Newsmakers-2: Old soldier stands his ground

"Today, I still pride myself on convincing Chiang not to invoke violence or bloodshed in dealing with the protest movement," he said. "It took great courage to confront a leader who ran the country by iron rule."

In 1990, Liang hit the peak of his political career when Lee, who took power two years earlier, made him the head of the legislature. In return, Liang strived to make the KMT-controlled legislature faithfully toe the party line, to the disgust of the opposition.

"Power-hungry and bellicose, Liang was the least neutral speaker I've ever seen," said then DPP lawmaker Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), handing Liang a firm "zero" on his report card two years later.

Fellow lawmaker Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄), now the premier, once slapped Liang's face to express his discontent, while Frank Hsieh (謝長廷), the incumbent DPP chairman and Kaohsiung mayor, called Liang an "asshole" a total of 12 times during a question-and-answer session.

"That's the biggest insult I've ever had in all my life," Liang said. "Of the DPP, I hate Chen and Hsieh the most. They simply don't know how to show respect for people who have differing ideas."

While grateful for Lee's patronage, Liang opposed his Taiwanization policy. For that reason, the Collective Wisdom Club (集思會), a pro-Lee KMT faction, mounted a dismissal motion against Liang the first day he was sworn in as legislative speaker.

Eventually, his criticism of Lee cost him his post as a senior presidential advisor in 1996, and he has since worked as a self-appointed peacemaker across the Strait.

"Privately, I'm indebted to Lee, who had aides send me NT$300,000 when my wife was hospitalized years back and then sent another NT$300,000," Liang said.

"Still, I can't tolerate him advocating independence even if only indirectly."

Daunted by Lee's stance, the KMT has shunned confronting its former chairman head-on, although the patriarch has repeatedly faulted the party for discarding his "Taiwan first" course.

"Those calling for Lee's removal constitute only a small minority of the party's membership," KMT Secretary-general Lin Fong-cheng (林豐正) has said. "For a matter so sensitive, the party has to exercise extra caution."

Unconvinced, Liang and his allies plan to take their grievances to the party's congress at the end of this month.

As for the confederation proposed by incumbent KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰), Liang said he has yet to form an opinion and is willing to get a better understanding about it.

Asked if he would consider quitting the party that is in danger of splitting after the December election, he said, "No. I will die with the KMT. Those who dislike me may leave."