The fate of the mausoleums of dictator Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石) and president Chiang Ching-kuo (蔣經國) descended into family squabbling yesterday after Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator John Chiang (蔣孝嚴), a son of Chiang Ching-kuo, said he did not support relocating the tombs to China.
"Those who don't understand Taiwanese politics should not get too involved in the issue. He or she should speak with caution," he said while visiting the mausoleums at Tzuhu (慈湖) and Touliao (頭寮) in Taoyuan County yesterday.
John Chiang was apparently referring to Chiang Fang Chih-yi (
Chiang Fang Chih-yi said on Sunday that the family had reached a consensus on sending the remains of the two men back to their hometown in Zhejiang Province, China, consistent with Chiang Ching-kuo's wishes, rather than relocating the remains to the Wuchihshan Military Cemetery (五指山軍人公墓) in Taipei County as the family had previously requested the government do.
In January 2004, Faina Chiang (
The government has earmarked NT$39 million (US$1.2 million) to be spent on the project. More than NT$27 million was spent on the construction of a tomb at the Wuchihshan Military Cemetery.
No one in the Chiang family was able to act as head of the household, John Chiang said yesterday. He said he would urge former premier Hau Pei-tsun (郝柏村) to convene a meeting of the extended Chiang family after next year's elections to discuss the issue.
Hau was close to Chiang Kai-shek and Chiang Ching-kuo.
When asked for comment, KMT's presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) said he respected the decisions made by the Chiang family.
KMT Legislator Shuai Hua-ming (帥化民) said it was "natural and normal" for the Chiang family to propose removing Chiang Kai-shek's and Chiang Ching-kuo's mausoleums to their hometown in Zhejiang Province, China, because they wanted to prevent their deceased family members from being "insulted" by "clowns," in an apparent reference to politicians in the pan-green camp.
Nevertheless, he urged the Chiang family to understand that "Chiang Kai-shek and Chiang Ching-kuo belong to the Republic of China."
"Chiang Ching-kuo clearly expressed his dedication and love for Taiwan by establishing his father's mausoleum at Tzuhu while selecting Touliao as the location of his own mausoleum," said Shuai, a former lieutenant-general.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY STAFF WRITER
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