By Chris Wang / Staff Reporter
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday condemned the use of violence and demanded an immediate investigation after an unidentified man threatened to set fire to the presidential campaign headquarters of DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文).
The man, who called the DPP headquarters in Banciao (板橋), New Taipei City (新北市), at 9:10am and again at 10:50am yesterday, said he worked for Chen Ying-chu (陳盈助), a Chiayi-based bookmaker who reportedly met President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) in September, DPP spokesperson Kang Yu-cheng (康裕成) told reporters.
Ma has denied meeting Chen.
The caller told a DPP campaign office staffer to “get fire trucks ready” because he was going to set the headquarters ablaze.
He also asked: “Is the DPP ready to give up votes in southern Taiwan?”
The party reported the case to the Haishan Police Precinct at about 11am, Kang said.
The DPP will not bow to the use of violence, she said, adding that police should launch an investigation into the threat.
This is the first time the DPP campaign office has received threatening phone calls, Kang said.
In two previous incidents, Tsai campaign banners were destroyed in Changhua County and Kinmen, she said.
The New Taipei City Police Department, which is handling Tsai’s security along with the National Police Agency, said it had launched an investigation.
The National Security Bureau is scheduled to take over Tsai’s security affairs after the presidential hopeful completes her registration for the election tomorrow.