Former first lady gets one year in jail
　

VERDICT: The former president’s son, daughter and son-in-law each received six-month sentences for perjury, which can be appealed or substituted with community service
　

By Shelley Huang
STAFF REPORTER
Wednesday, Sep 02, 2009, Page 1

The Taipei District Court yesterday handed down prison sentences ranging from six months to one-and-a-half years to members of former president Chen Shui-bian’s (陳水扁) family and former Taipei Financial Center Corp (台北金融大樓公司) chairwoman Diana Chen (陳敏薰) for perjury.

The former president’s son, Chen Chih-chung (陳致中), daughter Chen Hsing-yu (陳幸妤) and son-in-law Chao Chien-ming (趙建銘) each received six-month prison sentences, which were half the length of one year following commutation.

Although they do not qualify for a scheme that lets those convicted to terms of six months or less pay a fine rather than serve jail time, they will be able to take advantage of a new program that allows convicts to do community service rather than go to jail.

Former first lady Wu Shu-jen (吳淑珍), convicted for instigating perjury, received a one-year jail sentence, which was half the sentence following commutation.

As the former first family committed perjury before April 24, 2007, and because the offenses they committed were eligible for commutation, they met the requirements of the 2007 Sentence Commutation (罪犯減刑條例) and had their sentences reduced by half.

All sentences can be appealed.

Presiding Judge Chen Hsing-pang (陳興邦) said Chen Chih-chung, Chen Hsing-yu and Chao Chien-ming followed the former first lady’s instructions in giving false testimony in 2005 when questioned about the presidential “state affairs fund,” a public fund earmarked for the president’s official use and for which Chen Shui-bian has been accused of embezzling from during his presidency.

They were listed as defendants on June 3 and indicted on July 17.

The former first lady was charged with instigating perjury for allegedly instructing her children to lie during a probe into the embezzlement charges against both herself and her husband.

Diana Chen received the full sentence of one year and six months because she committed perjury after Apr. 24, 2007, and therefore did not qualify for a reduced sentence. Her refusal to admit to the charges against her in exchange for a lighter sentence also resulted in her receiving a longer prison sentence than the others.

Prosecutors said she purposely gave false testimony during questioning last year about the former first family’s alleged money-­laundering activities. They also said Diana Chen bribed the former first lady with NT$10 million (US$300,000) to obtain her position as chairwoman of Taipei Financial Center Corp.

Chen Shui-bian stands accused of embezzling public funds, money laundering, accepting bribes on a land deal, influence peddling and forgery.

The District Court will announce its verdict on Sept. 11.

Dalai Lama moves thousands at ceremony
　

By Loa Iok-sin and Shih Hsiu-chuan
STAFF REPORTERS, IN KAOHSIUNG
Wednesday, Sep 02, 2009, Page 1

“I came here not to take pictures but to do something meaningful.”— Dalai Lama, Tibetan spiritual leader
　

More than 17,000 people from across the country packed the Kaohsiung Arena yesterday morning as the Dalai Lama held a two-hour prayer ceremony for the victims of Typhoon Morakot.

Although the ceremony officially started at 9:30am, many people began lining up on Monday night and by 9am the stadium was packed.

Admission to the event was on first-come-first-serve basis beginning at 7:30am.

Aside from locals, hundreds of people arrived from Taipei via charter bus at about 6am.

Awaiting the spiritual leader’s arrival, members of the audience chanted om mani padme hum — the most commonly recited Buddhist mantra — in unison.

“I came here not to take pictures but to do something meaningful,” the Dalai Lama told the audience.

“All Buddhists today — monks, men and women — must bear compassion at heart, pray and dedicate all the merits to the deceased and their families,” he said.

“Many people asked if we want to do good things and pray, why don’t we just do it in our own rooms? Well, when so many people are gathered here at the same time to pray, we could create a very powerful force that would generate special fruits,” he said.
　

The leader led the audience in reciting Buddhist chants and commented on the teachings of the Buddha.

