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Ma continues his ‘apology tour’

President Ma Ying-jeou, right, presents a plaque to the son of Miao Jung-tang, the deceased head of Cinggan Village in Yunlin County, yesterday. Miao fell into floodwaters when he was patrolling a floodgate at night during Typhoon Morakot. PHOTO: CNA

President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday continued his “apology tour” in areas devastated by Typhoon Morakot earlier this month amid calls from Control Yuan President Wang Chien-shien (王建煊) for Ma and Premier Liu Chao-shiuan (劉兆玄) to return to their posts and coordinate relief and reconstruction projects.

Presidential Office Spokesman Wang Yu-chi (王郁琦) said Ma would continue the inspection trips in disaster areas because it was necessary that he personally supervise resettlement and reconstruction projects.

“It is a way to show his care for the affected areas and the survivors,” the spokesman said. “However, the president will not leave affairs of state unattended.”

Ma yesterday attended a memorial service for a village warden who lost his life in the line of duty in Yunlin County.

Ma visited Kouhu Township’s (口湖) Cinggan Village (青蚶) and issued a certificate to the son of Miao Jung-tang (繆榮堂) to honor his heroic deed. Miao, 47, fell to his death on the night of Aug. 9 after braving the typhoon to close a water gate to prevent the river from flooding the village. Miao is survived by his wife, four children and an ailing father.

The Yunlin County Government issued a certificate commending Miao’s honorable conduct and renamed the gate after him. The county also promised to establish a special account to take care of his children’s education.

In Chiayi County, Ma led government officials in a deep bow before sitting down with local residents in Fanlu Township (番路), Alishan Township (阿里山) and Meishan Township (梅山) to listen to their grievances.

While four people from ­Meishan Township’s Taihe Village (太和) were still missing, there were no casualties in Alishan Township’s Lijia Village (里佳).

Ma requested that the main roads leading to Taihe Village and Lijia Village be repaired by Sept. 15. He also said regulations would be relaxed and applications simplified for typhoon victims seeking relief assistance.

Fanlu Township Warden Luo Yin-jhang (羅銀章) said Morakot had caused mudslides in his township’s four villages, adding that 33 families had their homes totally destroyed.

Morakot brought a record amount of rainfall, Ma said, with Chiayi County receiving the most — one year’s rain in three days — adding it was “unimaginable” and “impossible” that the high mountain of Alishan would have seen flooding.

Complimenting the township’s prevention efforts and evacuation program, Ma said he was glad villagers were evacuated in time, saving many lives.

As the typhoon season is not over, Ma asked that village wardens conduct drills and local governments establish and follow standard operation procedures for disaster prevention and evacuation.

In the meantime, Ma said, the government would find a safe location to build prefabricated housing before locating a suitable piece of land to construct permanent houses.

Ma said the central would negotiate with county governments to find flood and earthquake-free locations.

At a separate setting yesterday, Vice President Vincent Siew (蕭萬長) thanked the international community for their help in the wake of Morakot. While the natural disaster dealt a blow to the country, Siew said the international community showed compassion and that such generosity was commendable.

In related news, Kaohsiung Arena was chosen as the venue for a national mourning ceremony for typhoon victims, scheduled to be held on Sept. 7.

The site was selected because the southern part of the country was the most affected by the floods and landslides caused by the storm. Holding the ceremony there would facilitate the participation of the bereaved families, a Cabinet official said on condition of anonymity.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY CNA
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