Mr. TING'S LAST WORDS & AN INTERPRETED VERSION
This is an act of political persecution by the wilful twisting of judicial power; manipulators behind the scene are the brothers CHEN,Chao-Heng (陳朝亨) and CHEN, Ching-Chih (陳清治).Now they are denying what they have agreed verbally and in writing made in the past, but turn around to start litigation with fraudulent means. Prosecutor CHU, Ying-Xiang (朱應翔) knew well that we have promptly submitted the relevant documents the last time we were in court, but he still ordered a search of documents on the 23rd (the 3rd hearing is scheduled on the 24th) and had taken away the originals we need for the 24th as well as the originals relating to the litigation in the Cayman Islands. How can we continue with these litigations?
My departure is to prove our innocence, not for the dread of punishment. This is a soldier's way of upholding his honour. Please do not take this lightly. The infrastructure projects we have done and still continuing in Vietnam, the people's diplomacy we have achieved, are there for all to see. These accomplishments are due to the contribution of all my colleagues. Errors, if any, are my responsibility and mine alone. The government of Vietnam can investigate matters that I am accountable, my staffs are totally innocent.
My final gratitude to those who have helped and those I have loved deeply.
The Last Words of Lawrence S. Ting
23rd September 2004

　 An Interpreted Version of Mr. Ting's Last Words
Frustrated and angered by Prosecutor Chu's abuse of the judicial power to restrict Mr. Ting's right to travel abroad and also to have conducted illegal search on the Central Trading and Development Corporation (CT&D); Mr. Ting in the first paragraph of his Last Words expressed his loss of faith of Taiwan's legal process and stated strongly the Chen brothers' manipulation of the judicial process for selfish gains. He stated without reservation that “This is an act of political persecution by the wilful twisting of judicial power ------”. This evil act he, with a soldier's background, cannot swallow. By sacrificing his own life, he hoped to bring awareness to our society the need of judicial righteousness.
In the second paragraph Mr. Ting further expressed his thoughts: that from the founding of CT&D, CHEN, Ching-Chih (陳清治) and his wife LIN Ying-Hua (林瓔華) have taken turns as Board director and are fully aware of the business affairs of CT&D, and therefore very clear of the agreements-- written and otherwise between the shareholders; Now the Chen brothers aiming to grab control of the firm, not only completely denied past agreements, but even fabricated false accusations to blame Mr. Ting for nonexistent wrongdoings. That is why Mr. Ting emphasised “Now they are denying what they have agreed verbally and in writing in the past, but turn around to start litigation with fraudulent means.”
 Nevertheless, prosecutor Chu has chosen to side with the devil. At the 1st hearing on 20th August 2004 presided by prosecutor Chu, Mr. Ting arrived on time hoping to know why he was charged and the content of the alleged crime, so he could prepare the documents to respond to prosecutor Chu's inquiry. But on the 2nd hearing held on 17th September 2004, prosecutor Chu, not bothered with Mr. Ting's explanation, restricted Mr. Ting's right to travel abroad. This is a great insult to a man who has treasured his good reputation in his life! Not to mention the principal business of CT&D is the infrastructure development of Ho Chi Minh City; withholding his travelling right come close to forcing the termination of his beloved work of the last 15 years of his life. Prosecutor Chu's action is no difference from sentencing without due process of the Law. As a soldier, Mr. Ting could hardly take such an insult! But Mr. Ting accepted with grief this restriction of his right.
Prosecutor Chu set the next court hearing to be on 24th September 2004 and asked Mr. Ting to submit required documents. On the other hand, the Chen brothers also have filed charges against Mr. Ting at the Cayman Islands in June/July 2004 and the Cayman court also asked Mr. Ting to submit defence documents. Faced with demands from both sides, Mr. Ting asked colleagues at CT&D to prepare the needed defence papers. But on 23rd of September, just the day before the 3rd Taipei court hearing, prosecutor Chu ordered a search at CT&D and took away, despite protest by CT&D lawyer, all the original defence documents needed for the next day's court hearing as well as for the Cayman court. Therefore, Mr. Ting stated in the second paragraph of his Last Words “Prosecutor CHU, Ying-Xiang (朱應翔) knew well that we have promptly submitted the relevant documents the last time we were in court, but he still ordered a search of the documents on the 23rd (the 3rd hearing is scheduled on the 24th) and had taken away the originals we need for the 24th as well as the originals relating to the litigation in the Cayman Islands. How can we continue with these litigations?” Prosecutor Chu with the power of investigation has chosen to be in cohort with the Chen brothers to abuse the judicial power.
