The Hualien District Prosecutors' Office yesterday afternoon punished local prosecutor Lee Tzu-chun (李子春) with two demerits for leading a rally on Tuesday protesting Hsieh Wen-ding's (謝文定) nomination as state public prosecutor-general.
The prosecutors' office decided that Lee's behavior had violated regulations which require that prosecutors stay out of politics.
"I, as a normal person, have the right to stand on the street to express my opinions," Lee said on learning of the decision.
"But I do not feel too bad about the punishment," he added.
This is not the first time that Lee, known for saying "Discipline me if it makes you feel better," has shown scant remorse when being rebuked by his superiors.
He was demoted and had his salary reduced when in January 2004 he summoned President Chen Shui-bian (
He was also disciplined for sending his indictment of You to the Hualien District Court without the approval of the local prosecutors' office.
Earlier yesterday, before the Hualien District Prosecutors' Office handed down its decision on Lee, the People First Party (PFP) caucus voiced its support for him. The PFP said that the Ministry of Justice should not employ double standards when meting out discipline to prosecutors.
PFP caucus whip Lu Hsueh-chang (
Liu was then a Taipei district prosecutor.
"Liu's violation was even more serious as he openly interfered in election activities in his capacity as a civil servant," Lu said.
Lu said that Council of Agriculture Chairman Su Jia-chyuan (
"Ministers taking to the streets sets the worst example," he said.
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