Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TAIPEI1603
2008-11-12 11:42:00
CONFIDENTIAL
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Cable title:
FORMER PRESIDENT CHEN SHUI-BIAN DETAINED ON
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 TAIPEI 001603
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/12/2018
TAGS: PGOV TW
SUBJECT: FORMER PRESIDENT CHEN SHUI-BIAN DETAINED ON
CORRUPTION CHARGES
TAIPEI 00001603 001.2 OF 003
*****ZFR ZFR ZFR RESENT AS TAIPEI 1604 ZFR ZFR *****
TAIPEI 00001603 002 OF 003
before his arrest, Chen told a press conference that he
expected to be detained the next day. As he was entering the
prosecutors' office, Chen bid farewell to his supporters,
telling them he was headed to the "Bastille," and that he was
a sacrificial offering by the KMT to "placate Chinese anger"
over the recent demonstrations against Chen Yunlin.
Thousands of police were deployed and a large number of
barricades set up to prevent violent incidents between
impassioned supporters and critics of the former president.
In the event, however, the numbers of supporters and
detractors turning out at the prosecutors' office and the
court were quite small.
DPP Reactions
--------------
5. (C) A number of DPP legislators accompanied Chen to the
prosecutors' office, court, and hospital, and this morning
the DPP caucus held a press conference. DPP legislators
argued that the government's pre-indictment arrest and
handcuffing of Chen was unwarranted, and was part of a
pattern of efforts by the KMT government to discredit and
humiliate the DPP. They noted a large number of similar
recent detentions of current and former DPP officials
(including two county magistrates and nine other persons
connected to Chen's case),pointing out that the prosecutors
have not taken such actions against KMT officials. The DPP
argues that prosecutors misuse such detentions to try to
pressure people into giving evidence against their will.
Some legislators predicted the arrest of Chen will further
polarize Taiwan's society. While criticizing the prosecutors
and the KMT government, DPP legislators were careful to
maintain their distance from Chen's legal problems, stressing
their hope that judicial proceedings would be fair and
impartial. This afternoon, DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen
issued a statement criticizing leaks by the prosecutors and
prejudicial statements by President Ma and Justice Minister
Wang that could turn the judiciary into a political tool.
The statement also called on DPP supporters to remain calm
and rational.
KMT Reactions
--------------
6. (C) Some of the more outspoken KMT legislators reacted
gleefully yesterday at news of Chen's arrest. Today,
reactions by KMT officials have been much more circumspect.
President Ma said the court's decision to detain Chen may
serve as a lesson and reminder for all and that people should
feel sad not happy. Ma also urged people to wait calmly for
the court to deliver its final verdict. Some KMT leaders
suggested that the Taiwan people should trust the judiciary
and give it room to handle the case impartially and
independently. Some KMT legislators expressed hope that
Chen's detention would not increase confrontation between KMT
and DPP supporters and that the DPP would not play up the
issue for political purposes.
Comment
--------------
7. (C) Over the past several months, many details of the
supposedly confidential investigations of Chen have been
leaked to the public through the pro-Blue media. As a
result, the detention of Chen does not come as a surprise and
Chen's claim that he is a political prisoner, not a corrupt
politician, will have limited resonance. However, coupled
with the numerous recent detentions of other current and past
DPP officials and the DPP's demonstrations against the visit
of the PRC's Chen Yunlin, Chen Shui-bian's arrest will fuel
the DPP sense that the judicial process is currently being
used by the KMT to intimidate the DPP. The new DPP
leadership finds itself in an awkward position, since many
privately concede that Chen may be guilty of some offenses,
but the overall case is also seen as aimed at discrediting
the party, forcing Tsai and other prominent DPP members to
TAIPEI 00001603 003 OF 003
openly criticize the proceedings.
SYOUNG
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/12/2018
TAGS: PGOV TW
SUBJECT: FORMER PRESIDENT CHEN SHUI-BIAN DETAINED ON
CORRUPTION CHARGES
TAIPEI 00001603 001.2 OF 003
*****ZFR ZFR ZFR RESENT AS TAIPEI 1604 ZFR ZFR *****
TAIPEI 00001603 002 OF 003
before his arrest, Chen told a press conference that he
expected to be detained the next day. As he was entering the
prosecutors' office, Chen bid farewell to his supporters,
telling them he was headed to the "Bastille," and that he was
a sacrificial offering by the KMT to "placate Chinese anger"
over the recent demonstrations against Chen Yunlin.
Thousands of police were deployed and a large number of
barricades set up to prevent violent incidents between
impassioned supporters and critics of the former president.
In the event, however, the numbers of supporters and
detractors turning out at the prosecutors' office and the
court were quite small.
DPP Reactions
--------------
5. (C) A number of DPP legislators accompanied Chen to the
prosecutors' office, court, and hospital, and this morning
the DPP caucus held a press conference. DPP legislators
argued that the government's pre-indictment arrest and
handcuffing of Chen was unwarranted, and was part of a
pattern of efforts by the KMT government to discredit and
humiliate the DPP. They noted a large number of similar
recent detentions of current and former DPP officials
(including two county magistrates and nine other persons
connected to Chen's case),pointing out that the prosecutors
have not taken such actions against KMT officials. The DPP
argues that prosecutors misuse such detentions to try to
pressure people into giving evidence against their will.
Some legislators predicted the arrest of Chen will further
polarize Taiwan's society. While criticizing the prosecutors
and the KMT government, DPP legislators were careful to
maintain their distance from Chen's legal problems, stressing
their hope that judicial proceedings would be fair and
impartial. This afternoon, DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen
issued a statement criticizing leaks by the prosecutors and
prejudicial statements by President Ma and Justice Minister
Wang that could turn the judiciary into a political tool.
The statement also called on DPP supporters to remain calm
and rational.
KMT Reactions
--------------
6. (C) Some of the more outspoken KMT legislators reacted
gleefully yesterday at news of Chen's arrest. Today,
reactions by KMT officials have been much more circumspect.
President Ma said the court's decision to detain Chen may
serve as a lesson and reminder for all and that people should
feel sad not happy. Ma also urged people to wait calmly for
the court to deliver its final verdict. Some KMT leaders
suggested that the Taiwan people should trust the judiciary
and give it room to handle the case impartially and
independently. Some KMT legislators expressed hope that
Chen's detention would not increase confrontation between KMT
and DPP supporters and that the DPP would not play up the
issue for political purposes.
Comment
--------------
7. (C) Over the past several months, many details of the
supposedly confidential investigations of Chen have been
leaked to the public through the pro-Blue media. As a
result, the detention of Chen does not come as a surprise and
Chen's claim that he is a political prisoner, not a corrupt
politician, will have limited resonance. However, coupled
with the numerous recent detentions of other current and past
DPP officials and the DPP's demonstrations against the visit
of the PRC's Chen Yunlin, Chen Shui-bian's arrest will fuel
the DPP sense that the judicial process is currently being
used by the KMT to intimidate the DPP. The new DPP
leadership finds itself in an awkward position, since many
privately concede that Chen may be guilty of some offenses,
but the overall case is also seen as aimed at discrediting
the party, forcing Tsai and other prominent DPP members to
TAIPEI 00001603 003 OF 003
openly criticize the proceedings.
SYOUNG