TSU issues ultimatum on KMT land assets

Taiwan Solitary Union (TSU) Legislator David Huang, standing left, yesterday lodges an accusation with Vice Minister of Justice Chu Nan, right, against the Chinese Nationalist Party's (KMT) inappropriately-obtained party assets. PHOTO: CHIEN JUNG-FONG, TAIPEI TMES

Taiwan Solitary Union (TSU) legislators issued an ultimatum yesterday to the government, claiming it will seek to cut the budgets of the ministries of finance and justice should the government fail to reclaim the country's assets "illegally seized" by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) during its years of rule.

The TSU's legislative caucus invited officials of both the ministries of finance and justice to report their handling of the KMT's alleged ill-gotten party assets at the caucus office at the Legislative Yuan.

Vice Minister of Finance Lee Ruey-tsang (李瑞倉) indicated that the KMT has used illegal means during its five decades in power to obtain around 144 hectares of real estate, worth about NT$21.9 billion (US$653.73 million) based on current market value.

So far, the KMT has returned 1.8 hectares, or more than NT$1.2 billion in market value, accounting for 1.7 percent of the total amount of what it should return.

Lee said that since the legislature has failed to pass a draft bill on statutes governing ill-gotten party assets, his ministry possesses no weapons to back its move to force the KMT to return their improperly obtained party assets.

The Land Act (土地法) protects the rights of the KMT, which has land in its name that "belongs to the country," he added.

A TSU caucus whip, Ho Min-hao (何敏豪), said that he believes there are plenty of existing laws for the government to take advantage of in handling the issue. However, the government has shown weakness on the issue since the KMT and its political ally, the People First Party (PFP), jointly control a slim majority in the Legislative Yuan.

"The government has been advocating reforms, and the party assets issue is the best start for it to push for reforms, " Ho said, urging the government to "do something" in demanding the KMT to return "ill-gotten" party assets as soon as possible.

Otherwise, the TSU will act to force the government to reassess the budgets of relevant authorities, he said.

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) officials yesterday also accused members of the KMT of acting like "bandits" and "rascals" for refusing to return the party's ill-gotten assets to the national coffer.

They said KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) was lying when he claimed that the sale of the land occupied by the KMT's Institute on Policy Research and Development -- the party's school for nurturing future leaders -- was completely lawful.

The DPP has said the KMT has no right to sell the land, because like many other properties now owned by the KMT, the piece of land is supposed to belong to the government.

Ma had said that if the DPP has any allegations regarding the KMT's handling of its party assets, they should "produce evidence," instead of "just shouting slogans."