Guangfu reconstruction meeting marred by disorder, political spats

Taipei, Oct. 28 (CNA) A meeting to discuss the reconstruction of Hualien's flood-hit Guangfu Township Monday drew protests from local residents and devolved into chaos after it was interrupted by the speaker of the county council over his lack of an invitation.

The meeting at Guangfu's Dahua Activity Center was organized by Kuomintang (KMT) legislators Fu Kun-chi (傅崐萁) and Sra Kacaw (鄭天財), and included officials from Guangfu and the Hualien County government, as well as a number of county councilors.

It was intended to focus on a special act containing reconstruction funds that is currently making its way through the Legislature.

While some local residents were allowed into the hall, a large number gathered outside, complaining that they had not been notified, and demanded either to be let in or to hold the meeting outside.

As the event got underway, independent Hualien County Council Speaker Chang Chun (張峻) burst into the hall and kicked the table where Fu was sitting, demanding to know why he had not been invited.

"You think you can walk all over the residents of Guangfu?" Chang shouted several times.

Initially calm, Fu stood up and replied, "The Legislature is here. Who is bullying Guangfu residents? We are here having a meeting."

Fu then appeared to lose his temper, turning to the police providing security and shouting, "Mobster! Criminal in the act! Arrest him! Arrest him!" before threatening to sue Chang for his "violent behavior."

After the interruption, the crowd outside began knocking on the windows and chanting their demands for the officials to come out, saying, "We are disaster victims, we want to be heard!"

Later, Chang entered the hall a second time and sat down directly across from Fu. After gaining Fu's permission to speak, he said he had wanted to question why multiple county government officials were invited but not him -- a Guangfu native and "victim" of the disaster.

Before leaving, Chang told the crowd outside that he would demand that the county government add reconstruction funds to its annual budget before the county council reviews it.

Hualien County Magistrate Hsu Chen-wen (徐榛蔚) is also Fu's wife and a member of the KMT, while Chang leads a faction of independents who make up a plurality in the county council.

On Tuesday, Fu appeared at the Hualien County Prosecutors Office to file a criminal complaint against Chang for intimidation and causing bodily harm. Chang, meanwhile, told CNA he planned to sue Fu for defamation.

On Sept. 23, heavy rain from Typhoon Ragasa caused the Matai'an Creek barrier lake to overflow, unleashing torrents of water and mud through Guangfu. The flash flood killed 19 people and inundated homes and businesses with debris.