KMT to remember late president

The KMT will launch a series of events next weekend in memory of late president Chiang Ching-kuo (蔣經國), KMT spokesman Justine Chou (周守訓) said yesterday.

Jan. 13 will mark the 15th anniversary of Chiang's death.

The occasion is seen as an opportunity to showcase pan-blue unity in the run-up to the 2004 presidential election. Both PFP Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) and New Party Chairman Yok Mu-ming (郁慕明) are on the KMT's invitation list for concerts to be held in memory of Chiang.

"It is good thing," said KMT Legislator Apollo Chen (陳學聖), commenting on the KMT's initiative to sponsor the memorial events and invite leaders from the PFP and the New Party.

In 1993, opponents of then KMT chairman Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) broke away from the party to form the New Party. Soong severed ties with the KMT in 2000 to run in the presidential election as an independent and later formed the PFP.

"If we can credit Lee Teng-hui for breaking the KMT apart, then I personally think that Chiang Ching-kuo -- who is greatly respected even by Lee -- is the one to help recall the hearts of those who broke away," Chen told the Taipei Times.

If the blue camp can't even unite in the name of remembering Chiang, "then I don't know what could unite the pan-blue camp," Chen said.

According to Chou, the series of memorial events will be entitled "CCK, Taiwan misses you." CCK are the initials for Chiang Ching-kuo.

"The reason behind these events is to rouse the public's memory of Chiang Ching-kuo,'" Chou said.

Chou said that the events will include two concerts, which will be held at Taipei City Hall and the square in front of the Warner Village next Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

"The concerts will be carried out in a relaxed atmosphere and will be open to public free of charge," Chou said.

Aside from inviting Soong and Yok, Chou added that the KMT will also invite all newly elected Taipei City councilors and borough wardens.

Leaders from the DPP and the TSU, however, are not on the KMT's invitation list, "because both the DPP and TSU do not share Chiang's ideology," Chou said.

At the event, KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) will deliver a speech in memory of Chiang and a documentary film about Chiang will be shown, Chou said.

Lien will also write a special report on Chiang to be delivered by Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) during the KMT's weekly Central Standing Committee meeting on Wednesday. Lien will also write an article on Jan. 13 in memory of Chiang.

Noting the construction of the Ten Key Infrastructure Projects (十大建設) accomplished under Chiang's presidency, which had contributed to "Taiwan's economic miracle," Chou said that the theme of the concerts will be "Those good old days when people were full of hope."