DPP lawmaker Yeh Yi-jin (
Yeh plans to campaign on the KMT-asset issue during the year-end elections.
Still, the DPP lawmaker says the move isn't intended to spoil the atmosphere of inter-party cooperation needed to make the Economic Development Advisory Conference successful, as the KMT has alleged.
PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING, TAIPEI TIMES
"This is a historical fact. We hope the KMT will face up to this historical liability bravely," Yeh said of the proposal to audit.
The KMT, by some accounts the wealthiest political party in the world, took over a large number of properties from the Japanese colonial government in 1945 that should have gone to the government.
In addition, the party during its 55 years in power allegedly dipped into the government coffers.
As evidence, Yeh yesterday pointed to documents that recorded property transactions between the government and the KMT in the 1950s.
The documents indicate that the KMT had appropriated 114 pieces of "special government-owned real estate" that had been handed over by the Japanese.
The ownership of 19 cinemas -- originally held by the Japanese -- was "submitted automatically" to the KMT, the documents are said to show.
Between 1958 and 1988, more than 100 pieces of government-owned land and buildings were given to the KMT free of charge based on "resolutions" passed by city and county councils.
"This procedure was unconstitutional. These were not private properties and could not be presented to others privately," Yeh said.
The documents also showed that the KMT obtained an NT$182 million non-interest loan from the central bank in 1965 to finance investment projects and election campaign activities.
The Ministry of Finance also gave the KMT money in 1976 to cover the losses of party-run businesses, the documents showed.
Yeh said the KMT should accept an investigation of its assets unless the party is able to prove the legitimacy of their origin.
To do so, an independent investigative committee should be set up. Any improperly gained assets would be returned to the government, Yeh said.
The issue surrounding the KMT's assets was a major theme put forth by the DPP during the 2000 presidential elections.
The DPP is now considering raising the issue again in the year-end legislative elections.
KMT Chairman Lien Chan (
Lawyer Chang Ching-yuan (
"The assets might have been improperly and unlawfully gained, but they are in the KMT's hands now.
"It's impossible for us to snatch them back by force," Chang said.
DPP lawmakers have proposed enacting a law which would allow the establishment of an investigative committee.
But no progress has been made since the bill was put forth two years ago -- mainly because of the KMT's opposition.
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