were made in accordance with Lee's words, so they do not have to pay compensation.
The PFP had sought NT$20 million in compensation from Lee, NT$10 million from Cheng and NT$20 million from Kuo.
Lee said he felt sorry about the verdict and would appeal, according to Cheng, who also serves as the TSU's secretary-general.
"Lee's remarks did not target a specific figure and did not involve libel. This should be Lee's basic freedom of speech," Cheng said. "Lee will definitely appeal."
Additional reporting by Jewel Huang
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