KMT may hold 319 protest

Coming on the heels of pan-green camp's rallies to protest against China's proposed "anti-secession" law, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) is mulling over a plan to mobilize its supporters on March 19 to challenge the re-election of President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) last March.

At what the party calls "the anniversary of March 19," the KMT plans to hold a large-scale protest.

"March 19 is a day that brought much harm and shame to Taiwan's democracy," said KMT spokeswoman Cheng Li-wen (鄭麗文).

"Most of our supporters hope we will have concrete action to voice our opposition on the day," Cheng added.

Meanwhile, KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) is expected to issue a statement calling for changeover in the party leadership next week as the party finalizes a timetable for its chairmanship election set for May, officials said yesterday.

The KMT will pass a proposed schedule for the election during its weekly Central Standing Committee meeting on Wednesday.

According to the plan, the KMT will release an announcement on the chairmanship election on March 21, make known the names of candidates and their serial numbers on April 28 and hold the vote on May 28.

Although Lien will not directly say that he will "not continue in the chairmanship," he will call for "generational transition" and encourage interested parties to take part in the election during the meeting, according to sources close to Lien. Legislative Yuan speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平), who serves as a vice chairman of the KMT, has said that he will run for the chairmanship if Lien decides not to seek re-election.

Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), another KMT vice chairman, has also announced his bid for the chairmanship.