KMT Chairman Wu’s Statement at a Press Conference Following Ma’s Acquittal

KMT Chairman Wu’s Statement at a Press Conference Following Ma’s Acquittal

August 14, 2007

We are very much pleased at the news that this morning Mr. Ma Ying-jeou was acquitted of charges related to his discretionary fund case by the court of first instance.

Our elation is not only that justice prevails for Mr. Ma personally but that justice prevailed for all the people. The most important significance of this ruling is that it has given recognition to a person of cleanness, integrity, and honesty who although was wronged for some time would eventually see that justice prevails. To let people of honesty and integrity have trust is very important. Because this is a core value, an article of faith upon which our society relies. People cannot live without hope; justice cannot exist without perseverance. The rule of law must be safeguarded by justice of the judiciary.

Looking back at the entire course of events, my heart really ached because of the following: First, the injustice suffered by Mr. Ma Ying-jeou. Ma Ying-jeou is best known as a man of utmost honesty and integrity, and he has never wavered. Nevertheless, he was indicted on corruption charges. Let’s stop and think. When a man of persistent integrity and honesty who has always demanded high ethical standards for himself was surprisingly indicted on corruption charges, one can of course understand his inner feelings. However, Ma Ying-jeou never had a vicious word, with malice toward none. He faced squarely, and fully cooperated with, the judiciary. No matter how many wrongs he felt in his heart, he insisted on respect for the judiciary. This has won my sincere admiration, and from Ma’s personality traits of perseverance and fortitude, I have seen character of national leadership.

Second, my heart ached for all the people. Please ponder: how many lawyers were mobilized in order to render justice to Ma, even with his special position?
Then how many ordinary citizens are so helpless and need assistance. It is only a symbol that today justice has prevailed for Mr. Ma Ying-jeou. What is more important is to allow the people to reconstruct faith in the judiciary.

From the very beginning, we, like all fellow citizens, fully believed that Mr. Ma Ying-jeou was innocent. And the fact that Tainan Prosecutors Office decided not to indict Tainan Mayor Hsu Tain-tsair has also proved that prosecutors did not have a uniform opinion on discretionary funds; therefore, Mr. Ma should not have been indicted in the first place. For this reason, we would like to make a special appeal, here and now, that prosecutors adopt a uniform opinion on cases related to discretionary funds, and then decide whether or not to appeal the case to a higher court. Otherwise, there will only be more controversies, and more and more top executives will be brought into prosecution over their discretionary funds. This is absolutely unnecessary considering the waste of prosecutorial and judicial resources and considering the possible ensuing unrest society would face.

At around 10:00 am today, when Mr. Ma ying-jeou was acquitted of charges related to his discretionary fund, the Taiwan stock market index, which best represents the sentiments of the people, zoomed up, breaking the barrier of 9,000 points. Doesn’t this show the mainstream public opinion well enough?

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