Dealing with illegitimately obtained party assets is important for redressing past injustices and transitioning to a more democratic future, Premier Lin Chuan said today at the inauguration of the Executive Yuan's Ill-gotten Party Assets Settlement Committee.
The committee's objective is to uncover assets illegally or unfairly obtained by the Chinese Nationalist Party (Kuomintang) during its authoritarian rule and to make such assets available for public scrutiny. Private properties should be restored to their rightful owners while state-held assets should be returned to the national treasury and to all the people, Lin said.
The issue of ill-gotten assets surfaced well before Taiwan's first transfer of governing power in 2000. After years of effort, the country finally took its first step today to realizing the goals and ideals of justice, Lin said.
Earlier this year, Taiwan passed a law providing the legal foundation and principles for dealing with ill-gotten party assets and promoting transitional justice, Lin said. The Act Governing the Handling of Ill-gotten Properties by Political Parties and Their Affiliate Organizations was approved by the Legislative Yuan July 25 and promulgated by the president August 10.
Next year will mark the 30th anniversary of the end of martial law in Taiwan. With the country's democracy still growing, it is important to remove the barriers that hinder Taiwan from transitioning to a truly democratic society, the premier said.
Looking ahead, Lin hopes that all political parties will be given a level playing field. Every party should respect the democratic process and earn people's support through its ideals. This is the only path to deepening Taiwan's democracy, our most treasured asset, Lin said.