Print

Mail

wiki links

Presidential office rebuts Chiu's latest KRTC accusations

The Presidential Office yesterday rebutted a claim made by independent Legislator Chiu Yi (邱毅) insinuating President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) had discussed foreign labor policy during a meeting with people implicated in the Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corp (KRTC) scandal in 2002.

Chiu yesterday revealed alleged details of the president's itinerary for Nov. 8, 2002. When, according to Chiu, at about 5:10pm the president, who was making an inspection of southern Taiwan accompanied by former Presidential Office deputy secretary-general Chen Che-nan (陳哲男) attended a function as guests of former KRTC vice chairman Chen Min-hsien (陳敏賢). Chiu said the visit was arranged by Premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷), who then was Kaohsiung mayor.

"It was only three days after Chen Che-nan and Chen Min-hsien's now infamous trip to the casino on Cheju Island, South Korea," Chiu said, urging the Presidential Office to clarify if there were any negotiations on policies regarding foreign laborers during the four-hour meeting.

Chen Wen-tsung (陳文宗), the director-general of the Presidential Office's Department of Public Affairs, said yesterday that the president did meet with certain people during the trip.

"But you cannot accuse President Chen of being part of the KRTC scandal just because he met with people who are involved in the alleged illegal acts," Chen Wen-tsung said.

On Monday, Kaohsiung prosecutors indicted 22 defendants, including Chen Che-nan and Chen Min-hsien, for corruption and breach of trust for their alleged involvement in the KRTC scandal.

Meanwhile, Government Information Office Minister Pasuya Yao (姚文智) said it was not a secret meeting because many local representatives, including figures from the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), were received by the president that day.
This story has been viewed 1607 times.