He also urged the public to think positively and live their lives without losing confidence, even in difficult times.

“More than 500 people lost their lives in the disaster and the survivors are very worried,” he said.

“But in Linbian Township [林邊, Pingtung County], a lot of fish were able to escape [from fishponds] because of the flooding,” he said, followed by laughter from the audience.

Many people in attendance said they were impressed by the Dalai Lama’s wittiness in his teachings on a subject that can sometimes be dry, as well as his quick reaction to unexpected events.

“It was spectacular and the Dalai Lama was so witty, I loved how he reacted to the collapse of the table, which could have been an embarrassing moment,” a member of the audience surnamed Chao (趙) said after the ceremony was over.

At the beginning of the ceremony, the Dalai Lama asked that a small table in front of his seat be removed. However, as officials were in the process of removing it, it collapsed, to a complete silence in the audience.

The Dalai Lama broke the silence with loud laughter, which triggered more laughter and applauses from the crowd.

Chen Yu-ching (陳毓青), a follower of Tibetan Buddhism, said she was excited to see the Dalai Lama in person for the first time.

“I’m so happy, because I don’t know if I’ll have another chance to see the Dalai Lama again,” she said, adding that she took the day off from work and got up at 5am to drive down from Taichung for the event.

The 1989 Nobel Peace Prize-winner gave another lecture at an auditorium at his hotel in the afternoon.

Most of the problems that trouble our world are manmade, he said, and they can only be resolved when people consider all 6 billion human beings as brothers as sisters.

Many are “too much concerned about the ‘we’ and ‘they’ and are willing to sacrifice one’s life to destroy ‘the other,’” he said.

“That’s foolish, unwise,” he said.

“Think of humanity as part of ‘we,’” he said, adding that thought alone would not resolve all problems, but that problems can be resolved through compromise and dialogue.

Admission tickets for the afternoon lecture were distributed at the hotel starting at noon, with all 500 tickets gone in half an hour.

Unable to secure tickets for the lecture, more than 1,000 people stayed in the hotel lobby and courtyard, hoping to greet the Dalai Lama after the lecture. However, the Dalai Lama returned to his room directly after the lecture.

Not everyone welcomed the Dalai Lama.

Dozens of people from the China Unification Promotion Party (CUPP) and the True Awakening Joint Cultivation Buddhist Association (正覺佛教同修會) staged protests outside the Kaohsiung Arena in the morning and the hotel in the afternoon.

CUPP members shouted slogans accusing the Dalai Lama of engaging in “separatist” activities and claiming that Tibet and Taiwan are part of China.

Members from the True Awakening Buddhist Joint Cultivation Association, meanwhile, held up banners saying that the Dalai Lama refuses to accept the true teachings of the Buddha.

The group, established in 1997, represents a newly evolved Buddhist faction and is strongly critical of Tibetan Buddhism.

At a separate setting yesterday, Premier Liu Chao-shiuan (劉兆玄) said the visit by the Dalai Lama would influence cross-strait relations, but that the government hoped the impact would be minimal and of short duration.

“If the visit remains confined to humanitarian and religious subjects and is purely for the purpose of consoling the souls of the victims, it won’t be a big problem,” Liu told a press conference at the 8th Field Army in Kaohsiung Country’s Cishan Township (旗山), where Cabinet officials set up a makeshift office to oversee resettlement of victims and reconstruction in the wake of Morakot.

Liu said it was impossible to measure the extent of the influence the visit by the Dalai Lama would have on cross-strait relations because “it’s sort of abstract” and the visit is “just beginning.”

Asked whether the visit would hinder the government’s agenda for signing an economic cooperation framework agreement with China, Liu said the matter was “not a unilateral decision” but depended on “how the two sides interact with each other.”

Liu would not comment on the nature of the communication that had occurred between Taiwan and China on the visit by the Dalai Lama, saying that he “was not involved” but was “aware of the process.”

“We had some information and made some impact assessments … But to say more about this would do no good,” Liu said.

