LIN IMBROGLIO : DPP makes five-point demand of Ma

SCANDAL:：The DPP said the president must take steps to regain the public’s confidence over what one lawmaker called ‘the greatest governance crisis in the nation’s history’
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter
Thu, Jul 05, 2012 - Page 3

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday issued an official five-point demand to President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) amid the intensifying scandal of corruption allegations surrounding former Executive Yuan secretary-general Lin Yi-shih (林益世), including an apology from Ma and a Cabinet reshuffle.

Lin, 44, has reportedly admitted taking a bribe of NT$63 million (US$2.15 million) from a metal recycling company and was detained for two months on Monday.

DPP slams AEC’s nuclear-power-for-project decision

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers yesterday criticized the Atomic Energy Council (AEC) over its reported decision to reactivate a nuclear reactor in exchange for a NT$36 million (US$1.2 million) project from Taiwan Power Co (Taipower).

The Chinese-language Next Magazine reported on Tuesday that the council had secured limited bids for two research projects from Taipower, for NT$17.5 million and NT$18.7 million respectively.

Yuanlin residents furious over land consolidation deal

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

Residents of Yuanlin Township (員林), Changhua County, said yesterday that they were forced to participate in an urban land consolidation project and had to pay an unreasonable price differential of up to NT$20 million (US$670,000).

Representatives of more than 100 households in the town told a press conference in Taipei yesterday that they could not afford the huge price differential and they would rather sell their properties to the government and relocate.

Su, Tsai remember Chen Wen-chen

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairman Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) and former DPP chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday paid tribute to murdered professor Chen Wen-chen (陳文成) to commemorate the 31st anniversary of his passing.

The two senior DPP officials posted tributes to Chen on their Facebook pages and highlighted the significance of Chen’s death during the White Terror era to the nation’s democratic development.

Ma owes public an apology over Lin scandal: DPP

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday said President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) should hold a press conference and offer the public an explanation and apology for former Executive Yuan secretary-general Lin Yi-shih’s (林益世) alleged involvement in a corruption case.

“Ma should not evade his responsibility by simply saying he is sorry and regretful about Lin’s [alleged] corruption because he was the one who gave Lin all the power and promoted Lin to his current [former] status,” DPP spokesperson Wang Min-shen (王閔生) told a press conference.

Bus driver fatigue causes accidents, legislator says

LONG HAUL:DPP Legislator Yu Mei-nu said bus drivers have a basic monthly salary of less than NT$14,000, forcing them to work overtime and drive while fatigued
By Chris Wang  /  Staff Reporter

The prevalent practice of overworking has caused many bus accidents due to fatigue and has placed passengers’ lives at risk, a Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmaker said yesterday.

At least 17 bus accidents related to fatigued driving, which caused 25 deaths and 166 injuries, occurred between 2003 and this year throughout the nation, DPP Legislator Yu Mei-nu (尤美女) told a press conference yesterday, according to her own calculations.

Opposition demands Ma apology, corruption probe

TIP OF THE ICEBERG?：TSU Legislator Lin Shih-chia said the fact Lin allegedly asked for the bribe to be divided into installments meant that others could be implicated
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter
Tue, Jul 03, 2012 - Page 3

The pan-green camp yesterday called for a presidential apology, a Cabinet reshuffle and an investigation into corruption at the heart of government after former Executive Yuan secretary-general Lin Yi-shih (林益世) allegedly admitted his guilt in an ongoing corruption probe.

“We would like to know how many Lin Yi-shihs there are in President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) administration,” Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) spokesperson Lin Chun-hsien (林俊憲) told a press conference.

Family of Falun Gong practitioner seek official help

WITS END:The family held a second press conference to plead for the help of the government in seeking the release of Chung Ting-pang, who is being held in China
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

The family of Chung Ting-pang (鍾鼎邦) pleaded with the government for the second time in 10 days to do something about his detention in China.

Chung, a 53-year-old Falun Gong practitioner, was arrested in Ganzhou, Jiangxi Province, on June 18 as he was about to return to Taiwan and accused of “sabotaging national and public security.”

“We do not want to wait for another minute or another second because his life is at stake,” Chung Ai (鍾愛), Chung Ting-pang’s daughter, told a press conference in Taipei organized by Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Hsu Hsin-ying (徐欣瑩).

TSU demands visa for Rebiya Kadeer

MODEL NEIGHBOR:Kadeer said that Taiwan should try to change China, not the other way around, adding that Taiwanese democracy sets an excellent example for Beijing
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

World Uyghur Congress president Rebiya Kadeer said on Thursday in Washington that Taiwan and Turkey were the only countries in the world denying her a visitor’s visa, but added that she still hoped to visit Taiwan in the future.

The Uighur rights activist made the comments in her meeting with visiting Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) Chairman Huang Kun-huei (黃昆輝), who promised to demand that the administration of President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) grant her a visa.

Hong Kongers rue Chinese rule

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

Taiwanese academics and Hong Kong students find it hard to agree with Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤), who said yesterday on the 15th anniversary of Hong Kong’s 1997 handover to China that the “one country, two systems (一國兩制)” design was “the best solution.”

“Are Hong Kong people happy with the arrangement after 15 years? It appears the answer is negative,” said Lin Wen-cheng (林文程), a professor at National Sun Yat-sen University in Kaohsiung. “While Hong Kong is a designated Special Administrative Region, its people know very well that Beijing is the boss and calls all the shots. People have no say in direct elections or over the influx of Chinese citizens.”