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Lien offers to act as KMT peacemaker

Chinese Nationalist Party supporters hold hand-written banners as they celebrate the founding of the ``Friends of Ma Ying-jeou'' in Taipei County's Jhonghe City yesterday to show their support for Ma's presidential bid following his announcement on Tuesday that he will run in the 2008 presidential election. PHOTO: CNA

Following the indictment of former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairman Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) and his declaration of intent to run for the presidency in 2008, former KMT chairman Lien Chan (連戰) yesterday offered to arrange negotiations between Ma and a possible rival for the party's nomination, Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平).

While extending his support to Ma, Lien said that Ma's declaration had "limited" the negotiating space between Ma and Wang, who has hinted at a presidential bid of his own, and could cause a pan-blue split if he insists on running as a KMT candidate.

"Although I used the word `limit,' it doesn't mean that it is impossible for Ma and Wang to hold negotiations ? Let us combine our efforts using wisdom and experience to push for party integration," Lien said in a statement after meeting with Acting KMT Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung (吳伯雄) and several party vice chairmen at his office.

Lien, who reportedly has a problematic relationship with Ma and favors a "Wang-Ma" presidential ticket, also warned that revoking the party's black-gold exclusion clause could generate a negative response.

In a meeting on Tuesday night after Ma's resignation, the KMT's Central Standing Committee -- its highest decision-making body -- repealed a "black gold" exclusion clause to prevent Ma from being disqualified from running as the party's presidential candidate.

The clause was formulated by the Central Standing Committee and revised under Ma's chairmanship to stipulate that any party member who is indicted should be suspended.

The clause seems to have been revoked specifically for Ma, although Wu denied the accusation.

In response to Wu's request that he serve as a mediator between Ma and Wang, Lien said he would try to arrange a meeting before he heads to Australia for the Lunar New Year holiday on Saturday.

"It seems that the KMT is enduring a serious crisis, but we can turn it into an opportunity for victory in future elections," Lien said.

Wu repeated Lien's message for party integration, and said the meeting would be held before the end of the month or early next month if it could not be arranged before Saturday.

Meanwhile, although the KMT decided not to accept Ma's resignation at a provisional meeting on Tuesday night, Ma reaffirmed his decision after speaking to Wu.

KMT Secretary-General Wu Den-yih (吳敦義) said Ma's resignation became effective yesterday, and his resignation letter would be sent to the Central Standing Committee on Feb. 28 for reference.

Wu Poh-hsiung would take over the chairmanship for the next three months until the party holds a new election for chairman, he said.

Ma made no public appearances yesterday.

The removal of the anti-graft clause drew the ire of several KMT lawmakers yesterday.

The pro-Wang lawmakers said the decision to repeal the clause would affect party unity.

"Revoking the clause in such a hurry without taking into account the feelings of Wang will damage coordination between [Ma and Wang]," KMT Legislator Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱) said.

Wang has not declared his candidacy, but has hinted at a presidential bid of his own.

KMT Legislator Huang Chao-shun (黃昭順) said that unexpected consequences might occur as the decision to repeal the law was made solely by members of Ma's camp.

Wang yesterday also voiced his opposition to Tuesday night's provisional Central Standing Committee meeting, but he didn't single anyone out for condemnation.

"Those who handle party affairs should do so in a respectable fashion. They should have considered all scenarios, and shown respect ? so that the party can win support from the public," Wang said, refusing to say whom he was referring to.

Wang said he had "no comment" when asked by reporters whether the removal of the clause was tailor-made to help Ma's chances of a presidential bid.

"We will launch a signature campaign calling for a Ma-Wang presidential ticket [today]," KMT Legislator Sun Ta-chien (孫大千) said, adding that the idea had been endorsed by Lien.

"When I met with Lien three weeks ago, he told me that he preferred Ma as the presidential candidate because his chances of winning the election were better, even though he had a strong friendship with Wang," Sun said, "Lien also said the same thing to Ma about 10 days ago."

Wang yesterday declined to comment on a presidential bid, saying that he was still "making an assessment."

An anonymous source from Wang's camp told the Taipei Times that Wang had set his mind on running for president, but Ma's announcement had put Wang in a difficult position.

"The report didn't come out without reason," he said, referring to a story published by the Chinese-language United Daily News last Saturday that said Wang had decided to compete in the party's primary and had started preparing for his campaign.

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