Taiwan finance minister resigns over campaign headquarters break-in

TAIPEI, March 13 Kyodo

Taiwan's Finance Minister Ho Chih-chin tendered his resignation Thursday, citing at a press conference Wednesday's break-in at ruling Democratic Progressive Party presidential candidate Frank Hsieh's campaign headquarters in which the minister was present.

At least three main opposition Nationalist Party lawmakers stormed the Taipei headquarters Wednesday evening, sparking a riot that left a police car's windshield shattered amid clashes between police and protesters.

Claiming the First Commercial Bank, which owns the headquarters, had allowed the Hsieh camp to occupy the building rent-free, the lawmakers demanded the finance minister and a bank official accompany them there to investigate the allegations.

The lawmakers, however, failed to inform the DPP of their visit, entering the premises without permission with the finance minister in tow in a security breach that quickly spiraled out of control.

''The lawmakers insisted that I go with them (to the headquarters) to look into their claims,'' Ho told a press conference Thursday. ''I regret that the incident caused such a disturbance.''

Headquarters security personnel trapped the lawmakers and Ho in the building's elevator while alerting police. As police tried to escort the lawmakers from the area, however, DPP supporters rioted outside the headquarters, smashing a police car in which at least two of the lawmakers sat. No injuries were reported.

Ho resigned to take responsibility for the incident, saying Premier Chang Chun-hsiung had already approved his resignation. It was not immediately clear when Ho would step down.

KMT presidential nominee Ma Ying-jeou apologized for the incident, while DPP lawmakers slammed the KMT lawmakers involved in the incident for allegedly forcing Ho to accompany them during the break-in, local reports said. Alex Fai, one of the lawmakers involved, reportedly stepped down as KMT caucus whip to take responsibility.

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