Meanwhile in Taipei, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Lee Hung-chun (李鴻鈞) said the government should take this opportunity to review whether Taiwan is overly dependent on China.

KMT Legislator Lo Shu-lei (羅淑蕾) said the government needed to patch up the nation’s relations with Beijing as soon as possible because between 60 percent and 70 percent of Taiwan’s exports go to China.

Ma’s ‘state affairs fund’ may increase
　

‘MODERATE’: The Presidential Office said the ‘state affairs fund’ request for NT$40 million was still less than the NT$50 million requested under the DPP administration
　

By Ko Shu-ling
STAFF REPORTER
Wednesday, Sep 02, 2009, Page 3

The Presidential Office yesterday confirmed that it would request more discretionary funds for President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) next year despite the country’s financial plight.

The Presidential Office emphasized that the amount was less than that requested during former president Chen Shui-bian’s (陳水扁) two terms, adding that more money would give Ma more space to help the disadvantaged.

Presidential Office Spokesman Wang Yu-chi (王郁琦) said that one year after Ma took office, they found the president’s “state affairs fund” should “be increased in a moderate fashion.”

While some legislators have proposed reinstating the original amount — NT$50 million (US$1.56 million) — Wang said that after considering the country’s financial situation and the needs of the disadvantaged, the president had decided to increase it from NT$30 million to NT$40 million.

The president’s discretionary fund was NT$50 million from 1982 to 2006, but was trimmed to NT$30 million in 2007 following allegations that Chen misused the fund.

Wang made the remarks in response to media inquiry about a report published by the Chinese-language Liberty Times (the Taipei Times’ sister paper) yesterday.

The report said that while the government’s expenditure was projected to contract 3.9 percent next year, the president’s “state affairs fund” would grow from NT$30 ­million to NT$40 million.

Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) said it remained up to the legislature to finalize the budget for the “state affairs” fund, but added that the former Democratic Progressive Party administration had requested NT$50 million for the fund every year during its eight years in office.

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Lee Hung-chun (李鴻鈞) said the scale of the budget increase should depend on the president’s administrative performance.

In other news, Ma yesterday said Taiwan must keep a low profile when dealing with Washington and develop “surprise-free” relations.

“The biggest difference between my administration and the former one is that if the US can improve relations with mainland China, we basically think it is conducive to Taiwan,” he said. “By the same token, if we can improve relations with the mainland, it is also conducive to the US. I believe we can create a win-win-win situation for all.”

Ma made the remarks while meeting new American Institute in Taiwan Director William Stanton at the Presidential Office yesterday afternoon.

Saying Stanton came at a “historically critical moment,” Ma described the Taiwan-US relations as “stable” and “full of expectations.”

Ma thanked the US for providing humanitarian assistance in the wake of Typhoon Morakot, including heavy-lift helicopters, cash donations and essential items.

He also extended appreciation to Washington for agreeing to sell defensive arms to Taipei, adding that the administration has ordered 60 Black Hawk helicopters and will lend 15 to the National Airborne Services Corps.

Ma’s remarks, however, differed from the ones he made during a press conference with foreign journalists on Aug. 18. Ma said that to better equip search and rescue teams, his administration would buy 45 Black Hawk helicopters, 15 fewer than the original plan. The NT$10 billion saved would be spent on improving the equipment of the National Airborne Services Corps.

Stanton, who learned Mandarin in Taiwan 22 years ago, declined the translation of Ma’s talk into English, saying in Mandarin that Ma’s “perfect” Mandarin was easy to understand.

Stanton said Washington appreciates the interest Ma was taking in strengthening US and Taiwan relations and has welcomed the approach Ma have taken as well.
　

Chen Chu takes center stage

Wednesday, Sep 02, 2009, Page 8

A little-discussed consequence of the radical weakening of President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) credibility and authority following Typhoon Morakot has been the rapid rise in prominence of Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu (陳菊) and her emergence as a politician of national significance.

Within the space of a few months, Chen has demonstrated in the most dramatic fashion that she is far and away the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) best bet for the next presidential election.

