Complaining about a lack of government assistance, the controversial March 19 Shooting Truth Investigation Special Committee yesterday announced its intention to fine all uncooperative individuals and government agency heads.
At a press conference in Taipei yesterday, committee spokesperson Wang Ching-fong (王清峰) said that the committee has asked 23 government agencies and organizations to provide 52 relevant documents and to answer to 66 questions raised by the committee.
Of those 23, which include the Presidential Office, National Security Bureau, Executive Yuan, and Ministry of the Interior, only Chimei Hospital, National Taiwan University Hospital and the Taiwan Surgical Association have complied.
While it realizes that the fines will not be enforced by the government, the committee said, it will send out the fine notices next week in accordance with the penalty stipulations set out in March 19 Shooting Truth Investigation Special Committee Statute (三一九槍擊事件真相調查特別委員會條例).
According to the statute, the committee has the power to issue fines of NT$100,000 to NT$1 million to groups, organizations and individuals who do not answer a summons from the committee.
Emphasizing the committee's legality through its approval by the opposition-dominated legislature, committee spokesperson Wang Ching-fong (
According to the statute detailing the committee's functions, the committee is to complete its investigation and report its results within three months of its creation.
The committee was created Oct. 1.
Since its formation, the committee has been shunned by the government and the pan-green camp, which contests that the committee is unconstitutional.
Wang also announced yesterday that the committee would hold a press conference next Monday to release preliminary results based on the two months of research it has completed so far.
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