Wed, Jun 14, 2006 page3

• Pan-greens plan `revenge' referendum on KMT assets

  TIT FOR TAT DPP and TSU legislators are pushing for a poll on a proposal to return assets stolen by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) to the public

  • CNA
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  A group of legislators from the pan-green camp yesterday unveiled their plan to initiate a referendum on the reclamation of "ill-gotten" assets owned by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT).

  The legislators went to the Central Election Commission to pick up a form for a public signature drive for the referendum, saying that they hope to collect at least 1 million signatures, although only 80,000 are required.

  retaliation

  

  A group of pan-green legislators yesterday raise three fingers and hold up a banner at the Central Election Commission. The text of the banner says "Referendum to reclaim [the Chinese Nationalist Party's (KMT)] stolen assets.

  PHOTO: CNA

  The move, jointly promoted by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU), is in retaliation against the KMT-led pan-blue alliance's campaign to recall President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁).

  Citing a media report estimating the value of the KMT's assets at NT$600 billion (US$18.4 billion), the legislators argued that the assets should be returned to the nation and distributed among the public, with each person expected to get a share worth about NT$30,000.

  According to DPP Legislator Lin Chung-mo (林重謨), the pan-green camp decided to resort to a referendum because the "pan-blue alliance" has taken advantage of its majority in the Legislative Yuan to block a law on the handling of the KMT assets.

  DPP Legislator Chai Trong-rong (蔡同榮) urged KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) to release a written statement to explain how his party is going to deal with its assets, just like Chen has been required to present a written statement to the legislature to defend himself.

  fair is fair

  TSU Legislator Liao Pen-yen (廖本煙) said while his party believes that authorities should get to the bottom of the insider trading allegations surrounding the president's son-in-law, it was only fair that an exhaustive investigation is launched into the KMT assets.

  Ho Min-hao (何敏豪), head of the TSU's policy committee, claimed that using "people power" to resolve the issue of the KMT's ill-gotten assets was the most suitable method.

  priorities

  Ho accused the KMT and PFP of focusing only on political struggle and ignoring the people's welfare in promoting a motion to recall the president during an upcoming extraordinary legislative session.

  TSU Secretary-General Lo Chih-ming (羅志明) said the public would be able to sign their names in support of the referendum on the KMT assets during an anti-recall event set for Saturday.

  The TSU's candidates for the year-end elections for Taipei and Kaohsiung city councilors will also help collect signatures from the public, Lo said.
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