Sung Chi-li Fraud Case Sparks Moves to Remove Criminal Element from Religion

Even as controversy over the mass commitment to monastic life by university students at the Chungtai temple in central Taiwan last month has continued to simmer, other religion-related scandals have occurred. The main one focuses on Sung Chi-li, a self-proclaimed mystic and miracle worker who called himself Yuzhou Guangmingti (lit: Cosmic Light Body) and Benzun (ben referring to Sung's status as the "original" source of his bodily transformations, and zun meaning "venerable"). Sung claimed to be able to emit light (a sign of holiness) and to fenshen (replicate himself or project his disembodied self) which would allow him to be in several places at once. Sung, to whom believers gave huge sums of money-and who was once in prison for check fraud-was revealed to have doctored photographs to "prove" his "miracles."

Hot on the heels of this came revelations one after another of other religious scams. In these, believers were bilked and bogus religious paraphernalia sold to the tune of hundreds of millions of NT dollars. Believers included people from all levels of society, including well-known politicians, entrepreneurs, intellectuals, and other influential figures. The media has referred to all this as another-perhaps "dark"-"Taiwan miracle." It was one of the most watched news items of October.

In early October, New Party Taipei City Councilor Chu Mei-feng, acting on accusations by Chen Chiang Li-hwa, a former high-ranking official in the Sung Chi-li Miracle Association, announced that the association was using religion as a front to bilk people of money. Within a few short days, Sung, who in the eyes of believers possesses unlimited powers, was arrested; he admitted that the whole arrangement was a scam. Related persons also detained included: Chang Nai-jen, former association director; current director Hung Ying-lin; Sung's driver Sun Kun-pei; accountant Yang Chen-chih; photographer Luo Cheng-hung, who doctored the pictures said to show Sung replicating himself and emitting light rays; and Cheng Chen-tong, who met Sung in prison and who, after they both got out, worked with Sung to stage "miracles."

Prosecutor Hsueh Wei-ping, in charge of the case, formally questioned Sung in court on October 13. Hsueh asked Sung to demonstrate his mystical powers, to which Sung replied (as he had to an earlier police questioning) that he possessed no supernatural abilities or magic. He stated that the entire affair was a deception concocted by himself, Chang, Cheng, and others. Sung's supposed abilities had been exploded. Yet, his success in duping people in Taiwan's highly- educated, largely middle-class society out of hundreds of millions of NT dollars has in its own right become a sort of "believe-it- or-not" story that leaves witnesses amazed.

Sung possessed props and so-called proof of his powers. In the Miracle Association Memorial Hall, which has been torn down, there were displays of photographs showing Sung in a state of fenshen, and also photos of small stones supposedly left behind from the bodies of believers in Sung who had been cremated after death (these stones indicate, in Chinese Buddhist tradition, a state of extreme holiness). Sung would also personally meet with followers.

The simplest way for people to gain the blessings of the cult was to join the association, pay a membership fee, and attend activities for self-cultivation like "the Zen state of calm." In addition, believers also often bought photographs or books from the association, hoping these "good deeds" would pay off in spiritual and practical rewards.

Sung's supposed ability to fenshen was really a camera trick using double exposure that Luo Cheng-hung carried out in his dark room. The photos seem to show Sung's "disembodied self" flying through the air. There are also photos allegedly showing light pouring out from between his eyebrows or surrounding him. These sold for NT$70,000 (over US$2500) each, with the price doubled if they were personally signed by Sung. For a direct meeting with the Benzun one had to have NT$10 million (almost US$400,000) ready. Other donations were even more astonishing; these included a villa and ten cars (with at least one Rolls Royce).

Sung and four people who assisted in the scheme were arrested on the 13th, and on the same day the memorial hall was torn down by the Taipei City government (for being an illegal structure). Despite all this, Sung was still Benzun to many of his followers. Some claimed they had personally seen Sung leave his body and fly through the air, asking rhetorically "how could the photos be fake?" As for Sung's admission of guilt, some followers interpreted this as an act of "great compassion." Media compared this phenomenon to the fable of "The Emperor's New Clothes." When illusion becomes intertwined with self-interest and inability to acknowledge misjudgment, truth becomes a secondary consideration: Many people need an "emperor," and worship the mystical powers of an emperor, thus unwittingly cooperating to build the myth.

