Wed, Oct 09, 2002 page3

• Legislature kills motion to discipline Diane Lee

  EAR-LICKING SCANDAL DPP Legislator Peter Lin sponsored a bill to take action against the PFP lawmaker, but the move was quickly shot down

  • By Crystal Hsu / STAFF REPORTER
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  The legislature yesterday refused to take up a proposal to turn PFP lawmaker Diane Lee (李慶安) over to the Discipline Committee for punishment in connection with her false charge against top health official Twu Shiing-jer (涂醒哲).

  DPP Legislator Peter Lin (林進興), who sponsored the motion, vowed to introduce the bill again next week, though the ruling caucus is looking to avoid antagonizing the opposition camp.

  

  Two Shiing-jer, acting chief of the Department of Health, is mobbed by reporters as he arrives at the Legislative Yuan yesterday.

  PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING, TAIPEI TIMES

  "The bill will be set aside due to protest [from PFP lawmakers]," ruled Vice Legislative Speaker Chiang Ping-kun (江丙坤).

  Under legislative rules, opposition from a single lawmaker suffices to block the introduction of any extraordinary bills.

  Lin said he would ask his colleagues to endorse his initiative and file it through regular procedures next week.

  "The legislature will have trouble defending its decision today if the court finds Lee guilty of libel later," he said.

  Earlier, Twu, acting head of the Department of Health, filed libel suits against Lee and her constituent Cheng Ko-jung (鄭可榮).

  The two had mistakenly accused Twu of making forceful sexual advances on Cheng during a KTV party on Aug. 6.

  Lin said he will carry on with the campaign to punish Lee and her PFP colleague Yang Fu-mei (楊富美), who told a news conference last week that Twu was once caught having sex with a female aide in his office.

  Yang said she could not provide any evidence of the sexual encounter as she learned of it through the grapevine.

  TSU lawmaker Lo Chih-ming (羅志明) said that malignant rumormongers such as Lee and Yang should be punished. He noted that the legislature stood behind Lee when she was physically attacked by former independent colleague Lo Fu-chu (羅福助) in March last year.

  "Lo Fu-chu was later suspended from the legislature for six months. Now Lee should face the consequences of her mistake in a gracious manner," the TSU legislator said.

  Lee, while apologetic, has showed no intention of stepping down in the face or pressure to do so.

  She did not make any public appearances yesterday. Aides said she was making preparations for a court hearing today.

  Observers say it is unlikely for the legislature to adopt any disciplinary measures against Lee, as her party and the KMT have vowed to kill any such proposal.

  Together, the two caucuses enjoy a slight edge, 19-17, in the Procedure Committee where the legislative calendar is decided.

  PFP Legislator Lee Ching-hua (李慶華), elder brother of Diane Lee, said his sister, gripped by a deep sense of guilt, has slept very little for the past week. He called on her critics to be forgiving, saying his sister is generally recognized as one of Taiwan's best lawmakers.
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