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Ma breaks silence on Chen scandal

“Talking about such a dishonorable thing saddened me. It was strongly reminiscent of former president Ferdinand Marcos.”

— President Ma Ying-jeou

President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) said the alleged money-laundering scandal involving former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) reminded him of Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos, whose regime was marked by corruption.

Ma made the remarks at a press conference held in Santo Domingo to conclude his eight-day state visit to Latin America and the Caribbean.

Ma was initially reluctant to comment on the matter, saying it was not suitable for a head of state to talk about an ongoing case.

He said Haitian President Rene Preval, whom he met in the Dominican Republic, and Spain’s Prince of Asturias Philip of Borbon, whom he met in Paraguay, had both asked him about the scandal and that he had felt embarrassed to tell them what had happened.

“Talking about such a dishonorable thing saddened me. It was strongly reminiscent of former president Ferdinand Marcos,” Ma said.

Marcos, who served as president of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986, was forced out of office in 1986 in a massive nonviolent protest known as the People Power Movement. His authoritarian regime is remembered for its rampant corruption at the highest levels of government.

Meanwhile, in Taipei, former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairman Shih Ming-teh (施明德) asked the legislature yesterday to amend the Statue Governing Preferential Treatment to Retired Presidents and Vice Presidents (卸任總統副總統禮遇條例) to bar Chen from continuing to receive special treatment as a former head of state.

“People in Taiwan need not spend money to maintain special treatment for a former president who committed crimes,” he said.

“The law says that the special treatment reserved former presidents and vice presidents should be canceled if they are found guilty of treason or corruption, but such regulation could not meet people’s expectations. We need a stricter law banning Chen from receiving such treatment from the county,” said Shih, who launched the campaign to depose Chen in August 2006.

To show that it is determined to cut all ties with the former president, Shih said the DPP caucus should be the one to propose such an amendment in the legislature.

In response, DPP caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) said yesterday that Shih’s suggestion for the amendment was targeted entirely at Chen and to embellish his image as an opponent of corruption.

Saying that the DPP had supported several sunshine bills in the legislature, DPP Legislator Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲) said a broader discussion on the matter was needed.

Asked for comment, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus secretary-general Chang Sho-wen (張碩文) disagreed with the need to amend the statute, saying that such a move would only lead to greater conflict between pan-blue and pan-green supporters.

“I respect Shih’s suggestion, but we should not amend the statute for a specific individual,” Chang said.

Chang, however, said that he was in favor of introducing an article to the Criminal Code that would require that a public official explain to a court how he or she can afford a luxurious lifestyle on a modest income. Failure to do so would be construed as proof of corruption.

Chang said the caucus would prioritize the proposal in the fall legislative session, which begins next month.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY FLORA WANG AND CNA
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