The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday said that it would stage a rally if any of the amendments to the Statute Governing the Reconstruction of Weathered Military Communities (國軍老舊眷村改建條例) proposed by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) were passed in the legislature.
During a meeting with several labor union representatives yesterday, DPP Secretary-General Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said the party would establish a public alliance to supervise the progress of the bills proposed by the KMT.
The party also urged its caucus to "prepare for war," by which he meant the DPP caucus would "do its best" to stop passage of the amendments.
One of the amendments proposed by KMT legislators Chu Fong-chi (朱鳳芝) and Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕), which had already passed its first reading, was not discussed in yesterday's legislative session.
The amendment would require the government to compensate veterans who accepted house renovation plans designated by the Ministry of Defense during 1988 and 1993, which totaled about NT$2.6 billion (US$79.4 million).
Another proposed amendment would require the government to pay the house renovation fees of about 430,000 veterans living outside military communities, which would cost another NT$1.3 trillion.
These, plus two other proposed amendments to the statute, would cost the government about NT$1.5 trillion.
The DPP accused the KMT of using the proposals to benefit a select group of people to enhance its chances in the legislative elections this year and presidential elections next year.
Lin said the NT$1.5 trillion could be put to better use to fund educational, scientific and cultural expenditure over five years or on other public welfare service.
"The proposed amendments involve resource distribution, and exclude workers and farmers [from the benefit]," he said.
Lai Wan-chih (賴萬枝), chairman of the National Union of Bank Employees, said he did not think it was right for the government to ignore the welfare of 8 million workers to help only 430,000 veterans.
"Those who continue to push for the proposals' passage will become `enemies of the state,'" he said.
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