Shihlin’s Wang family raises US$578,987 – urban renewal law changes require scrutiny

The Wang (王) family from Taipei's Shihlin District (士林) has turned to the public and raised a counter guarantee deposit of US$578,987, which will temporary stop Le Young Construction Co. (樂揚建設) proceeding with the forced demolition of the Wang’s temporary residence. At the anti-nuclear protests on February 21st, Wang Guang-shu (王廣樹), owner of the Wang family house, announced news of the family’s successful fund raising initiative. On February 23rd, in the central hall at Taipei Main Station, a press conference was held to announce the launching of ‘Defend Right’s of Residence Marathon,’ which hopes to build links with organizations related with right’s of residence throughout Taiwan; a right’s-of-residence exhibition was also put on for the audience.

Homeowner Wang Guang-shu said that he was demoralized after receiving a double blow on January 29, just before Chinese New Near, losing the court case at Shilin District Court and being informed of the high guarantee deposit. Following discussions, Wang family members of Taiwan Alliance for the Victims of Urban Renewal (TAVUR) and lawyers decided to turn towards the public in a bid to borrow the money.

On March 28th 2012, Taipei City Government forcibly demolished the Wang family residence in Shihlin. Following the demolition, the Wang family and supporters returned to the urban renewal site and constructed a temporary residence. Le Young Construction Co. responded to this by issuing a notice of “unauthorized possession” and filed a lawsuit.

On January 29th of this year (2014), Shilin District Court ruled against the Wang family. Le Young Construction Co. provided a guarantee deposit of US$578,987, and the court agreed it would temporarily remove the building. In order to resist this second demolition, the Wang family was forced to raise the same sum of money as a counter guarantee deposit.

The Wang family completely refused to give up hope and abandon the land, and on February 9th an appeal was launched to raise money from the public; by February 21, the target amount of US$578,987 had been achieved. The money lent by those individuals and organizations symbolized the power of support for the Wang family. All the money borrowed will be returned immediately after the counter guarantee deposit is returned following the third court hearing.

Shihlin’s Wang family raises US$578,987 – urban renewal law changes require scrutiny
URL:https://www.peopo.org/news/233429

(以下是中文對照)

士林王家都更案 達成社會借款1756萬 四月都更法修法需關注

台北市士林王家(文林苑)都更案為抵擋二度強拆組合屋，向社會借款反擔保金1756萬，以暫時抵擋樂揚建設可能進行強制拆屋的動作，王家屋主王廣樹已經在2月21日反核四五六活動向大眾宣布借款達成，2月23日在台北車站大廳舉行記者會，並串聯全台各地居住權相關議題團體進行「捍衛居住權馬拉松」行動，並在大廳中舉辦居住權相關展覽。王家屋主王廣樹說，在農曆年前1月29日接到士林地院判敗訴，以及可能被建商拆除的高額擔保金，他感到完全崩潰。王家成員在都市更新受害者聯盟及律師共同商討下，決定向社會借款。

兩年前(2012)3月28日，台北市政府強拆士林王家。強拆後王家及聲援者返回都更基地，並搭蓋組合屋，遭樂揚建設以「無權占有」為由提告。今年(2014)1月29日，士林地院判王家敗訴。樂揚建設可提存1756萬擔保金，法院就可暫時同意拆除王家組合屋。王家為抵擋二度強拆，必須得向法院提存相同金額「反擔保金」。此指標性個案不願放棄原地重建希望，因此在2月9日發起社會借款。在兩週後2月21日達成募集1756萬金額。這些費用象徵借款者及團體支撐王家的力量。等本案訴訟三審定讞後，被告(王家)領回「免為假執行擔保金」，便立即進行還款作業。