Dec.15,2000 --- Letter from Consultant Stephane TIGNEL

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                                                 December 15, 2000

Dear Dr Yang and Peter,  

You already know that Jacques Chirac, president of the French Republic, was said by the media to be implicated in a corruption scandal. Yesterday, he spoke to all French people on the main TV station at the beginning of the 8 p.m. news program.

In the hour-long television interview, Chirac blasted those who have linked his name to a twisted tale of illegal party financing allegedly centered on Paris City Hall, where he was mayor for 18 years (from 1977 to 1995), which is one of the most powerful political posts in France. He called for a halt to the allegations and asked the media to respect each individual's right to be presumed innocent. 

We should send Chirac’s words to Chen Shui Bian, if they were not translated in Taiwan’s newspapers. Though I don’t like all of our president’s ideas and especially his personality, I think he was smart and used some powerful, very meaningful words in his speech. They should be a reference for DPP.

Hope the following paragraphs, taken from a few articles, will be useful.