It is worth taking warning from all this, for there are hundreds of "new" religions or "masters" like Sung Chi-li. While not all claim strange powers, more than a few directly or indirectly solicit money, or are deeply superstitious.

Since Sung's fall, a story has emerged about another "master," Miao Tien. There are problems surrounding investment in a structure (built illegally) which serves as a resting place for the ashes of the deceased, and over sale of high-priced religious paraphernalia. There has also been controversy at a self-cultivation center run by the nun Ching Hai in Miaoli County, and the actions of mediums and fortune tellers at local temples large and small have come under general scrutiny.

In term of government response, Minister of Justice Liao Cheng-hao has called for a massive clean-up of religious groups. Minister of the Interior Lin Feng-cheng instructed all subordinate units to investigate any groups claiming strange capabilities. The Executive Yuan plans to convene a national conference on religion next month and to pass a law governing religious groups. (It should be noted that many in the religious and academic communities hold out little hope for a new law. They say Taiwan already has a plethora of laws. What is needed instead is better enforcement and investigation, and education through the media and civic groups, using knowledge to prevent these kinds of "counter-rational" movements that may easily arise in a society undergoing rapid change.)

Besides the people who gave huge sums of money to Sung, probably the person who was hurt the most was Frank Hsieh, former Democratic Progressive Party candidate for vice-president, who was the group's legal advisor and who defended Sung's legitimacy on TV. It is also rumored that Hsieh received campaign donations from the group. This reveals the close ties between many political and religious groups, and also the decay of the political environment. Hsieh has long had a fine reputation in the public eye, and even those with different political views have generally respected him. Whether or not Hsieh will be able to clear his name through the legal process will be critical to safeguarding his reputation.

In fact, there have long been rumors that "behind every great politician there is a religious 'master.'" The Sung case revealed that early this year Yu Yu-tang, deputy director-general of the National Police Administration, quietly asked Sung to use his mystical powers to help President Lee Teng-hui's re-election. Everywhere are signs of religious influence in politics. Some politicians have sought the support of religious organizations, others have asked for supernatural assistance, and even greater numbers have consulted fortune-tellers.

To put all the blame on the one or two political figures whose identities became public in the Sung case would not be completely fair. The point is that society needs to keep a watchful eye on relations between politicians and religious activists. At the same time, the media should play its role as the "Fourth Estate," and courageously uncover activities that are illegal or pure superstitious nonsense. After all, what we in late 20th century Taiwan need is for our elected representatives to spend more time on real-world, not other-worldly, concerns.

In addition, rumors suggest that the Four Seas gang penetrated Sung's Miracle Association. Others say that Sung was just a money-making tool controlled by others behind the scenes. In any case, recent scandals have revealed that gangsters use many of the numerous "shrines" that pop up all over Taiwan for their own personal gain. Minister of Justice Liao, fully engaged in the campaign to crack down on illegal behavior in all areas of life, suggests that the Sung case shows the serious extent of the penetration of religious groups by criminal gangs; this has already become part of his professional territory. Taipei City Mayor Chen Shui-bian also announced a crackdown on criminally connected shrines to begin on October 15.

No matter how many fundamental social problems have been uncovered through the Sung scandal-problems that have existed for many years and which even government officials have hesitated to deal with-religion still, overall, has a positive impact on society. It is not necessary to make a judgment on what is true religion and what is just superstition. In fact, one should not judge the Sung incident entirely from the perspective of being a case of excessive religious zeal, or from a position of criticizing religion per se.

Many scholars have taken a sociological view. Michael Huang of the Institute of Social Sciences at the Academia Sinica points out that this is a case of fraud, not religion. National Chengchih University sociology professor Chen Hsiao-hung says that the case shows that, even as Taiwan's socio-economic level has risen, social values remain confused; people have no long-term hope and they lack a sense of security about the country's future. This is a symptom of a social problem. If we do not respond to this incident with profound reassessment and self-examination, these incidents will continue to occur in large numbers.

