The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) yesterday brushed off accusations made by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) that it failed to separate the party and the government by inviting government officials to attend its meetings.
The KMT invited Minister of the Interior Jiang Yi-huah (江宜樺) on Wednesday to give a briefing on the ministry’s plan to improve police integrity and solve recent criminal cases during the party’s Central Standing Committee. National Police Agency Deputy Director-General Yi Yong-ren (伊永仁) also attended the meeting of the KMT’s highest decision-making body.
DPP spokesman Lin Yu-chang (林右昌) yesterday condemned the KMT for inviting officials from government bodies that handled national security matters, including the NPA, Ministry of National Defense and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to attend weekly meetings, saying it had overstepped its authority.
While the DPP also invited government heads to attend its Central Standing Committee in the past, no top civil servants were asked to attend the meetings.
KMT spokesman Su Jun-pin (蘇俊賓) yesterday rebutted the DPP’s accusations, and said Yi attended the meeting at Ministry of the Interior’s invitation.
“The DPP should have a better understanding of the situation before making accusations. The KMT did not overstep the government’s authority by inviting Jiang to give a briefing on current issues,” Su said.
The KMT holds its Central Standing Committee every Wednesday. President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), in his capacity as KMT chairman, presided over the meeting, with government officials from different ministries invited to report on current issues or major policies.
Accompanied by Yi, Jiang on Wednesday gave a briefing on the ministry’s efforts to solve criminal cases and improve police integrity as concern grows about ties between police and organized crime after the shooting of alleged gang leader Weng Chi-nan (翁奇楠).
Ma promised to separate the party and the government before taking over as party chairman last year.
Su said the government officials invited by the KMT were political appointees, and they had the authority to invite staff to accompany them to the meetings.
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