KMT tried to show truth behind 228 `ethnic conflict': Ma

Former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairman Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) defended the party's efforts to reveal the truth behind the 228 Incident yesterday, while promising to improve political democracy and cross-strait relations to prevent the recurrence of such a tragedy.

In an article entitled "Five promises" published in the Chinese-language United Daily News, Ma argued that the KMT had spared no effort to reveal the truth of the incident and to work toward reconciliation with the victims and their family members by making public apologies and honoring the victims.

"I've tried every possible way to heal the wounds of the 228 Incident, and I understand that historical tragedies are always twisted and difficult to heal," he wrote.

Ma vowed to make a greater effort to prevent such a tragedy from recuring, and he urged the public to "say no" to ethnic conflicts.

"Tragic ethnic conflicts such as the 228 Incident are likely to happen again if people allow politicians to continue dividing ethnic groups. We can't allow this to happen. What we want is a harmonious Taiwan," he wrote.

Ma also pledged to fight against corruption, for true democracy in politics and society and for peaceful and open cross-strait relations.

"Taiwan should seek to end the hostility in cross-strait relations and sign a peace agreement, so we can be free from the threat of war," he wrote.

In response to Premier Su Tseng-chang's (蘇貞昌) call for the KMT to make public all of its 228-related documents, Ma said the party had already made public the documents in its history center.

He also said the decision-maker during the incident was not the party's chairman.

"The KMT history center only stores a limited number of documents related to 228. More information should be found in the government [archives]. As the ruling party, the Democratic Progressive Party should find more documents there," Ma said while attending a 228 memorial event in Tainan.

However, he said the party was willing to support compensation for 228 victims and their families.

The KMT caucus blocked passage of a proposed amendment to the Statute for Handling of and Compensation for the 228 Incident (二二八事件處理及補償條例) in the legislature on Tuesday.

KMT spokesman Su Jun-ping (蘇俊賓) said yesterday the party supported replacing the world "compensation" with "indemnification" in the statute but would not accept the amendment if it was aimed at creating political struggles.

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Editorial: KMT contrition for 228 is nonsense