“We wish Ms. Shaheen to know that it’s unlawful for an foreign national to get involved in an election in Taiwan,” a top aide to Ma said yesterday. According to the Election Law, no foreign nationals may electioneer for a candidate in Taiwan.

Shaheen, now chairperson of the U.S. Asia Economic Foundation, was reported to have taped an interview for release on the eve of the presidential election, in which she would prove Ma is still carrying a valid American permanent resident card.

The interview was said to have been aired by the Formosa TV network, which was run by Democratic Progressive Party lawmaker Trong Chai until a couple of years ago.

A Formosa TV program manager denied knowledge of the interview, but Ma’s campaign staff believe Shaheen would be speaking on his green card to substantiate the charges of his DPP rival, Frank Hsieh.

“If she said what Hsieh wanted her to say, she would be breaking our law,” warned the Ma aide, who refused to be identified.

Hsieh and even President Chen Shui-bian have been accusing the Kuomintang candidate of holding a valid green card, with which he could flee Taiwan for the United States if something goes wrong. Holding rights to permanent residency in a foreign country does not disqualify a presidential candidate. The candidate shall be disqualified only by holding foreign nationality or citizenship status.

Assistants to Ma are worried that Shaheen, who arrived in Taipei last Saturday for a 12-day visit, may try to offer “proof” that Hsieh and President Chen are right.

Ma has long given up the green card he obtained in the 1970s, but couldn’t produce proof of the renunciation as demanded by his DPP adversary. The Kuomintang standard-bearer insisted there is no need for signing an I401 form to renounce his right of abode in the United States. The concern of Ma’s aides isn’t altogether groundless.

She alone came out to congratulate President Chen on his reelection in 2004, while Washington was still undecided about accepting the contested outcome on March 20.

A homemade bullet grazed Chen’s abdomen, and the shooting was rumored as an assassination attempt orchestrated by Beijing.

Moreover, the United Evening News reported yesterday that Shaheen’s foundation, set up in 2007, after she had been fired as AIT chair, received US$400,000 from the Taipei representative office in Washington.

Quoting “reliable sources,” the afternoon paper said Shaheen demanded financial support from Taipei for her “service” to President Chen.

The vernacular quoted Joseph Wu, Taipei representative in Washington, as admitting to the cash contribution to Shaheen for holding a number of seminars in Los Angeles for promoting Taiwan tourism.

Wu told the paper he did not remember how much money was given Shaheen.

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