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Lincoln residents await justice

Over 30 residents of Taipei's Lincoln Mansion protest outside of the Legislative Yuan yesterday, demanding the government purchase the mansion and help them rebuild their houses. The retaining wall of the mansion collapsed in 1997 during Typhoon Winnie, killing 28 residents. Many protesters carried dolls and wore face masks with the word 'ku', or hardship, written on it. PHOTO: CHEN CHENG-CHANG, TAIPEI TIMES

Marking the fourth anniversary of the Lincoln Mansion disaster yesterday, more than 30 residents protested outside of the Legislative Yuan and the Executive Yuan, urging the government assist their plight.

Protesters' representative Kao Shu Ling (高淑玲) suggested that the government purchase the buildings to create "slope disaster prevention and education area." That way subsidies could finally be given to residents and officials could use the area to educate individuals about the importance of protecting land against flooding, Kao said.

"I believe there are many shoddy buildings in the nation. We hope the government can use the Lincoln disaster as a lesson," Kao said.

The main reason why residents are unable to collect any compensation for their former residences is because the local and central governments have yet to agree which buildings in the complex "totally collapsed" and which were "half collapsed."

"We still cannot receive subsidies because of continuing inspection of the buildings, but we are still saddled with rents to pay, mortgages to service and legal expenses to cover," Kao said.

"Experts have already proven the Lincoln Mansion dangerous for residents. What is the definition of `half collapsed'? Could it be said that we can still live safely in `half collapsed' buildings? Also, the inspectors judged the buildings by conducting a visual inspection without equipment."

Four years ago, during Typhoon Winnie, the retaining wall of the Lincoln Mansion complex collapsed. Twenty-eight residents were killed when several buildings and over 300 units were destroyed in the disaster. Residents of other units subsequently moved out of the complex when serious construction faults were found in their buildings after the accident.

Although their homes were partly or completely destroyed, many residents continue to make monthly mortgage payments to this day.

Investigations into the Aug. 18, 1997 disaster have revealed that the mansion was built on a land slope susceptible to mudslides. In addition, in some areas, the developers built more buildings than the land could hold. In spite of an ill-conceived construction plan, the developer obtained government approval to go ahead with the project.

The identification implicated 13 Taipei County Government officials for forging documents and confirming building standards in the licensing process.

Shiao Wen-hsiung (蕭文雄), head of the Public Relations Unit at the Interior Ministry's Construction and Planning Administration, said the continuing deferral of inspection is due to the unwillingness of Hsichih's Township Administration Office to cooperate with officials from the Ministry of the Interior.

"Our administration has sent experts to help their inspection. However, they continue to put off the inspection," Shiao said. "Determining whether the buildings were half collapsed or fully collapsed is the responsibility of the township administration office."

In response to the residents' request that the government purchase the mansion, Shiao said the idea should be discussed by the mansion's special case unit.
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