Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators yesterday shot back at the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) over its decision to sue them over their comments about an -election-eve shooting, saying they did not rule out filing countersuits for the “false accusations.”
KMT legislators Wu Yu-sheng (吳育昇), Kuo Su-chun (郭素春) and Chiu Yi (邱毅) called a press conference at the KMT caucus to respond to the DPP’s decision to sue them and KMT Legislator Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) over their remarks following the shooting of one of former KMT chairman Lien Chan’s (連戰) sons, Sean Lien (連勝文), at a campaign rally on Nov. 26.
KMT Caucus Chief Deputy -Secretary-General Hsieh Kuo-liang (謝國樑) said the DPP’s allegations that the four had called on voters to punish the DPP for the shooting were unfounded.
DPP spokesman Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌) said on Wednesday that while it was “undeniable” that the party had nothing to do with the shooting, the four legislators had implied otherwise.
Tsai said in the coming days the DPP might file charges of defamation, libel and spreading rumors with the intent of influencing the elections.
The lawsuits were the first court challenges to be filed following the shooting, amid speculation that a sympathy vote may have cost the DPP victory in the elections.
Wu said the DPP’s decision was regrettable and accused it of “abusing the judiciary” to keep Taiwanese politically divided.
“I only called on voters to vote against violence, which is a universal value. I never mentioned the DPP,” Wu said.
Kuo, who on Nov. 26 co-hosted a campaign rally for then-KMT Sinbei City candidate Eric Chu (朱立倫), alleged that the DPP was trying to justify its poor electoral -performance by suing the four.
Video footage provided by the DPP showed Kuo and Wu telling a campaign rally in Taipei County that they wanted to see supporters condemn violence by voting for KMT candidates.
“Should I instead have said ‘let’s vote for [DPP Sinbei City mayoral candidate] Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) as a gesture to comfort Sean Lien’?” Kuo asked.
“You can sue me anytime you want; I’ll see you in court,” she said.
Chiu threatened to file a countersuit against Tsai Ing-wen should the DPP take legal action against him.
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