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Saturday, 12 September 2009
‘Verdict a warning to politicians to keep their hands out of the cookie jar’
The trial of former Taiwanese president Chen Shui-bian may have caused a rupture in the pro-independence “green camp”, but it heralds a new stage in the island’s democratic and judicial development, analysts say.
‘Verdict a warning to politicians to keep their hands out of the cookie jar’
Minnie Chan 12 September 2009
The trial of former Taiwanese president Chen Shui-bian may have caused a rupture in the pro-independence “green camp”, but it heralds a new stage in the island’s democratic and judicial development, analysts say.
One analyst said the verdict was a wake-up call to politicians and would lead to a better judicial system.
The opposition Democratic Progressive Party had split into several factions since Chen was detained in November, Taipei-based political commentator Paul Lin said.
“Chen had the magical power to win public approval from seniors in many of the green camp’s strongholds, while incumbent chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen’s base is among younger Taiwanese,” Lin said.
“Tsai has distanced herself from Chen since the start of the trial. Her decision was criticised by many Chen diehards in the green camp, which will not help the party’s development.”
Lin said the trial had had a devastating effect on the DPP’s reputation.
With local elections coming later this year, Professor Chang Ling-chen, a political analyst at National Taiwan University, said some aggressive DPP politicians had tried to score political points by organising protests against Chen’s sentence.
“Chen still has 5 to 10 per cent of the public’s approval in southern Taiwan, which is very important to grass-root politicians as it could be decisive,” she said. “But trying to use Chen’s influence would stir up more internal conflicts among the green diehards.”
Professor Timothy Wong Ka-ying, associate director of the Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, said the ruling would help Taiwan perfect its judicial system.
“I believe Chen’s verdict is a strong warning to Taiwan’s politicians, that their actions will be looked into some day,” he said.
Hong Kong-based political commentator Poon Siu-to agreed that the trial had set a good example for Taiwan’s political and judicial system.
“Taiwanese people and even President Ma Ying-jeou have always regretted the lack of justice and independence in their judicial system,” Poon said. “But Chen’s trial tells the people the island has made a great leap in judicial improvement.”
He said the former president’s dramatic fall was a warning to other politicians to keep their hands out of the cookie jar.
“Chen was a powerful leader who helped the DPP seize power from the KMT, but he has also helped destroy the DPP’s stature. I think Chen’s fate will remind other political parties to set up a check and balance system to watch their leaders.”
Chen is the first president in Taiwan’s history to be punished, but according to Chang he will not be the last unless politicians clean up their act.
“We know many of our senior officials were involved in corruption, but few of them were punished,” Chang said. “But Chen’s verdict tells us that Taiwan has finally separated its executive, legislative and judicial systems.”
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‘Verdict a warning to politicians to keep their hands out of the cookie jar’
Minnie Chan
12 September 2009
The trial of former Taiwanese president Chen Shui-bian may have caused a rupture in the pro-independence “green camp”, but it heralds a new stage in the island’s democratic and judicial development, analysts say.
One analyst said the verdict was a wake-up call to politicians and would lead to a better judicial system.
The opposition Democratic Progressive Party had split into several factions since Chen was detained in November, Taipei-based political commentator Paul Lin said.
“Chen had the magical power to win public approval from seniors in many of the green camp’s strongholds, while incumbent chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen’s base is among younger Taiwanese,” Lin said.
“Tsai has distanced herself from Chen since the start of the trial. Her decision was criticised by many Chen diehards in the green camp, which will not help the party’s development.”
Lin said the trial had had a devastating effect on the DPP’s reputation.
With local elections coming later this year, Professor Chang Ling-chen, a political analyst at National Taiwan University, said some aggressive DPP politicians had tried to score political points by organising protests against Chen’s sentence.
“Chen still has 5 to 10 per cent of the public’s approval in southern Taiwan, which is very important to grass-root politicians as it could be decisive,” she said. “But trying to use Chen’s influence would stir up more internal conflicts among the green diehards.”
Professor Timothy Wong Ka-ying, associate director of the Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, said the ruling would help Taiwan perfect its judicial system.
“I believe Chen’s verdict is a strong warning to Taiwan’s politicians, that their actions will be looked into some day,” he said.
Hong Kong-based political commentator Poon Siu-to agreed that the trial had set a good example for Taiwan’s political and judicial system.
“Taiwanese people and even President Ma Ying-jeou have always regretted the lack of justice and independence in their judicial system,” Poon said. “But Chen’s trial tells the people the island has made a great leap in judicial improvement.”
He said the former president’s dramatic fall was a warning to other politicians to keep their hands out of the cookie jar.
“Chen was a powerful leader who helped the DPP seize power from the KMT, but he has also helped destroy the DPP’s stature. I think Chen’s fate will remind other political parties to set up a check and balance system to watch their leaders.”
Chen is the first president in Taiwan’s history to be punished, but according to Chang he will not be the last unless politicians clean up their act.
“We know many of our senior officials were involved in corruption, but few of them were punished,” Chang said. “But Chen’s verdict tells us that Taiwan has finally separated its executive, legislative and judicial systems.”
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