The Kaohsiung World Games may have attracted less coverage in the international press than organizers and Kaohsiung City officials hoped, but this was not the result of a lack of enthusiasm or skill on their part. The Games were a triumph of organizational discipline in a country with a long and painful record of negligence in sports management and indifference to promotional duties.

The city of Kaohsiung, long derided as a smelly industrial eyesore and cultural backwater, has under successive DPP mayors turned into a town that is rightly proud of itself and does not hesitate to share its pride with others — domestically and internationally. This is no small achievement, and also one that can serve as an inspiration for other Taiwanese cities — including Taipei.

Chen’s personal achievement, however, is significant because of the unusual obstacles she faced. In addition to the routine political and logistical challenges of holding such events and a health scare at the beginning of her term, she stared down a central government that was less than committed to contributing to the Games’ success.

More impressive, however, was her goodwill trip to China in May in which she cut a deal that avoided a comprehensive boycott by Chinese athletes. Her flexibility on this issue ironically placed considerable pressure on Ma, who became China’s nominal antagonist by attending the opening ceremony.

The Chinese may come to regret the deal with Chen, for it has made the tortuous negotiations between government proxies — and between Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Chinese Communist Party officials — appear seriously compromised in terms of the defense of Taiwanese interests, which in turn makes Ma look even weaker.

Worse still, from China’s point of view: One of the first people the Dalai Lama met on his tour was a beaming Chen who, by embracing the Tibetan icon, has made the central government and most of the KMT look conflicted and timid — while reminding every Taiwanese that a leader can be strong without being strident (such as former president Chen Shui-bian, 陳水扁) and flexible without being fawning (such as Ma).

These are the symbolic actions and leadership qualities that snatch election victories from complacent incumbents.

Given the DPP’s support base in Kaohsiung County, Chen Chu’s prospects for re-election were boosted by the decision to merge the county with Kaohsiung City. That election will take place next year, and on the strength of her record to date she will win handsomely.

A second term would face no shortage of challenges, not least the ongoing rebuilding program for the four townships in Kaohsiung County that suffered terrible damage from Morakot. It is here that she will have the chance to show the wider public that she can meet administrative challenges that are much more difficult than an athletics meet.

If Chen Chu takes that chance, and with Ma increasingly vulnerable to attack from within his party and from China, the DPP will have something that seemed impossible only a few months ago: an authentic presidential candidate.

Spiritual inspiration
　

Wednesday, Sep 02, 2009, Page 8

The visit of the Dalai Lama is the most inspiring event that has happened in Taiwan recently.

We know we have to deal with the pain of losing loved ones and the difficulties of reconstruction caused by Typhoon Morakot on our own. Still, the Dalai Lama understands what we have been through, shares our pain and comforts our souls.

Taiwanese welcome him with our hearts.

Unfortunately, it appears that because of pressure from Beijing, the incompetent President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) and his fellow Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) members succeeded in making the Dalai Lama cancel an international press conference and public speech just before his arrival.

We are extremely angry. We understand the pressure faced by the Dalai Lama and hope he will not be bothered by these unpleasantries.

However, as Taiwanese, we do not accept Ma or China insulting the Dalai Lama. Beijing has no right to dictate who Taiwanese can listen to. Ma is Taiwan’s president and should work on behalf of Taiwanese, not for China.

Taiwanese want to listen to the Dalai Lama and expect a guest to enjoy freedom of speech in Taiwan.

What bothers us most is that Ma is distancing himself from the public. International media credit Ma for improving relations between China and Taiwan, but he hasn’t done anything about the more than 1,000 Chinese missiles still targeting Taiwan.

Should Taiwanese keep silent about the cancelation of the public speech by the Dalai Lama, Taiwan will be handed over to China quickly and quietly.

We would highly appreciate if the Taipei Times could keep an eye on this event, and verify what Taiwanese really want, and how many Taiwanese stand with Ma in this decision.