To Mr. Ting, a person ingrained with a soldier's traits, just cannot accept that the country he, while young, had vowed to defence with his own life, but now the same country's judicial authority can be so wantonly abused to harm its own people. He thought about Proving his character by death on one hand and to bring public awareness of the evil disease eroding the country's judicial process on the other hand. In the third paragraph of his Last Words, Mr. Ting stated his reason to end his own life as this is a soldier's concept regarding life that Person with honour can accept death but not insults. Mr. Ting knew well that prosecutor Chu and the Chen brothers will continue to defile his good character and spread the rumour that he ends his life due to guilt. So he emphasised “My departure is to prove our innocence, not for the dread of punishment. This is a soldier's way of upholding his honour. Please do not take this lightly.”
Mr. Ting proved his dedication to his country through his commitment to the soldier's motto:「Country, Duty, Honour」. The investment in Vietnam have established de facto diplomacy between Taiwan and Vietnam, and through the friendship with Vietnamese officials also elevated our country's international standing. Despite Taiwan's Nationalist Party had withdrawn its financial support at the early stage of CT&D; Mr. Ting vigorously maintained the commitments and promises made to the people of Vietnam, and succeeded the near impossible task of raising funds from private sectors, thus earned the hearts of the Vietnamese government and people thereby brought honour to the staffs of CT&D. But Mr. Ting realised the Chen brothers with the accomplice of prosecutor Chu would systematically continue the persecution through abuse of legal process to insult him and the staffs of CT&D; therefore Mr. Ting chose the route of self sacrifice to spare CT&D and colleagues from further persecution.
In the fourth paragraph of his Last Words, Mr. Ting having expressed his inner feeling on the events of 23rd September 2005 continued on with a short statement of the results brought by his 15 years of work together with the colleagues of CT&D. He pointed out through CT&D's infrastructure development projects in Vietnam, the goal of People's Diplomacy has been accomplished, and consequently the cultural and economical exchanges between Vietnam and our country have been enhanced. This deepens the meaning of his parting word “Please do not take this lightly.”
Having received the acknowledgement from both the government and populace of Vietnam, due to his 15 years of commitment and hard work, he credited this honour to the contribution of all the staff of CT&D. About one week prior to his death while watching the movie 「Ike's Countdown to D-day」 with his family, he was deeply touched by the words written by General Eisenhower on D-day (6th June 1944), to be released to the news media should the landing on Normandy failed, “Our landing on the French coast has failed to gain a satisfactory foothold and I have withdrawn the troops. My decision to attack at this time and place was based upon the best information available. If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt it is mine alone”. Viewing the persecution he and CT&D were suffering, Mr. Ting stated in his Last Words “Errors, if any, are my responsibility and mine alone”. He lived a life with clear conscience, not by chasing after fame and prestige, but by asking “Have I done my best?” He had no need to manipulate or to harm others.
The false accusation of the Chen brothers against Mr. Ting troubled the government of Vietnam. He remarked if the Vietnamese authority chooses to investigate him for the accusation made by the Chen brothers, the very first question should be why Mr. Ting has chosen Chen Ching-Chih (陳清治) as a partner? Because Chen's action has made it difficult for Mr. Ting to explain matters to the Vietnamese, he decided to take the groundless blame upon himself. To prove his innocence, he sacrificed his own life to protect the good name of CT&D and the contributions CT&D made to Vietnam; and also to put an end to the persecution.
At the end of his Last Words, he expressed his gratitude to those who had helped him in his lifetime and gave thanks to those who have shared love with him.

Brief Parting Words
Precise wording
Clear message
Without a choice
Forever grateful
In depth wishes