Presidential candidate Lien Chan's (
Amid the claims, however, President Lee Teng-hui (
In a seemingly synchronized attack, DPP presidential candidate Chen Shui-bian (
PHOTO: CHEN CHENG-CHANG, TAIPEI TIMES
First and foremost was a fear that China Development Industrial Bank Chairman Liu Tai-ying (劉泰英) was already selling off KMT assets to cover the party's tracks.
"We believe Liu Tai-ying has already transferred some NT$16 billion of stocks that are owned by the KMT," said DPP legislative caucus leader Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁).
"When we are finished [establishing laws], those assets the KMT plans to put into trust will all be gone."
DPP lawmaker Cho Jong-tai (
Cho's list included such big names as Hung Kuo Group (
The KMT and Liu Tai-ying are not sure whether they will be able to stay in power after the presidential election on March, "so they are selling off their assets as soon as possible at rock-bottom prices," Chen said.
The KMT did not respond to the accusation that shares were being dumped by close associates of the party, but did promise it would continue efforts to divest its financial vestiges and if fault were to be found legal action would be taken.
"If there is adequate evidence to prove the KMT obtained its assets by illegal measures, we will take the proper steps in conformity with the law," said Huang.
Huang also promised to meet requests that an independent task force be set up to look into the party's assets, saying an 11 member group would be established tomorrow, which will include representatives from the general public.
DPP presidential candidate Chen's campaign spokesman, Lee Yi-yang (
Lee said that after Taiwan was handed over to the KMT by the Japanese, the party sold land from the state to itself.
"Land for the Broadcasting Corporation of China (BBC,
The KMT currently owns 19 theatres, which it took during that period, Lee said.
DPP presidential candidate, Chen Shui-bian, said that if elected he would establish an independent committee to look into the KMT's assets, and return whatever money had been stolen from the KMT and put it into retirement funds and National Health Insurance and other social welfare funds.
President Lee Teng-hui, speaking at an Examination Yuan forum yesterday, denied accusations the party had stolen its assets from the government, but admitted that the problem should have been taken care of long ago.
As for how much of the KMT's assets were tied up in stocks, one of Lien Chan's spokesmen, Eric Chu (
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