Demos Chiang's mother extends apology to Lien

Chiang Fang Chih-yi (蔣方智怡), a daughter-in-law of former president Chiang Ching-kuo (蔣經國), yesterday publicly apologized for her son's criticism of former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairman Lien Chan's (連戰) behavior after his defeat in the 2004 presidential election.

Writing in his blog (白木怡言) on Sunday, Demos Chiang (蔣友柏), a great-grandson of dictator Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石), said that Lien Chan had dealt a serious blow to democracy in Taiwan by refusing to concede defeat and demanding that the election result be annulled.

MISSING NURSE

"If my great grandfather and grandfather had left the KMT with any reputation, at least 60 percent of that reputation was tarnished by Mr Lien and that missing nurse at Chi Mei Hospital," the young Chiang wrote.

Chen and Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) were shot on March 19, 2004 -- the eve of the presidential election -- and won the election by a narrow margin. Lien's camp protested the election results, claiming that an "anonymous nurse" at the hospital had witnessed Chen's staff fake the whole event.

Demos Chiang yesterday refused to comment on reactions to his article, but his mother apologized to Lien.

"My son expressed his opinions without consideration. I regret his remarks, and I apologize to [former] chairman Lien," she said yesterday in Taipei.

Chiang Fang said she respected her son's opinion, but would advise him not to name names when making critical statements.

'LOW TRICK'

In his blog, Demos Chiang condemned Lien and the "anonymous nurse" for "playing a low trick" by messing around with the election result and causing serious damage to Taiwan's democracy.

The young Chiang said that KMT presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) should win in the presidential election next month, but added that if Ma were to lose, Lien would be the one to blame because of the damage his behavior had inflicted on the KMT's reputation four years ago.

Responding to Demos Chiang's statement, KMT Secretary-General Wu Den-yih (吳敦義) yesterday said that the party respected the young Chiang's opinion, but urged him to gaina better understanding of the situation during the 2004 presidential election before making further comments.

INTERPRETATION

Ting Yuan-chao (丁遠超), director of Lien's office, called on Demos Chiang to write about the truth, instead of making his own interpretation of the incident.

Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) said he respected Demos Chiang's freedom of speech, but urged him to use a fair and just view in evaluating Lien's behavior after the 2004 presidential poll.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY FLORA WANG