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DPP caucus wants KMT chairman Wu to apologize

"They [the KMT] still have no regrets about what they have done [with their assets] and are still trying to mislead the public on the issue."

Wang Shu-hui, DPP legislative caucus deputy whip

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislative caucus yesterday demanded that Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung (吳伯雄) apologize for bringing a libel case against the DPP and publish an apology in major newspapers within three days.

The KMT filed a libel suit against the DPP a few days ago regarding the DPP's accusations that it was using profits from its stolen assets to fund campaign activities.

"They [the KMT] still have no regrets about what they have done [with their assets] and are still trying to mislead the public," said Wang Shu-hui (王淑慧), DPP legislative caucus deputy whip.

The KMT took over numerous assets from the Japanese colonial government and seized assets from private businesses and individuals when it took control of Taiwan at the end of World War II.

The government estimates the assets are worth approximately NT$45 billion [US$1.4 billion]. It argues that they belong to the nation and should be returned.

The DPP has initiated a referendum that aims to try and force the KMT to hand back the assets which will be held in tandem with the Jan. 12 legislative elections

Wang, accompanied by DPP presidential candidate Frank Hsieh's (謝長廷) spokesman Chao Tien-lin (趙天麟) and DPP Legislator Kao Chien-chih (高建智), made the remarks during a press conference at the DPP legislative caucus office yesterday morning.

Chao said that he possesses statistics from AC Nielsen showing that the KMT had spent approximately NT$160 million (US$5 million) on campaign advertisements between January and September. For last month alone, the KMT spent another NT$80 million on advertisements.

"I did not know that the KMT was that rich. If they are not, then where did the money for all these advertisements come from?" Chao asked.

Kao said that the DPP would also file a suit against the KMT if Wu did not publish an apology.
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