Organ Trafficking Controversy Once Again Embroils Ko|選前"器官移植"爭議被重提 柯辦:真金不怕火煉

At the same time, another storm is brewing, a political one, with regards to Taipei City mayor Ko wen-je's organ trade scandal. Writer Ethan Gutmann came to Taiwan to hold an international press conference for the Chinese version of his book "The slaughter", in which he interviewed Ko about the inside story of China's organ transplant. The content had been interpreted by some that Ko was "involved" in the buying and selling of organs. An accusation Ko denied four years ago but the controversy has been reignited now before the election.


Do I have the right to refuse to answer questions?

Taipei City Mayor Ko Wen-je remained silent as he entered his office on Oct. 2, in contrast to other occasions when he simply blurted out whatever was on his mind. Reporters wanted to get his opinion on the presence of writer Ethan Gutmann in Taipei for an international press conference. They could only get a quote out of Ko's campaign office spokesperson.

Of course true gold fears no fire. Mayor Ko Wen-je's integrity is beyond doubt. I think we already discussed this topic in 2014, and it may have been raised again today because of the election.

The office expressed its suspicions that the allegations of Ko being involved in an organ trafficking scandal may have reemerged due to the proximity of the upcoming election. In 2014, Ko was running for Taipei City mayor when Gutmann published "The Slaughter," a book about China's mass killings, organ harvesting and solution to its dissident problem. The book accused Ko of participating in organ trafficking. Now, the Chinese-language version is set to be released, causing this subject to once again emerge. Is there a connection?

You didn't say anything before or after, and you're only saying something now that there is an election going on. Is there a conspiracy behind this? We'll see.

I think there is only one truth. Everyone should value the works of investigative reporters. There is of course no connection to the election.

The opinion of one Democratic Progressive Party city councilor was that there is only one truth and there is no connection to the election. Less than two months before the election, Ko has once again found himself the middle of a controversy. He refused to deal with the media, and a Taipei City Government spokesperson hurried to explain that the mayor will not be making any public appearances over the next several days because he will be in meetings all day and therefore has no time to grant interviews.