(Marlene Chen and Anna Wang/

tr. by Phil Newell)

Nuclear Plant Gets Go-Ahead Amid

Bloody Protests

After years of struggle between opposing camps over the need for nuclear power and a fourth nuclear power plant, the dust finally settled when the legis-lature--asked to "reconsider" by the cabinet-voted for the plant. Now approval only needs to be granted by the Examination Yuan for work to begin. While construction appears inevitable, much could change in the eight years before the plant is finished.

On October 18, the legislature held a secret ballot on the fourth nuclear plant, and 83 legislators-more than half-cast votes in favor. The result overturned a May 24 resolution halting construction of the plant and provides a proper legal basis for work to commence.

Though successful in their campaign to pass the plan, KMT legislators showed no joy in victory, and instead expressed hope that the overseeing executive agencies would carefully examine the strengths and weaknesses of policies regarding the plant, and sincerely confront the public's reservations. The Democratic Progressive Party, blamed by anti-nuclear forces for not doing all it could to block the plan, vowed that it would never rest a day in its fight against nuclear power. It noted that the political climate could change in the eight-year construction process and that it remained to be seen whether the plant would sail smoothly toward completion. For its part, the New Party refused to acknowledge the October 18 vote.

The KMT showed unprecedented success in mobilizing its forces this time. (Chao Yung-ching, who opposes the plant, was the only KMT legislator absent.) As a result, the Nationalists easily had the one-third of all legislators needed to pass the plan on reconsideration. Consequently, the "hawk" faction of the DPP overturned an interparty agreement signed by its "dove" faction and decided to take strident measures in attempting to block floor discussion and voting.

Over the entire process of review and reconsideration, opposing camps within the legislature adopted offensive and defensive tactics much like those used in American football. Meanwhile, demonstrators were vehemently expressing their disapproval outside the chamber, throwing rocks, firecrackers, flag poles and even petrol bombs. They succeeded in breaking down a side gate, but lines of police using fire hoses kept the demonstrators from the main gate. In the ten minutes it took the police to forcibly disperse the crowd, both sides suffered injuries, and a journalist was hurt by an angry protester. The scene brought to mind the passionate demonstrations staged by the opposition years ago.

But this time there were no real winners. Both the government and the anti-nuclear groups were deeply scarred. Over its long evolution the plan for the fourth nuclear power plant has become an emotional point of contention between the government and the opposition. The opposition has long righteously advocated following parliamentary procedures to the letter. But this time, to protest the plan and technically disrupt the legislative process, they blocked Premier Lien Chan from entering the main door of the legislature on October 16. This provided neither a de facto nor de jure solution, and just prompted the two sides to accuse the other of causing a "dark day for democracy."

The controversy over the plan for the fourth nuclear plant has been used by some legislators as a political show tool, enabling them to raise their name recognition by increasing their exposure in the media and thus score political points. Whether the plant should be built and how economic it will be, as well as related questions concerning waste disposal and safety measures, have been pushed aside with a lack of reasonable discussion.

Pro-nuclear and anti-nuclear groups have been butting heads over plans for the plant for many years now. There has been an endless stream of public hearings and marches small or large, declarations of support for one position or another, and debate. The government and the opposition have launched countless offensives and counter-offensives over the issue, and anti-nuclear citizens' groups have sponsored many of their own activities, such as protest marches and the non-binding public referendum that coincided with last year's presidential election. The cost to society of this controversy is incalculable.

Although the plan for the fourth nuclear power plant was passed, Premier Lien Chan-while stressing that the fourth plant is necessary for maintaining economic prosperity-has promised that there will be no fifth or sixth plant. Nevertheless, the opposition and anti-nuclear groups will continue protesting, and the citizens of Kungliao, where the plant is slated to be built, have shown a fight-to-the-grave resolve to resist. We are eagerly awaiting proposals from TaiPower, the Atomic Energy Commission and other agencies concerned about plant safety and waste disposal, as well as a complete evaluation and explanation of the plant's impact on the environment of Kungliao and the northeastern corner of Taiwan. The health of the economy may depend upon nuclear power, but it is a primary duty of any government to ensure the people's well-being and a future for their children and grandchildren.

