Anti-Chen campaign backs prosecutor

John Wei, left and Chang Fu-chung, right, hold a press conference yesterday to declare their support for Chang Hsi-huai, one of the prosecutors handling the case of first lady Wu Shu-jen following her indictment. They urged the Democratic Progressive Party to respect the judicial system. PHOTO: WANG MIN-WEI, TAIPEI TIMESN

The campaign aimed at ousting President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday declared its support for Prosecutor Chang Hsi-huai (張熙懷), and urged the Democratic Pro-gressive Party (DPP) to respect the judicial system.

Chang, who is one of the prosecutors handling first lady Wu Shu-jen (吳淑珍) case, has been accused by DPP lawmakers of harboring pro-China sentiments.

Staff at Chang's office claimed that the accusations have left him depressed and that his condition worsened on Tuesday evening. The prosecutors office said Chang will take the day off today.

"The DPP accused Chang of being pro-China with the intention of delaying the case. The move, however, has damaged the last line of defense in our society," John Wei (魏千峰), the anti-Chen camp's lawyer, told a press conference.

Wei said that when former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairman Lien Chan (連戰) and People First Party Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) filed a lawsuit seeking to annul the 2004 presidential election results, the two accepted the court ruling and allowed the judicial system to become the last line of social defense.

The DPP claimed it respected justice, but it could not respect the system unconditionally.

"Can the pan-blue camp choose not to accept the ruling when the judge or prosecutors are pro-independent? ... The DPP should respect the system," Wei added.

The campaign's leader Shih Ming-teh (施明德) yesterday warned that the "red army" could be formed again in the wake of the DPP's attack on Chang.

In a letter titled "You will not be alone at this crucial moment," Shih urged judges and prosecutors to "go on strike" as a protest against the DPP's lack of respect for the judicial system.

"If Chang Hsi-huai is allowed to fall, there will be no hope for judicial independence. Let's see whether or not the red wave will rise again," Shih said in the letter.

Describing the president as a "devil with a halo," Shih urged the judicial system and lawyers to declare their support for Chang "because this is a key moment for the survival of justice."

Meanwhile, 15 prosecutors at the Taitung Prosecutor's Office yesterday signed a pledge launched by the ROC Prosecutors' Association to endorse Chang.

They said they fully supported the association's position regarding building and protecting a sound environment free from political influence for prosecutors to proceed with their investigations.

Politicians must stop meddling in the judiciary and making verbal attacks against prosecutors to allow for the establishment of a healthy and independent judicial environment, they said.

In related news, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislative caucus yesterday condemned the Presidential Office for its refusal to submit documents relating to President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) controversial "state affairs fund."

KMT legislative caucus whip Tsai Chin-lung (蔡錦隆) told a press conference that the Presidential Office's decision not only scorned the judiciary but also violated the National Security Information Protection Act (國家機密保護法).

The Presidential Office had not classified the documents in accordance with the procedures required by the Act, Tsai added.

Meanwhile, National Taiwan University Hospital issued a statement yesterday saying that Wu needs to stay at the hospital for further treatment and issued a diagnosis certificate. The Taipei District Court will decide whether to grant Wu's request.

Wu checked in to the hospital on Dec. 15 when she nearly collapsed during the first session of her trial. Wu was indicted for embezzlement, forgery and perjury in connection with the president's "state affairs fund."

Additional reporting by Ko Shu-ling and CNA