Former Taiwanese president Chen Shui-bian appears to be doing all he can to liven up his days in detention.
Chen, who has been held since late December for alleged corruption, has decided to launch an essay competition on his new book Cross of Taiwan, with the winner getting a chance to visit him at the Taipei Detention Centre.
The 247-page book, which details his rejection of the graft charges and his so-called lifelong campaign to defend Taiwan’s sovereignty against the mainland, was immediately a best-seller when it hit bookstores last month. It has been so popular that the Ketagalan Foundation, established by Chen, printed an additional 39,000 copies to meet demand.
“The ex-president has been pleased to learn of this and he has thought of holding an essay contest to increase interaction with his readers,” said Chiang Chih-ming, Chen’s chief secretary. Mr. Chiang said the winner would get a chance to visit Chen. Because the centre had a strict policy on visitors, only one person would get to see Chen.
Legislators from the ruling Kuomintang soon derided the contest.
“How on Earth can he be as shameless as this?” asked KMT legislator Chiu Yi. “He is being tried on charges of massive corruption, and after reading his book people will feel nothing but contempt for him.”
Another KMT legislator, Wu Ching-chih, questioned who would want to visit Chen in jail.
Even members of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party of which Chen was once chairman have given Chen’s idea short shrift. “The incentive is not attractive enough,” DPP legislator Chiu Yi-ying said. “If the top prize was to visit Chiling Ling [a well-known Taiwanese model] I guess more people would be willing to enter the contest.”
Asked if she had read the book, Ms. Chiu said: “I haven’t because I have many books to read.”
Former DPP spokesman Chen Fang-ming said Chen Shui-bian claimed he was the cross of Taiwan. “But from what I see, he has made all his friends bear the cross.”
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Chen launches essay competition
Lawrence Chung in Taipei
13 February 2009
Former Taiwanese president Chen Shui-bian appears to be doing all he can to liven up his days in detention.
Chen, who has been held since late December for alleged corruption, has decided to launch an essay competition on his new book Cross of Taiwan, with the winner getting a chance to visit him at the Taipei Detention Centre.
The 247-page book, which details his rejection of the graft charges and his so-called lifelong campaign to defend Taiwan’s sovereignty against the mainland, was immediately a best-seller when it hit bookstores last month. It has been so popular that the Ketagalan Foundation, established by Chen, printed an additional 39,000 copies to meet demand.
“The ex-president has been pleased to learn of this and he has thought of holding an essay contest to increase interaction with his readers,” said Chiang Chih-ming, Chen’s chief secretary. Mr. Chiang said the winner would get a chance to visit Chen. Because the centre had a strict policy on visitors, only one person would get to see Chen.
Legislators from the ruling Kuomintang soon derided the contest.
“How on Earth can he be as shameless as this?” asked KMT legislator Chiu Yi. “He is being tried on charges of massive corruption, and after reading his book people will feel nothing but contempt for him.”
Another KMT legislator, Wu Ching-chih, questioned who would want to visit Chen in jail.
Even members of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party of which Chen was once chairman have given Chen’s idea short shrift. “The incentive is not attractive enough,” DPP legislator Chiu Yi-ying said. “If the top prize was to visit Chiling Ling [a well-known Taiwanese model] I guess more people would be willing to enter the contest.”
Asked if she had read the book, Ms. Chiu said: “I haven’t because I have many books to read.”
Former DPP spokesman Chen Fang-ming said Chen Shui-bian claimed he was the cross of Taiwan. “But from what I see, he has made all his friends bear the cross.”
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