Kinmen Blast Brings Grief to

Conscripts' Families

In mid-October an army truck loaded with munitions exploded on Kinmen. To date two soldiers have died, while another 10 are receiving treatment in the burns units at Tri Service General Hospital and Air Force Hospital 807. The four at Tri Service General are in stable condition, but the six at Hospital 807 are not yet out of danger.

On 11 October a munitions truck explosion on Kinmen left a heavy toll of death and injury. Of the 12 soldiers on the truck, two received almost 100% burns, and both died within two days of the accident. Two soldiers received relatively minor injuries, and are out of danger. The remaining eight all require skin graft surgery.

But the skin banks at ROC hospitals such as National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH), Tri Service General Hospital or Chang Gung Memorial Hospital were empty. Because of the urgency of the cases, Chang Gung immediately asked for help from the Euro Skin Bank. The condition of two servicemen deteriorated due to infection, but fortunately on 21 October they were able to first receive grafts of skin donated from two brain-dead patients at NTUH, while the remaining six were operated on as soon as skin arrived from Europe. Hopefully the condition of all the injured soldiers will stabilize, so that the tragedy is not further compounded.

On 15 October, after completing its initial investigation, the Kinmen Defense Command apologized publicly for the incident. In a press release, it stated the reasons for the fire and explosion: the platoon leader, an officer training recruit, had forgotten that there were some mortar charges in the truck which had not been unloaded; the acting squad leader had failed to check the vehicle for inflammable materials; and the soldiers on the truck were smoking, contrary to regulations. As a result a mortar charge ignited, leading to the tragedy. As well as deciding that a major demerit should be entered in the record of the Kinmen Defense Command logistics support commander Colonel Kung Tan-sheng, and that he should be transferred to another post, the Chief of the General Staff, General Lo Pen-li, also ordered that "responsibility for the incident is to be pursued up to the rank of general."

With reference to the accident, KMT legislator and KMT Department of Youth Affairs director Ting Shou-chung tabled an emergency interpellation against the Executive Yuan, demanding that the commanding officer of the Kinmen Defense Command be replaced-any lesser measure would not be enough to shake up military discipline. Ting also said that the Executive Yuan should immediately give special compensation to the dead and injured soldiers. However, the previous day another legislator, Wang Tien-ching, had stated that since the new military compensation system does not come into effect until 1 January 1997, under current regulations the maximum compensation available to the victims of this accident is around NT$2.7 million. Wang said that the members of the Legislative Yuan's defense committee would do their utmost to secure more favorable compensation terms for the dead and injured soldiers. However, the distraught mother of soldier Lin Chih-chuan, who had died on 13 October with 100% burns, said that no amount of compensation could bring back her beloved son. She hoped that instead the military would genuinely improve discipline and seriously address the many deficiencies in military management, to prevent similar tragedies happening to any other service people.

Mrs. Lin's words were still ringing in everyone's ears when on the afternoon of 15 October, a military truck overturned on Matsu Island, killing one soldier and slightly injuring two. Although a military spokesperson confirmed that the incident was purely a traffic accident, the news nonetheless caused deep dismay.

In his emergency interpellation on the munitions truck explosion, Ting Shou-chung stressed that following a previous tragedy in June on the Little Ryukyu Islands, when a truck transporting munitions overturned killing four and injuring 14, he had pointed out that the forces were failing to apply the priniciple of keeping personnel and ammunition separate, that the officer accompanying the vehicle had failed in his duty of supervision, and that the driver of the vehicle was not licensed to drive it. Now that the tragedy had been repeated only four months later, Ting questioned whether the Ministry of National Defense's safety regulations had in fact been passed down the ranks, and said that the public felt bewilderment and distress at the the repeated occurence of "accidents" of this kind on the outlying islands.

No matter how much the military apologizes or how much compensation it pays out, this cannot undo the tragedies which have already happened, nor can it take away the everlasting pain in the hearts of victims' families. After reflecting on the lessons of this bitter experience, we should seek urgently to mobilize the entire public to monitor the military in immediately improving the shortcomings in its management and training. Only a military discipline system with clear rewards and punishments can prevent further tragedies in the future. It is also to be hoped that all our citizens can develop a greater respect for life, to prevent accidents of this kind, caused by human error, from happening again.