Legislator calls for release of Nantou County relief funds

Legislator Hsu Tien-tsai (許添財) of the New Nation Alliance claimed yesterday that two-thirds of 921 earthquake relief funds, or NT$11 billion, have yet to be disbursed in disaster areas.

Hsu and Nantou County Commissioner Peng Pai-hsien (彭百顯) yesterday called a press conference, at which they invited the five presidential camps to endorse a reconstruction paper for disaster areas.

You Hsi-kun, deputy campaign manager for the DPP's presidential candidate Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), was the only one who participated in the meeting to endorse the paper. Chen Shei-saint (陳學聖), spokesman for KMT presidential candidate Lien Chan (連戰) was present, but did not take part, while the other three presidential camps failed to respond.

Hsu said private relief donations after the 921 earthquake total more than NT$10 billion and local governments have collected more than NT$7 billion.

He called on the organizations that collect donations for the quake to make public their accounts, especially concerning donations that were collected by local governments. He also asked Peng to select the best candidate, and not necessarily the DPP's candidate, to resolve the reconstruction problems for the county.