How Many Green Camp’s Political Calculations Are Involved in One Organ-Harvesting Case?

 How Many Green Camp’s Political Calculations Are Involved in One Organ-Harvesting Case?

United Daily News Editorial (Taipei, Taiwan)

October 5, 2018

 Translation of an Excerpt

Taipei City Mayor Ko Wen-je was accused by Ethan Gutmann, author of The Slaughter, of being a “liar”; yesterday Ko filed charges for defamation against Gutmann. Four years ago, Gutmann lauded Ko Wen-je for "singular courage"; four years on, he abruptly changed his attitude, accusing him of being an accomplice in a criminal offense. What is even more intriguing is that in the election four years ago, those who criticized Ko Wen-je for being involved in organ transplant deals were from the Blue camp; at that time, the Green camp even forcefully defended Ko.

Gutmann is not a little-known figure; he is a noted investigative reporter and civil rightist, mainly targeting Mainland China. For this reason, it would be dogmatic to say that he came to Taiwan this time for the exclusive purpose of hitting Ko Wen-je. What is noteworthy is that at the site of the press conference, the one who enticed Gutmann to use the word "liar," in fact, was not a media reporter, but Hsu Lung-chun, a pro-Taiwan independence physician, while his wife was a "Ko-Green element," who later, on the excuse of her “embarrassed position,” left the venue and went to meet with Lee Wen-ying, deputy secretary-general of Taipei City Hall. Viewed from media coverage and related itinerary, the organizing party that prompted him to come to Taiwan belongs to the deep Green, pro-Taiwan independence faction; for this reason, the Q&A on “liar” in the press conference was arranged.

As Gutmann's attitude has abruptly changed, Ko Wen-je faces new moral questioning in this organ case. Since Ko and the Green camp have parted ways, many Green or pro-Green figures who used to defend him have greatly changed their attitudes; some even joined the ranks for his hunt, and even questioned the role he played and his ethics when chairing the foreign organ donation project at National Taiwan University Hospital. Even if Ko Wen-je was not entirely blameless, wasn’t it not despicable and saddening for the Green camp to have swinging values and for choices of right and wrong based on their own needs?

Speaking frankly, the real focus for the Green camp to launch this moral crusade against Ko Wen-je is not about the ethics of organ donations, the true question is Ko’s attitude towards Mainland China. Ko Wen-je's "the two sides of the Strait are like one family," although considered by the general public to be a more pragmatic advocacy, has not, however, been tolerated by the Green camp. As Ko Wen-je's reputation is very stable, while Pasuya Yao is trailing far behind, the Green camp must heavily mobilize to attack Ko Wen-je's Achilles’ heel; for this reason, we witness the appearance of Gutmann.

This time, picking up an old case, the Green camp is seeking to smear Ko, while glossing over the true picture; those who launched the crusade fundamentally do not care about their own convictions or the public’s welfare, only wholehearted thinking of mobilizing hatred. The deep Green used to cuddle and protect Ko Wen-je, but now, however, they want to leave him in a valley of death; then, Ko Wen-je, who still declares himself as "deep Green," has he really understood himself?

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