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Editorial: KMT appears at odds with itself

Does the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) have a split personality?

After organizing events last month to commemorate the 228 Incident, a massacre for which dictator Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石) was responsible, and demonstrate the party's sensitivity and openness about its past, the KMT will hold a rally on Saturday in Taipei to honor Chiang's leadership.

The demonstration was proposed by KMT Legislator John Chiang (蔣孝嚴), one of the dictator's grandsons, in protest against the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration's recent campaign to remove statues of the dictator from public places and remove the word "China" from the names of state-owned corporations.

John Chiang branded the DPP's actions as "reckless" and said they had "stirred up ethnic conflict and deepened the division in the nation."

His proposal to organize a demonstration immediately won the support of the KMT.

Yet the KMT was reluctant to label the rally a pro-Chiang activity. While promoting Saturday's event, the party has titled the demonstration the "Love Taiwan, defend the Republic of China" rally. Suddenly the KMT appears to be more sheepish about glamorizing Chiang Kai-shek's place in history.

The KMT, however, is obviously overlooking one important element in its attempt to rekindle aging veterans' admiration for Chiang Kai-shek: his own dying wishes, in which he expressed his adamant desire that Taiwan "oppose Communists" and "recover the Great China."

Those wishes complement the "three noes" that his son, president Chiang Ching-kuo (蔣經國), also insisted on: no negotiating, no compromising and no contact with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

But in recent years, the public has witnessed John Chiang busily traveling back and forth across the Strait, eagerly shaking hands and rubbing elbows with CCP officials. KMT officials regard meeting Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) as a great honor and obsequiously vie for the opportunity.

Learning from history can help avoid a repeat of tragedies. Moreover, having the courage to realize, publicly admit and apologize for one's mistakes is absolutely necessary to earn the forgiveness of those who have suffered.

Apparently the KMT is too obtuse to realize the significance of history and admitting errors. Or maybe the party really is suffering a terrible case of split personality, vacillating on a daily basis between trumpeting pro-localization slogans at events aimed at demonstrating its sincerity and events that proudly promote its arrogant fantasies about history.

The KMT cannot win the support of the people by spending time polishing Chiang Kai-shek statues to cover up a dictatorial rule that ruthlessly ended the lives of thousands of Taiwanese in the 228 Incident and White Terror and consistently repressed both Taiwanese culture and language.

Maybe those who participate in Saturday's rally should consider bringing along banners to remind the KMT of the dying wishes of the dictator they are glorifying. Signs reading "Fight the Communists" and "Recover China" could help the KMT gain some insight into its contradictory behavior.
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