Thesun 2008-12-31 Page13 Hasina Sweeps Through With Big Majority

theSun

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| WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 31 2008

news without borders Indicted Taiwan former president returns to jail TAIPEI: Former Taiwan president and anti-China firebrand Chen Shui-bian was sent back to jail yesterday because of the severity of the graft charges against him, a court spokesman said. Chen became the first former Taiwan president to be indicted after prosecutors charged him and more than 10 other family members and aides on Dec 12 with corruption, forgery and money laundering. Chen was arrested last month and was held in jail until his conditional release on Dec 13. The Taipei District Court ordered Chen back to jail after a long deliberation because of the gravity of his alleged crime and for fear he could alter evidence, court officials said. Chen, whose pursuit of independence for self-ruled Taiwan upset rival China and Taiwan’s main ally the United States during his presidency from 2000 to 2008, denies wrongdoing and has described the probe involving him as a political plot. “Chen Shui-bian thanks the outside world for his support,” his lawyer, Cheng Wen-lung, told

reporters. “He will continue to stick up for his good name.” Prosecutors said they would recommend the heaviest sentence possible for the charges. They accuse Chen and his wife together of embezzling T$104 million (RM10.8 million) from a special presidential fund when he was president from 20002008. They also accuse him of accepting bribes totalling around US$9 million (RM32.4 million) related to a land procurement deal and another US$2.73 million (RM9.7 million) in kickbacks to help a contractor win a tender for a construction project. Chen’s fate is likely to affect public opinion of Taiwan’s opposition Democratic Progressive Party, which backed him when he was in office and faces tough local elections next year. Chen left the party in August. China has claimed sovereignty over Taiwan since 1949. Beijing wants to bring Taiwan under its rule, by force if necessary. Chen’s trial is due to begin in March, local media said. – Reuters

Hasina sweeps through with big majority Year of political tsunami pg 16

DHAKA: An alliance under Bangladesh’s former prime minister Sheikh Hasina won a massive parliamentary majority in the country’s first polls in seven years, officials said yesterday, but a rival party complained of irregularities. Analysts said it was unclear if the losers would accept the results or take their supporters onto the streets to protest, despite comments from independent monitors as well as many voters that the election appeared largely fair and credible. Political confrontations, strikes and street violence have often hampered the effectiveness of Bangladeshi governments. “It’s critical that both sides accept the result ... If not, Bangladesh risks sliding back into the anarchy, violence and corruption that have characterised its past,” US-based Asian Society Fellow Sheridan Prasso said. Results from election centres around the country – not

technically considered official until a formal announcement from the Election Commission – showed the “Grand Alliance” led by Hasina’s Awami League had so far won 255 seats in the 300-seat parliament. With just 31 seats going so far to a party led by Begum Khaleda Zia, another former prime minister, it was the worst showing ever for her, and the best for Awami League since before independence from Pakistan in 1971. Hasina had been widely seen as having the election edge, but the size of her landslide surprised some analysts – and could actually prove a problem for her by raising expectations she should be able to deliver on all her election promises. “People might now think that with the biggest election success of the Awami League since 1970, Hasina will arrange for them everything she listed in the election manifesto – including cutting prices and improving the economy,” said professor Ataur Rahman,a political scientist. The Monday vote returned Bangladesh to

democracy after two years of emergency rule imposed by an army-backed government. Aside from economic problems, the winner will have to tackle the endemic corruption and chronic political and social unrest that prompted the military to intervene in January 2007, cancelling an election due that month. Hasina’s Awami League urged supporters to stay calm and not celebrate until final results are announced. – Reuters