When it comes to the soured relationship between the KMT and its former chairman Lee Teng-hui (
The KMT's Evaluation and Discipline Committee recommended yesterday that the party send senior members to visit the former president to see whether he still had any feelings for the party.
There have been calls by some within the party that Lee's membership be revoked. Party members are feeling betrayed by Lee's philandering with a rival political group, the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU).
PHOTO: AFP
Lee himself is upset by the KMT's infidelity to pro-Taiwan and localization policies that he worked to implement during his 12 years in power.
Chen Kang-chin (陳庚金), director-general of the discipline committee, said that the group had agreed that the matter should be handled cautiously to show its respect for Lee.
"Though Lee is just an ordinary party member now, he has been ROC president, was KMT chairman for 12 years and has made a contribution to both the party and the nation," Chen said. "The committee will meet again to decide the method and timing of actions to deal with [Lee's discipline violations], after we are certain of Lee's predisposition," he said.
Lee's criticism of the KMT and his open support for the TSU at campaign rallies and workshops are seen as an open challenge to his party.
At yesterday's meeting, committee members agreed that Lee's recent speeches and conduct have caused substantive harm to the party and constituted the "necessary conditions" for punishment for violation of KMT rules, Chen said.
According to the committee, the violations committed by Lee include violating the party's doctrine, charter, policy platform or resolutions; blemishing the party's reputation; and making "vicious" attacks against the party that harmed the party's interests.
But when handling Lee's violations, the party needs to try and lessen the harm it might suffer and avoid methods that may exacerbate disturbances to the party, society and nation, Chen said.
Committee members agreed that the "Lee decision" must take place before the legislative elections, set for Dec. 1.
Some committee members suggested that the KMT not make any move until at least Oct. 7, when the nominees of each party have officially registered their candidacies.
Hung Hsiu-chu (
Hung suggested that if no one else volunteers for the task, Chen should lead committee members to visit Lee and urge him to voluntarily surrender his party membership.
"Only in this way could we make the Evaluation and Discipline Committee become a democratic mechanism, like an intra-party court," Hung said.
KMT Vice Chairman Wang Jin-pyng (
Wang said he doesn't carry "enough weight" to do the job, nor does his "rank" allow him to take up the mission.
Wu, meanwhile, said the party needs to evaluate the necessity of making the visit at all.
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