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DPP denies Chen
Shui-bian pardon offer
By Vincent Y. Chao / STAFF REPORTER
Allegations about the promise of a presidential pardon to former president Chen
Shui-bian (陳水扁) by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) should be backed by
evidence, party officials said.
In response to claims that the former president’s son, Chen Chih-chung (陳致中),
was sent by DPP presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) to deliver the
promise, DPP officials said footage of any such incident should be easily
obtainable.
In comments widely published by local media, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT)
Legislator Chiu Yi (邱毅) said the former president, imprisoned in Taipei Prison,
was told that he would be released if Tsai is elected.
The alleged meeting took place on March 15 with Chen Chih-chung accompanied by
former Chen Shui-bian officials, Chiu said, adding that other DPP officials and
several DPP lawmakers had attended a -follow-up meeting a few days later.
He suggested that the two events were connected to a -statement the former
president later released through his office, dated April 6, that there were 10
reasons why he believed Tsai would make a good president.
Chen Shui-bian’s political backers announced their support for Tsai soon after,
Chiu added, suggesting it was reflective of Tsai’s “very positive” and “very
active” attitude toward the presidential pardon.
Both the DPP and Chen Shui-bian’s office denied that a pardon was mentioned
during the prison meetings.
The former president was -visited yesterday by DPP Legislator Chen Ying (陳瑩), as
well as a former director of his office.
“Chiu’s telling a story, a fairytale,” said Cheng Wen-tsang (鄭文燦), a DPP
spokesperson alleged to have been a participant in one of the meetings. “We
welcome and encourage him to provide evidence to make his claims less
far-fetched.”
Specially arranged meetings with Chen Shui-bian are recorded in their entirety,
he said, making the allegation easy to prove if true.
“Chen Shui-bian said that there was no such offer — nobody has mentioned
anything about a presidential pardon in the past two years of visits,” a
statement from Chen Shui-bian’s office said, adding that Chiu’s remarks were an
attempt to smear the DPP.
“What [the former president] wants is a fair and just ruling according to
procedure. He wants a retrial that will return to him a just ruling of
innocence. A presidential pardon wouldn’t make [sense],” it said.
His office said that the former president would consider filing a slander suit
against Chiu.
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