KMT closed to independence activist

The convener of the "908 Campaign for the Republic of Taiwan" was kept from entering the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) headquarters yesterday when he tried to deliver an invitation to KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) to attend a flag-raising ceremony on Sept. 8.

Wang Hsien-chi (王獻極) said he was delivering the invitation in the hopes that Ma, who has pledged "to connect the KMT's history to that of Taiwan, " will stand along with Taiwan's mainstream public opinion and support his cause to build a new nation called the Republic of Taiwan.

Wang said that it is wrong for Ma to try to "connect to China before connecting to Taiwan."

He said he would advise Ma to "connect to the people of Taiwan first and join in building the Republic of Taiwan before making friends with China."

He also suggested that the KMT donate one-thousandth of the NT$4 billion (US$123.1 million) obtained from selling a piece of KMT real estate toward his campaign.

Wang was not invited into the KMT office to communicate his ideas.

Hsieh Wen-huang (謝文煌) of the KMT Policy Committee greeted Wang at the door, telling him that the KMT respects his ideology but does not agree with his Taiwan independence position.

Wang said his campaign is a reflection of grassroots voices that should not have been stopped at the KMT entrance.

He urged Ma to co-sponsor the Sept. 8 activity which aims to highlight "the memorial day of Taiwan independence." Ma should realize that the sovereignty of Taiwan belongs to its people, he said.