Public shocked at Ma´s being indicted

Source: Xinhuanet | 02-15-2007 09:22

Public shocked at Ma's being indicted[Ma Ying-jeou's resignation takes effect]

HONG KONG, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong and Taiwan's mainstream media on Wednesday agree that former chairman of Taiwan's main opposition Kuomingtang Ma Ying-jeou being indicted for embezzling special government funds will inevitably shock the island's political situation, saying that it's another show of "politics beyond judicature".

Taiwan's China Times said in its editorial that Ma's case is ofa high degree of politics from the very beginning because it broke out just after Chen Shui-bian's wife was indicted for allegedly embezzlement of 14.8 million new Taiwan dollars.

The editorial said if Ma's case set the standard for indicting for misuse of special government fund, more similar cases will follow because Ma has acted exactly the same as some 65,000 other government chiefs entitled to special expenses.

Taiwan's United Daily News said in its editorial that Chen was not affected by his wife's alleged embezzlement while Ma was indicted for his so-called misuse of special fund, which represents an unbalanced judicial effect. When the news came out, many people strongly believed that Ma was clean, showing a sharp difference between the recognition of the prosecutors and the public. Ma has been forced to hold the crucifix of "being killed by the system", the editorial said.

Hong Kong's Ming Po said Ma has been widely accepted as "Mr. Clean" of Taiwanese politics. Though he has fallen into the trap of system from the legal point, he is still innocent inside his heart at the moral level.

The article said after Ma was prosecuted for the alleged embezzlement last year, four important figures of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party were also prosecuted for the same crime, but Taiwan authority did not reveal the investigation results. The different attitudes have proved that Taiwan's judicature has fallen into the election tool.

Hong Kong's Oriental Daily said Ma's case is another show of " politics beyond judicature". Ma is well-known for being politically clean, the article said. He has donated 11.6 million new Taiwan dollars to charity during the investigation, showing a sharp contrast to Chen's attitude in his wife's case. Ma is the " scapegoat" under the current system and invisible rules. "The fairness of judicature has been damaged by politics," the article said.

Another Hong Kong's newspaper, Xin Po, said in its editorial the public opinion survey made after Ma's being indicted shows that over 90 percent of the public support Ma's decision to take part in the presidential election in 2008.

The editorial said when Chen's wife was indicted for embezzlement, she refused to appear at the court again and again for alleged reason of "being ill". Some other Democratic Progressive Party members related to the case also refused to attend the court for different reasons. Chen even requested a constitutional interpretation on the trial and filed an injunction petition asking the court to stop the trial. The editorial asked if the judicial institution could be toyed with by the rulers and could not implement its functions independently, how can it be trusted by the public?

Editor:Du Xiaodan