DPP urges SID to investigate Wu, others

LINGATE:：Today’s edition of ‘Next Magazine’ will reportedly have stories about involvement of the former premier and of Lin Join-sane in the Lin Yi-shih case
By Chris Wang, Mo Yan-chih and Rich Chang  /  Staff reporters
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 - Page 1

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus yesterday called for an investigation into the role that China Steel Corp (CSC, 中鋼), CHC Resource Corp (中聯資源) and Vice President Wu Den-yih (吳敦義) might have played in the Lin Yi-shih (林益世) scandal.

The role the two corporations might have played in the scandal has been completely ignored by the Special Prosecutors’ Office Special Investigation Division (SID) and it is imperative that the SID clarify those details rather than focus solely on Lin and his family, DPP Legislator Lee Chun-yi (李俊俋) told a press conference.

Ma can’t clean government: majority

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

A majority of respondents in a public opinion poll released yesterday, said they had no confidence in President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) ability to promote “clean government” and were opposed to him serving concurrently as Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairman.The poll was conducted by Taiwan Indicate Survey Research (TISR) between Thursday and Friday.

Respondents expressed frustration over the recent corruption scandal involving former Executive Yuan secretary-general Lin Yi-shih (林益世), who has been detained by prosecutors.

DPP vows to ‘march forward’

‘DETERMINATION’:The party has vowed to return to power, by strengthening grassroots organization, working with social movements and developing talent
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

“March forward, Taiwan! (前進吧，台灣！)” will be the theme of the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) annual national party congress this year as the party vows to return to power in four years, the DPP announced yesterday.

“The theme represents the DPP’s determination to return to power as the Chinese Nationalist Party [KMT] has failed to help the country move forward in the past five years,” DPP spokesperson Lin Chun-hsien (林俊憲) told a press conference.

TSU still against ractopamine after UN body accepts it

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

The Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) yesterday reiterated its opposition to the easing of a ban on residue of the livestock feed additive ractopamine in meat, despite the vote by a UN-affiliated food safety organization in favor of allowing certain levels of it.

On Thursday last week the Codex Alimentarius Commission in Rome, Italy, narrowly voted in favor of maximum residue levels (MRLs) of the additive.

DPP accuses CTS head of obtaining position illegally

FISHY APPOINTMENT:A DPP legislator said because Chao had not gained the approval from PTS’ board of directors, her position as general manager was illegal
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers yesterday accused Chinese Television System (CTS) chairperson and general manager Yaly Chao (趙雅麗) of malfeasance and obtaining her position illegally, saying Chao should be suspended immediately.

CTS convened a provisional meeting to select a new board of directors and supervisors on June 26, three days before the Ministry of Culture (MOC) held a review meeting for the appointment of a new governing body for the Public Television System (PTS), DPP Legislator Cheng Li-chiun (鄭麗君) told a press conference.

ANALYSIS: DPP eyes better relations with US in the future

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter
Mon, Jul 09, 2012 - Page 3

Although Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers and the party’s central headquarters have appeared to be at odds over how to organize opposition to the government’s policy of setting a maximum residue level for the livestock feed additive ractopamine in beef, party leaders insist that the DPP is ready to “reset” its relationship with the US, arguably the nation’s most important ally.

The DPP announced its support for the adoption of international standards on Thursday night, soon after the UN-affiliated Codex Alimentarius Commission voted in Rome in favor of maximum residue levels (MRLs) for ractopamine.

DPP reaffirms positions on ractopamine, gambling

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) reaffirmed its positions on the US beef controversy and the referendum on gambling in Matsu, saying that international standards should be adopted to safeguard food safety and that it respected Matsu residents’ decision despite its longstanding anti-gambling policy.

The Codex Alimentarius Commission’s voting process on the adoption of maximum residue levels (MRLs) for the livestock feed additive ractopamine was “controversial” and the results were close, DPP Chairperson Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) said in Taichung yesterday on the sidelines of a party event.

Opposition urged to change stance on US beef imports

By Shih Hsiu-chuan  /  Staff reporter

Executive Yuan spokesperson Hu Yu-wei (胡幼偉) last night urged opposition parties to reconsider their stance against easing the ban on imports of US beef containing ractopamine residue after the Codex Alimentarius Commission narrowly voted in favor of maximum residue levels (MRLs) for the livestock leanness-enhancing food additive.

The Democratic Progressive Party, the Taiwan Solidarity Union and the People First Party had suggested that Taiwan hold off on a decision on revising its zero-tolerance policy on ractopamine until after the commission made a decision about the draft MRLs for ractopamine, Hu said.

ANALYSIS: Ma sitting on time bomb in run-up to US beef vote

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter
Fri, Jul 06, 2012 - Page 3

President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) is clueless, helpless and “sitting on a time bomb” after the corruption scandal involving former Executive Yuan secretary--general Lin Yi-shih (林益世), with few policy options left, members of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said.

Not only has the scandal, involving one of Ma’s most trusted aides, tarnished the president’s image, it has also raised doubts as to whether he will be able to muster enough votes to pass a controversial amendment on the relaxation of rules governing the level of residue of the livestock feed additive ractopamine in beef imports in the upcoming extra legislative session, which is scheduled to begin on July 24, they said.

Tsai Ing-wen sets up foundation

LOOKING FORWARD:Although Tsai has not said she will run in the 2016 presidential election, the foundation’s similarity to a campaign office has attracted some comment
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

Former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) is scheduled to officially launch her own foundation early next month to work on charity projects and public policy.

The foundation, provisionally called the “Hsiao-ying [Little Ing] Educational Foundation,” is considered by many to be the equivalent of a campaign headquarters if Tsai decides to seek the DPP nomination for the presidency in 2016.