DPP's Chaotun chapter chief may be expelled for unfavorable remarks

DPP spokesman Hsiao Bi-kim said the Central Standing Committee of the party will discuss the case and make a final decision on how to punish Huang Wen-chun, chief of the DPP's Chaotun chapter in Nantou County.

Huang joined a press conference held Friday by former inmate Chiang Chin-liang in Nantou County to deny Lee Wen-chung's accusations that Premier Wu Den-yih, Nantou County Magistrate Lee Chao-ching, and Huang traveled to Bali last December mainly to engage in illegal matters.

At the conference, Huang claimed that she had previously arranged a meeting between Lee and Chiang, during which Lee had asked for Chiang's backing.

Chen Yu-lin, head of the DPP's Nantou chapter, said Huang's remarks, which implied that Lee was seeking Chiang's support, have damaged the image of the party and the candidate.

Chen proposed that Huang be expelled from the party.

But DPP spokesman Hsiao also noted that the party hasn't ruled out the possibility that Huang might have been forced by Chiang to make disparaging remarks about Lee. If so, Hsiao called for Huang to report the truth directly to the central administration of the party.

Also yesterday, President Ma Ying-jeou, who doubles as chairman of the ruling KMT, yesterday stumped for the party's candidate Lee Chao-ching, calling for Lee not to bother about smears by rivals amid a fierce election campaign, referring to the accusations by DPP candidate Lee Wen-chung.

Ma also praised the outstanding performance of Lee Chao-ching during his four-year tenure as Nantou magistrate, saying that during the first 10 months of the year, the number of tourists visiting Nantou has broken the one million mark, sharply up from only 200,000 when Lee was sworn in as magistrate four years ago.

Meanwhile, Premier Wu Den-yih also told reporters that he is ready for any inquiry in terms of interactions with former inmate Chiang Chin-liang over the past few years, as he has never done anything illegal.

Wu said that Chiang now runs a night market in Nantou, and therefore making his acquaintance and having some contact with him is quite normal. “What counts most in this regard is whether the interactions involve any illegal dealings,” Wu continued.

The premier made the remarks one day after he asked ex-lawmaker Lee Wen-chung, the DPP candidate in the Nantou County magistrate election in December, to produce proof in three days to back up his allegations concerning Wu's colluding with Chiang, who was termed by Lee as a gangster, or face a lawsuit.

The row was sparked by Next magazine's latest revelation that Wu and Nantou Magistrate Lee Chao-chin, who is seeking re-election, had visited Bali last December with former inmate Chiang Chi-liang.

The premier has confirmed taking such a trip with Chiang, whom he called a reformed inmate despite the crimes he committed as a young man.

He has maintained that he, the county magistrate and Chiang were on a fact-finding tour to help advance tourism in Nantou, instead of negotiating a deal protecting Chiang's gravel mining business in Nantou, and settling the candidates for the county government's leadership posts, as alleged by Lee Wen-chung.

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