KMT assets referendum to accompany January poll

Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian has announced another referendum for early next year in what analysts say is a strategy to help his ruling party win the island's crucial legislative election in January.

Speaking via a video conference with pro-independence activists yesterday in Osaka, Japan, Mr Chen said there would be another referendum, in addition to his push for a public vote on the island joining the United Nations under the name of 'Taiwan'.

'The review of the number of endorsements for holding the referendum on retrieving the ill-gotten assets [from the Kuomintang] has been completed, and the Central Election Commission will soon announce the holding of this vote alongside the legislative elections on January 12.'

He was referring to assets acquired either illegally or privately by the KMT when it ruled the island for five decades until it was defeated by his Democratic Progressive Party in the presidential election in 2000.

Mr Chen said the assets referendum would herald the vote on Taiwan's UN membership, which would be held alongside the presidential election on March 22.

His announcement was delivered to a cheering audience at the opening of the annual convention of the World Federation of Taiwan Associations in Osaka.

'People in Taiwan will be able to exercise their rights as a master of the great country' through the referendums, he said.