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Government mulls
taking Chen Shui-bian’s medal
DIVERSIONARY TACTICS? The Presidential Office
says by law, people serving time must return medals, but Chen’s office says the
KMT is trying to distract the public
By Lee Hsin-fang / Staff reporter, with CNA
The Presidential Office yesterday said it would consult with the Ministry of
Justice on whether former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) should be stripped of
the Order of Brilliant Jade with Grand Cordon he had conferred on himself in
office.
Under the Medals Act (勳章條例), the Order of Brilliant Jade with Grand Cordon, the
nation’s highest decoration for heads of state, is exclusively presented to
incumbent presidents, but can also be bestowed upon heads of diplomatic allies
on special occasions.
The Chinese-language United Daily News yesterday reported that the office was
considering stripping the honor from Chen, who is serving a 17-and-a-half-year
jail term for corruption.
The Presidential Office said yesterday that it had not made a decision and that
it would consult with the ministry.
The Presidential Office said it had received complaints from the public asking
it to retrieve the medal because Chen was now imprisoned, so the government
should strip the medal from him according to the law.
The Medals Act stipulates that “those deprived of their civil rights due to
criminal acts should return the medal of honor and certificate they receive.”
However, the Presidential Office said it was still unclear whether the law
applies to the Order of Brilliant Jade with Grand Cordon and it has asked the
ministry to clarify the regulations.
Commenting on the matter, Chiang Chih-ming (江志銘), the secretary of Chen’s
Office, accused the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) government of trying to
divert the public’s attention at a time when President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九)
approval ratings are low.
“This only shows that the government is incapable and it would only draw more
criticism from the public,” Chiang said.
He said that it was meaningless to retrieve the medal from Chen because his
achievements or shortcomings are for history to decide.
Saying the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics had recently
cut its forecast for economic growth this year to 1.66 percent, Chiang said the
Ma administration should spend its time trying to boost the economy, rather than
diverting attention to Chen.
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