TAIWAN: President Chen Shui-bian defends himself against corruption charges levelled against him and his wife

Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian on Sunday (November 5, 2006) defended himself and his wife in a televised address against corruption charges from a government prosecutor. It was the first time Chen has spoken publicly since a government prosecutor said there was enough evidence to indict him for corruption, pitching Chen into his worst crisis yet. The independence-minded president's wife was indicted on Friday for embezzlement and forging documents, breathing new life into attempts by the main opposition Nationalist Party to oust Chen over scandals involving his family members and close aides. The High Court prosecutor said Chen was suspected of corruption and faking of documents in a larger case involving the misuse of more than T$14.8 million ($448,000) from a special government fund. But Chen provided a vigourous defence during his televised address, saying the prosecutor's charges were unjust and they did not fully understand the workings of the special government fund. He added he believed the legal system would prove his innocence in the case. "Integrity and reputation is more important than one's life. Whether one goes or stays is not of significance. I believe history will finally bring justice to my side, the legal system will prove my innocence," he said. "I love Taiwan very much, I love my country. For the interest of Taiwan, there are some sensitive and secret activities that I cannot reveal at all. If it is because I cannot reveal all these that I get misunderstood, I feel injustice. I wish to sacrifice myself for the greater good (of Taiwan)," he added. The government prosecutor had said Chen was immune from prosecution as long as he was in office. Chen, who has twice won elections campaigning for formal independence from China, is not due to leave office until 2008. Chen, however, added he was to give up presidential immunity and step down if the court finds him guilty of the corruption charges. "As long as the court proves that I am guilty of corruption at the first level of the legal proceedings, I will immediately step down," he said. The opposition Nationalists, or the Kuomintang, said on Friday they would go ahead with a parliamentary "recall" motion if Chen did not resign within 48 hours. If a motion is passed, it would lead to a referendum on whether to oust Chen. The opposition parties, which have a slim majority in parliament, have failed to garner a two-thirds majority in two previous attempts to oust the president in June and October. Analysts say that if there is a split within the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), there could be enough votes in parliament to pass the motion. Protesters who gathered at Taipei's main train station to listen to the president's televised address said they would not accept his explanation and urged him to step down immediately without any pre-conditions. "Chen is cheating everyone in Taiwan. He should step down unconditionally, or else the people will gun him down," said Miss Lin.

ITN Source | November 5, 2006

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