Print

Mail

wiki links

Lee blasts Ma for slow 921 work

"The Taipei City Government's lack of determined governing has resulted in the suffering of these former Tunghsing building residents, who still can't return to their home."

Lee Ying-yuan, DPP candidate for Taipei mayor

DPP mayoral candidate Lee Ying-yuan (李應元) yesterday blamed the slow reconstruction of the Tunghsing Building (東星大樓) on what he called Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou's (馬英九) indecisive governing.

The 12-story complex was the site of Taipei's greatest devastation during the 921 earthquake, which registered 7.3 on the Richter scale.

The building collapsed when the quake hit, killing 87 residents and injuring 105 others. More than 250 people were left homeless.

"The Taipei City Government's lack of determined governing has resulted in the suffering of these former Tunghsing building residents, who still can't return to their home," Lee said.

lack of progress

"It has been three years since the 921 earthquake. It's regrettable that no sign of progress has been seen in the rebuilding of Tunghsing," he said during his visit to the site yesterday, where surviving former Tunghsing residents held a memorial service for those who lost their lives there three years ago.

Lee compared the progress of Tunghsing's rebuilding to the reconstruction of the Lungke residential compound in Taipei County.

That building was also leveled in the quake and its rebuilding was recently finished, Lee said.

In contrast, the Taipei City Government on Friday issued a construction license that will allow the reconstruction of the Tunghsing Building to begin.

Lee said the fact that Tunghsing was so far behind was because of Ma's passive and indecisive governing.

Lee also took a swing at the city government's decision to appeal a Taipei District Court ruling that awarded approximately NT$480 million in compensation from the city to the building's former residents.

Lee said the city shouldn't be standing in opposition to those who lost their homes and loved ones.

But Tunghsing Building Residents Reconstruction Committee Secretary-General Liao Tsun-chu (廖春菊) said that the Lungke residential compound could not be fairly compared with the Tunghsing Building.

`complicated' matter

"The reconstruction of the Tung-hsing Building is far more complicated than that of the Lungke compound," she said.

Liao said that disagreements among Tunghsing residents and the fact that Tunghsing's original construction company no longer existed at the time of the earthquake had contributed to the delay.

Liao added that she hoped the building's reconstruction would not be politicized.
This story has been viewed 2310 times.