Premier Wu will quit if allegations proven

In response, Lee, the standard bearer of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in the Nantou County magistrate election next month, denied that he was resorting to smear tactics to boost his campaign.

The row was sparked by Next magazine's latest revelation that Wu and re-election-seeking Nantou Magistrate Lee Chao-chin, had visited Bali last December with former inmate Chiang Chi-liang. The premier has confirmed making such a trip with Chiang, who he calls a reformed inmate, despite the crimes he committed as a young man.

But the premier has claimed that he was not aware of Chiang's criminal record — which includes murder, extortion and gun-running — until Next's revelation on Wednesday. He has maintained that he, the county magistrate and Chiang were on a fact-finding tour to help advance tourism in Nantou.

The magazine calls Chiang the boss of a major gang in central Taiwan, while the DPP candidate has claimed that Chiang is widely known in the region as a gangster.

The ex-lawmaker has further alleged that the Bali tour was meant to negotiate a deal protecting Chiang's gravel mining business in Nantou, and to settle the candidates for the county parliament's leadership posts.

Wu made a confirmation on Wednesday following the Next report, and declined to make further comments Thursday. But he turned aggressive yesterday, canceling his itinerary for the morning to hold a press conference demanding proof from Lee.

He denied all of Lee's accusations concerning the behind-the-scenes maneuvering for the gravel business or the county parliament leadership. He stressed that he paid for his own trip, which was meant to help develop Nantou's tourism industry.

The premier also said he had reported the row to President Ma Ying-jeou, who gave him his backing. Wu cited Ma as saying that society should accept reformed inmates.

Wu was secretary-general of the ruling Kuomintang and a member of the national Legislature at the time of the Bali trip.

Chiang, who now runs a night market in Nantou and heads a local tourism promotion group, also held a separate press conference in Nantou denying Lee Wen-chung's accusations. He claimed that he was unaware that Wu would be joining them on the visit to Bali. The former inmate, who supports the re-election-seeking magistrate from the KMT, claimed that the DPP candidate had asked for his backing.

Chiang, who described himself as a DPP supporter, said he rejected Lee, resulting in the candidate's smear campaign. But Lee said he hardly knows Chiang personally and has never sought his support.

Meanwhile, the DPP was mulling disciplinary action against a local party official who joined Chiang at the ex-inmate's press conference. The official, Huang Wen-chun, claimed that he had previously arranged a meeting between Lee and Chiang.

Chen Yu-lin, head of the DPP's Nantou chapter, said Huang's remarks, which imply 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.

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