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Guard arrested for threat to assassinate Ma, Siew

A man surnamed Chan who was arrested for allegedly threatening to assassinate Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou and his running mate Vincent Siew, yesterday covers his face as he is transferred to the Taipei District Prosecutor's Office for further investigation. Chan was arrested in Hsinchu late on Thursday night. PHOTO: CNA

Taipei City Police Department arrested a man late on Thursday night for threatening to assassinate Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) and his running mate Vincent Siew (蕭萬長).

Police referred the man to prosecutors for investigation yesterday.

Detective Lin Chih-cheng (林志誠) of the Zhongzheng First Precinct told reporters that the police arrested the 44-year-old man, surnamed Chan (詹), in Hsinchu late on Thursday night.

Lin said Chan was once a manager of a technology company, but had been unemployed since his company relocated to China.

Lin said Chan, a former member of the KMT, was trying to express his dissatisfaction with society and politics because he could barely make a living with the poor salary he earned from his job as a security guard.

"He believed the Republic of China would not be exterminated unless he killed Ma, Siew and all members of the KMT in Taiwan. He also said Taiwan could not become a nation unless Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu all asserted independence from each other and joined the UN," Lin said.

Recent treats against high-ranking political figures Recent threats against high-ranking political figures * June 2007: A 34-year-old Chinese national living in Japan threw two plastic bottles at former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) at Narita Airport as Lee was about to leave Japan. Both bottles, filled with soft drinks, missed Lee, who was unhurt. The attacker was taken into custody on the spot. * November 2005: Tu Shi-san (杜十三), a poet whose real name is Huang Jen-ho (黃人和), made a telephone call in which he threatened to kill all of then premier Frank Hsieh's family. He was arrested less than 24 hours after the call. Prosecution was deferred. * May 2004: Lai Chu-hsing (賴注醒) was arrested for distributing flyers calling for the establishment of a revolutionary party to assassinate President Chen Shui-bian and former president Lee Teng-hui. Prior to his arrest, Lai was invited to speak on several TV programs and talk about his assassination plan. He was sentenced to six months in prison. * March 2004: An assassination attempt was made on President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) on the eve of the last presidential election. Bullets grazed Chen's stomach and hit Lu's knee when the pair took part in a street procession in Tainan on March 19. Investigators concluded in August 2005 that retired construction worker Chen Yi-hsiung (陳義雄) was entirely responsible for the shooting and that he committed suicide shortly after the failed assassination attempt. The 60-something Chen Yi-hsiung was found dead in Anping Harbor in Tainan about 10 days after the shooting. * May 2000: Shih Li-hsing (史力行), a retired veteran, attacked former president Lee Teng-hui, splashing him with red ink. The ink covered Lee's neck, clothes and even part of his face, but Lee was not physically hurt. Shih was arrested on the spot. Lee did not press charges.

Lin said the suspect had sent two threatening anonymous e-mails to Ma, Siew and several KMT legislators late last month and earlier this month, threatening to kill them.

The police were able to determine Chan's whereabouts by matching Chan's Internet protocol address with that of the sender, Lin said, adding that the police also found copies of the threatening e-mails on his laptop.

Lin said the suspect had admitted the crime and expressed regret. Chan was released on NT$30,000 bail.

When asked for comment, KMT caucus whip Kuo Su-chun (郭素春) said she had heard of the threatening e-mails, but was unaware of the content.

Kuo, however, said the caucus office did not receive any e-mails.

She urged the National Security Bureau to carry out its duty to protect the party's presidential candidate.
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