Editorial: A tawdry settling of accounts

General Douglas McArthur once said "old soldiers never die, they just fade away." In Taiwan, however, an old soldier who refuses to fade away -- even if it is because his country needs him -- faces humiliation, injustice and betrayal. This has been proven by a series of appalling insults against former president and KMT chairman Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) that culminated by the KMT deciding to oust Lee yesterday.

The campaign of attrition and humiliation against Lee started the day the KMT lost the 2000 presidential election. Many of those who enjoyed a privileged life as cronies of the Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石) regime blamed Lee and couldn't wait to retaliate to avenge their loss of power. It began with the siege of the Presidential Office and the KMT's headquarters by angry mobs after the election results were announced. Lee was compelled to step down early from the post of KMT chairman under pressure from the very man he had picked as his successor. Then there were vicious allegations by New Party lawmakers that Lee and his wife had left the country with suitcases stuffed with cash. The benefits Lee enjoys as a former head of state have been whittled down at the behest of a KMT-dominated Legislative Yuan.

How sad to see the way Lee is thanked for leading this country and his party through countless political battles and victories -- battles that helped Taiwan achieve its miraculous democratic reforms.

The KMT has said that Lee's party membership was suspended because of his criticisms of the party and his endorsement of the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU). The problem is the KMT deserves all of Lee's criticisms and then some.

After the hard work Lee put in to give the party a "Taiwanese" identity and soul, the KMT has now reverted back into the "Chinese KMT." Party members and officials have been stampeding across the Taiwan Strait to pay homage to China's leadership. According to a report issued by the US think-tank Center for Strategic and International Studies, KMT members have been busy persuading Beijing's government to shut the door on dialogue with the Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) administration.

How ironic that the KMT now willingly kisses the feet of its old archenemy. But the irony does not end there, as the party has also rediscovered a brotherhood with James Soong (宋楚瑜) and his People First Party, as well as the New Party.

The tolerance and generosity of the KMT and its chairman Lien Chan (連戰) toward these new friends are frightening. Lien turns a blind eye to all of Soong's backstabbing, including a secret meeting with Chen. Why couldn't Lien have been this loving toward little brother Soong before? Had Lien been willing to step aside and let Soong stand for the KMT in the 2000 presidential election, the KMT would still be the ruling party.

The KMT has reversed its position so many times since Lien became chairman that it is impossible to keep count. How can Lee not get upset seeing the destruction of his life's work? Why wouldn't he have endorsed the TSU, a party that promises to uphold a "Taiwan first" ideology?

Lee represents many things in which this country takes pride -- democracy and the "Taiwan first" ideology top that long list. By severing its ties with Lee, the KMT has turned its back on everything Lee stands for -- and so many people in Taiwan have fought and died for.