Former Presidential Office deputy secretary-general Lo Chih-chiang (羅智強) yesterday issued an open letter to Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) calling on him to apologize for his alleged improper lobbying in a judicial case.
Only when Wang lets go of the power attached to his position can the nation pick itself up again, Lo’s letter said.
Referring to himself as a “commoner,” Lo said in the letter posted on Facebook yesterday that the speaker still owed the public an apology for getting the nation embroiled in a political scandal.
“It’s not that I do not agree with your [Wang’s] amicable way of dealing with people, or that I intend to show you any disrespect or hostility, it’s just that I think that from the moment you made, the telephone calls from you to then-minister of justice Tseng Yung-fu (曾勇夫) and Taiwan High Prosecutors’ Office Head Prosecutor Chen Shou-huang (陳守煌) to express concerns about the legal case involving Democratic Progressive Party caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) undermined the integrity and dignity of the nation’s judicial system,” Lo said.
Lo said although legislators might not be held criminally liable for lobbying in a legal case, it did not mean they were automatically cleared of any political responsibility.
Citing examples, Lo said that former minister of defense Kao Hua-chu (高華柱) resigned in July to take political responsibility for the death of army corporal Hung Chung-chiu (洪仲丘), while his successor, Andrew Yang (楊念祖), also voluntarily stepped down a month later due to allegations of plagiarism brought against him.
“Facing up to political responsibility and not clinging to positions of power are principles that any self-disciplined public functionary should possess,” Lo said.
Politicians are supposed to set a higher moral standard for themselves, but Wang has instead resorted to lower moral standards based on whatever laws ... protect his power and shift the focus away from his misconduct, Lo said.
“If you really care about the interests of the nation and the well-being of the public ... then you should let go of [your power] to set an example to other politicians that lobbying in legal cases is not allowed,” Lo said.
“Asking you to apologize is the most humble request I could make to you,” Lo added.
In response, Wang yesterday said that Lo has the right to express his personal opinions and thanked him for his comments.
Lo resigned as presidential deputy on Sept. 12 amid mounting speculations that the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office Special Investigation Division was politically motivated to bring accusations of improper lobbying against Wang on Sept. 6.
Lo’s resignation was approved by President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) on the same day and officially took effect on Monday.
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