It came as no surprise to hear that the pan-blue camp and Shih Ming-teh (施明德) decried the decision by the Taipei District Prosecutors' Office not to press charges against first lady Wu Shu-jen (吳淑珍) over the so-called Sogo vouchers scandal.
After all, the investigation would never have taken place were it not for the seemingly endless allegations made against her by Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator and self-styled corruption buster Chiu Yi (
But even if Wu actually did peddle her influence in return for the vouchers, surely Chiu understands it is up to him to present concrete evidence of such or find a reliable witness willing to testify against Wu -- instead of relying on wild accusations.
You would have thought the pan-blues would have learnt their lesson after the farcical 319 shooting investigation, where rumors, groundless accusations and laughable conspiracy theories failed to convince the nation's judiciary that the president was behind his own shooting.
But then it must be hard for the KMT and its allies to adjust to a legal system where the burden of proof lies with the accuser, when for 40 years during the White Terror period they enjoyed the power of kangaroo courts, in which a mere accusation was often enough to get someone a long stretch in prison or even a death sentence.
It seems they still have trouble getting used to living in a democracy where the judiciary is independent, people have to abide by the law and one cannot win every election.
Henry Blackhand
Taipei
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