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Thursday, 31 March 2011
Watchdog probes disappearance of 40,000 files after Chen resigned
The office of Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou yesterday revealed that nearly 40,000 official documents, including more than 25,000 diplomatic secrets, went missing when Ma’s predecessor Chen Shui-bian stepped down in 2008.
Watchdog probes disappearance of 40,000 files after Chen resigned
Lawrence Chung in Taipei 31 March 2011
The office of Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou yesterday revealed that nearly 40,000 official documents, including more than 25,000 diplomatic secrets, went missing when Ma’s predecessor Chen Shui-bian stepped down in 2008.
The revelation alarmed Taiwanese lawmakers and the public because the missing files, especially the classified ones, could damage the island’s security and interests.
“We have already asked the Control Yuan [the government watchdog] to investigate the case, and will decide whether the case merits a criminal investigation once the Control Yuan completes its probe,” office spokesman Lo Chih-chiang said.
He said the Presidential Office spent two years checking if any official documents were missing after Chen stepped down in May 2008. “We launched the check because the former president was found to have taken away a large number of classified files when he resigned,” Lo said.
A total of 1,565 secret files, including top classified ones, were found in Chen’s office in September 2008 and in the cell where Chen was detained in September 2010 during two searches by investigators looking into corruption allegations. Some of the files were used by prosecutors as evidence that helped convict Chen of corruption. Lo said the Presidential Office had received 39,924 documents during Chen’s time as president between 2000 and 2008. Of those, 25,398 were listed as classified documents from the foreign ministry. A thorough check had shown that only 6.76 per cent of the documents had been properly filed, with the rest missing. Those missing included 10,958 unclassified documents and 25,335 secret files.
Lo said a furious Ma had asked the Control Yuan to investigate any dereliction of duty by senior officials who worked under Chen. Those targeted included Chen, former vice-president Annette Lu Hsiu-lien, and former presidential secretary-general Su Tseng-chang, who is contesting the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party’s nomination to run for president next year.
Chen’s former colleagues cried foul, saying the revelation was aimed at smearing the DPP at a sensitive time when the party is holding primaries for the presidential election next March and legislative polls at the end of this year. DPP’s spokesman Lin Chang-yu said the so-called missing documents were merely letters from the public, invitations and greeting cards that were not worth filing.
But lawmakers of the ruling Kuomintang called for tough action over the missing files.
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Watchdog probes disappearance of 40,000 files after Chen resigned
Lawrence Chung in Taipei
31 March 2011
The office of Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou yesterday revealed that nearly 40,000 official documents, including more than 25,000 diplomatic secrets, went missing when Ma’s predecessor Chen Shui-bian stepped down in 2008.
The revelation alarmed Taiwanese lawmakers and the public because the missing files, especially the classified ones, could damage the island’s security and interests.
“We have already asked the Control Yuan [the government watchdog] to investigate the case, and will decide whether the case merits a criminal investigation once the Control Yuan completes its probe,” office spokesman Lo Chih-chiang said.
He said the Presidential Office spent two years checking if any official documents were missing after Chen stepped down in May 2008. “We launched the check because the former president was found to have taken away a large number of classified files when he resigned,” Lo said.
A total of 1,565 secret files, including top classified ones, were found in Chen’s office in September 2008 and in the cell where Chen was detained in September 2010 during two searches by investigators looking into corruption allegations. Some of the files were used by prosecutors as evidence that helped convict Chen of corruption. Lo said the Presidential Office had received 39,924 documents during Chen’s time as president between 2000 and 2008. Of those, 25,398 were listed as classified documents from the foreign ministry. A thorough check had shown that only 6.76 per cent of the documents had been properly filed, with the rest missing. Those missing included 10,958 unclassified documents and 25,335 secret files.
Lo said a furious Ma had asked the Control Yuan to investigate any dereliction of duty by senior officials who worked under Chen. Those targeted included Chen, former vice-president Annette Lu Hsiu-lien, and former presidential secretary-general Su Tseng-chang, who is contesting the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party’s nomination to run for president next year.
Chen’s former colleagues cried foul, saying the revelation was aimed at smearing the DPP at a sensitive time when the party is holding primaries for the presidential election next March and legislative polls at the end of this year. DPP’s spokesman Lin Chang-yu said the so-called missing documents were merely letters from the public, invitations and greeting cards that were not worth filing.
But lawmakers of the ruling Kuomintang called for tough action over the missing files.
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