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Hsieh insists he was right about Ma’s US green card

By Meggie Lu
STAFF REPORTER
Saturday, Aug 09, 2008, Page 3

“To this day I firmly believe that Ma held a valid green card when he was running for president.” — Frank Hsieh, former DPP chairman

Former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairman Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) said yesterday he still firmly believed that President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) was in possession of a valid US green card when he ran for president earlier this year.

The public has a right to learn the truth and Ma should make a public statement to explain himself, Hsieh said.

Hsieh made the comments in front of the Taipei District Court before appearing in court in a slander suit filed by Ma over his allegations that Ma had a green card.

“To this day I firmly believe that Ma held a valid green card when he was running for president,” said Hsieh, who competed against Ma in the election as the DPP presidential candidate.

“I will appeal to the judge for a house visit or a court order requiring Ma to provide concrete evidence that he had canceled his green card or asking the American Institute in Taiwan [AIT] when Ma filed for the cancelation,” Hsieh said.

Hsieh dismissed concerns about the charges, saying the investigation provides an opportunity for the public to learn the truth, adding that if he were found to be wrong, he was willing to shoulder the responsibility by serving time in jail.

In related news, DPP Legislator Yu Tien (余天) was charged yesterday with defamation with intent to cause Ma to fail in his presidential election bid on March 22.

The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) filed a lawsuit against Yu for his remarks during a campaign rally alleging Ma and his family possessed US passports and could flee the country anytime.

Yu’s office said yesterday that prosecutors from the Banciao Prosecutors’ Office had informed them of the indictment but they had not yet received a written copy of the indictment.

Additional reporting by staff writer
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