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Hsieh tells Ma to quit using Chiu Yi to challenge him

Democratic Progressive Party presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) yesterday refused to say whether he had failed to declare his China Steel shareholdings in his financial report, and challenged his election rival to ask the question directly.

Hsieh said his Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) counterpart, Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), or Ma's campaign office, was welcome to report to authorities if they had found any evidence of wrongdoing on his part.

However, if Ma personally has any questions for him, he should ask the question directly rather than ask other people to do it for him, Hsieh said.

"I attach great importance to his questions and will answer them right away. By the same token, I hope he would reciprocate," he said.

Hsieh made the remarks in response to a media inquiry about an accusation by KMT Legislator Chiu Yi (邱毅) that the DPP candidate had concealed stock information in his financial declaration.

Chiu claimed Hsieh had 118,000 shares of China Steel stock when he served as Kaohsiung City mayor, but did not include it in his financial declaration.

Hsieh sold the shares between Feb. 5 and Feb. 29, 2004, Chiu said.

Shen Fa-hui (沈發惠), a Hsieh camp spokesman, yesterday dismissed Chiu's accusations, saying Hsieh had filed his financial report in accordance with the law.

"We can guarantee you that Chiu's accusation is groundless," he said. "Everybody knows how reliable Chiu Yi is. Mr Hsieh has no obligation to respond to his questions because Chiu is not even a spokesman for Ma's camp."

Hsieh also criticized Ma for running newspaper ads insinuating his wife had accepted bribes and failing to provide any concrete evidence to prove his claim.

"I find his behavior amazing," Hsieh said. "I really cannot figure him out. How can he mourn for the death of his father-in-law, but at the same time, have a good time doing his `long stay' program and lashing out at me."

Hsieh said he does not have as much campaign funding as Ma, so while Ma runs expensive print ads to criticize him, he resorts to less costly means such as holding press conferences.
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