MENG-MEI CHEN
Lausanne, Switzerland

Jody Chiang deserves award

Jody Chiang (江蕙, also known as Judy Chiang) is a great singer of Hoklo songs.

Her debut stadium performance last year was a great success.

She sang with full emotion and danced very well.

Jody is comparable to Misora Hibari, the late Japanese singer, in vocal quality and singing skill.

Jody started her singing career in 1972 when she was only nine years old to help support the family. One of the first songs she sang was Lonely Girl’s Wish (孤女的願望), about a country girl asking the way to Taipei to look for a job — reflecting her early career traveling from town to town.

Taiwanese songs consist of classical Taiwanese ballads like Flowers in the Rainy Night (雨夜花), which Jody has performed with Placido Domingo, Japanese-style songs like Lonely Girl’s Wish and modern Taiwanese songs.

Many of these are romantic and lovelorn songs. Jody is very good at singing these songs and they usually become hits.

Last year, Jody shared her inner feelings with everyone in the audience. She was expert at motivating the audience to sing along with her.

When they sang Housewives (家後), many people broke into tears. On the other hand, when they sang Sad Bar (傷心酒店), everyone was very happy in singing “I am not drunk, not drunk.”

Overall, orchestras and dancers gave excellent performances and stage decorations were superb.

This was the outcome of between six and eight months of hard work by the entire team.

I highly recommend that the Ministry of Education give a Taiwan Culture Award to Jody for her accomplishments in promoting vocal art in her mother language.

CHARLES HONG
Columbus, Ohio

The balance between the US, Japan and Taiwan
　

By Sebo Koh 許世模
Wednesday, Sep 02, 2009, Page 8

‘Before the election, a DPJ legislator jokingly said that if they were elected, their government would collapse within a week. Although this was an exaggeration, collapse within a few months is possible.’

Though what the Japanese prime minister-elect said before the election was alarming, my prediction is that nothing much will change in Japan’s policy toward the US or Taiwan.

Yukio Hatoyama is chairman of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), a collection of anti-Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) factions whose ideology ranges from the extreme right to the extreme left.

The DPJ is even more fractured than the LDP. Before the election, a DPJ legislator jokingly said that if they were elected, their government would collapse within a week. Although this was an exaggeration, collapse within a few months is possible.

Japan has had no unified national strategy since the end of World War II. Its attitude and policies toward other Asian countries follow those of the US. Tokyo’s policy toward Taiwan will only change if Washington’s does. People say Japanese prime ministers after the war are experts in karaoke — Americans write songs and they sing them.

The danger is changes in US policy toward Asian in general and Taiwan in particular. Though there are only hints of a subconscious shift toward a China-centric Asian policy, even those hints are worrisome.

So far, the US continues to stress the central importance of Japan in Asia, but if there is any substance at all to hints of a “China-centric policy,” there will be huge change in Japan’s own Asian policy. Tokyo would have to set out on its own or become a junior ally of China.

The latter would be a very hard pill for Japanese to swallow.

More likely, Japan will become more nationalistic and militaristic. Going nuclear would be unavoidable if Japan wanted to maintain a balance of power with China. It’s difficult to imagine an Asian regional cooperative with China as the hegemon and Japan a junior partner.

This would trigger an Asian arms race involving Australia as a reluctant participant. Canberra could become Washington’s partner in the Asia-Pacific, just as it was during World War II.

Taiwan, with little power, would have to choose sides. I am not sure which side (Japan or China) the Taiwanese would choose, but either way it would become a vassal state and lose much of its independence — not a pretty picture.

Taiwan has to work hard to support Washington’s “Japan-centric Asian Policy,” emphasizing Taipei-Tokyo relations and the Taiwan-Japan-US alliance. Unfortunately, the administration of President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) isn’t inclined to do so.

It falls on Taiwanese, Taiwanese-Japanese and Taiwanese-Americans to try to influence these policies. It will be hard but not impossible.

Sebo Koh is a member of the Central Committee of the World United Formosans for Independence and the spokesman of World Taiwanese Congress.