Members of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT)-People First Party (PFP) alliance had different opinions yesterday over whether or not the pan-blue camp should hold a large-scale demonstration on May 20, the day the presidential inauguration ceremony is slated to take place.
"It has been our plan all along to not be absent on the day of the presidential inauguration," KMT spokesman Justin Chou (周守訓) said.
"Various plans we are thinking of so far include holding a march in Taipei or staging demonstrations in designated areas," he said.
Chou stressed that the purpose of the alliance's plan to organize events to coincide with the presidential inauguration ceremony is "to highlight how the president [Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁)] is inaugurated under controversial circumstances." Members of the alliance have not yet reached agreement on a plan of action for the day.
"We will respond to public opinion and demand," said office director of the KMT's Cultural and Communications Affairs Department, Ho Hung-jung (
"Until the truth is known, we will definitely take action," he said.
Hung was referring to the "truth" demanded by KMT Chairman Lien Chan (
Chen defeated the joint ticket of Lien and Soong in the March 20 presidential election by less than 30,000 votes.
Lien refused to concede defeat and, claiming voting irregularities -- although he has not been able to produce proof -- has filed a lawsuit demanding a recount. Lien also raised questions about the election-eve assassination attempt on Chen and Lu, in which bullets grazed Chen's stomach and wounded Lu in the knee. Lien claimed the shooting was an attempt to win sympathy votes.
Some pan-blue members such as PFP Legislator Chiu Yi (
"We must come out [on May 20] to clearly voice our concerns and demands," Chiu said.
"We could just as well take action such as flying the flag at half-mast or [on the exterior of the KMT national headquarters] put up a giant poster with an image of two bullets to remind Chen Shui-bian that his presidential position was gained via a deceitful trick," he said.
The KMT national headquarters is situated directly across from the Presidential Office on Ketagalan Boulevard.
Under the shadow of the alliance-led April 10 demonstration, which turned into violent clashes between pan-blue protesters and riot police, resulting in 127 people being injured, KMT Legislator Hsu Chung-hsiung (徐中雄), and others, voiced their concern over the call for and the need to hold a street demonstration on May 20.
"It is not an event the KMT wants to hold, but one that the PFP wants to hold," Hsu said.
"To look at the matter from the KMT's point of view, it seems more like an event that would do harm to society without benefitting us," Hsu said.
He said that should the PFP insist on spearheading a protest on the day, it should take full responsibility for any problems or clashes resulting from the demonstration.
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