Flight to Taiwan remembered

Both current and former leaders of the central government gathered yesterday for a large "family reunion" celebration to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the KMT's presence on Taiwan -- an event which, as campaign season gets into full swing, was rich with pre-election rhetoric.

Three former premiers, including current presidential advisors Sun Yun-suan (孫運璿) and Lee Huan (李煥), Vice President Lien Chan (連戰) as well as current Premier Vincent Siew (蕭萬長) attended the event.

Two other former premiers, however did not however attend. Yu Kuo-hua (俞國華) was unable to attend because of illness.

Hao Pei-tsun (郝柏村), on the other hand, long seen as the spiritual leader of the "non-mainstream" anti-Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) faction of the KMT, found an excuse to stay away from the ceremony as did former Judicial Yuan president and party Vice Chairman Lin Yang-kang (林洋港) who, along with Hau, ran an independent presidential campaign against the KMT in 1996.

The divide between the mainstream and non-mainstream factions in the party can be traced back to 1990, when non-mainstream members, including Lee Huan, Hau Pei-tsun and Lin Yang-Kang attempted to overturn President Lee's party nomination that year.

Support for Lee and Lien, however, was the keynote of the occasion yesterday.

With the presidential election just three months away, one cabinet official, who refused to be named, said over the past decade the KMT has suffered severely from the internal friction between the two groups and that by hosting the 50th anniversary gathering, they "hoped that old rifts could be healed."

Sitting in a wheelchair -- the result of a stroke in 1984 -- Sun did not conceal his loyalties.

"I am willing to throw my support behind the Lien-Siew ticket. Whenever they need me, I will be glad to campaign for them," Sun said, giving them a thumbs-up.

Comparatively speaking, however, non-mainstream leaders such as Lee Huan were less clear on whether they would back the Lien-Siew ticket.

"So far, no candidate has asked me to campaign for him. As for which candidate would earn my endorsement, this depends on whether his campaign platform has anything in common with my personal beliefs," said Lee Huan, father of current New Party convener Lee Ching-hua (李慶華).

Hau Pei-tsun, speaking in a radio interview, was also reluctant to offer a straightforward answer.

"All I can say is I hope the DPP gets as few votes as possible," Hau said.