Chiang family to release dictator's early diaries

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) on Friday announced that the contents of dictator Chiang Kai-shek's (蔣介石) diaries will be released to the public this Friday.

"I think it is good as it allows people to know some inside stories behind the making of some historic decisions," said Ma, who was speaking at Stanford University's Hoover Institute following a ceremony in which historic KMT documents and files were made public.

Chiang Fang Chih-yi (蔣方智怡), the widow of late president Chiang Ching-kuo's (蔣經國) third son, Chiang Hsiao-yung (蔣孝勇), was also present when the announcement was made.

She said the family wished to release Chiang Kai-shek's diaries in a hope that later generations could come to understand his thinking and ideas.

"To disclose these authentic historical documents will allow different academics to study Chiang Kai-shek from all different per-spectives," she said.

Ma said that the first batch of diaries to be made public will cover the years 1917 to 1931.

Diaries of Chiang Ching-kuo will be released at a later date, Ma said.