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KMT suspends congress
due to protests
SAFETY FIRST: Although it had previously
insisted that anti-Ma rallies would not disrupt the event, the KMT said it would
delay the summit to protect public safety
By Mo Yan-chih and Chris Wang / Staff reporters
Labor and civic groups raise
banners on the steps of Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall in Taipei yesterday to express
their determination to protest at of the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) 19th
party congress, whenever and wherever it is held.
Photo: CNA
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT)
yesterday announced that it has decided to delay its 19th party congress, which
was to begin on Sunday, due to civic groups’ plans to hold a rally against
President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) on the same day outside the congress’ venue.
In an impromptu press conference, KMT Secretary-General Tseng Yung-chuan (曾永權)
said that the venue for the meeting, the National Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, is
a popular tourist destination, so the event had been canceled to avoid any
possible confrontations involving demonstrators that could hurt passersby.
“The KMT is the ruling party, and as such has a responsibility to protect the
public and defend people’s rights, which is why we decided to delay the
congress,” Tseng said at the KMT headquarters.
The KMT had said last week that it would not change the date of the congress
because of the anti-Ma demonstrations.
The party had been set to approve Ma’s re-election as KMT chairman at the
congress, which was meant to serve as an occasion to strengthen party unity
ahead of the seven-in-one local elections next year.
Tseng said that after discussing the various rallies and protests planned for
Sunday with the party, the Taipei City Police Department had suggested that the
congress be held at another location since it would be a challenge to maintain
security at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall.
Several civil groups joined forces with the National Alliance for Workers of
Closed Factories to plan a demonstration outside the memorial on Sunday against
the Ma administration.
Another anti-Ma protest planned for the same day and also organized by civil
groups is to see demonstrators march from the intersection of Renai and Anhe
roads, before converging at a rally on Ketagalan Boulevard in front of the
Presidential Office Building.
“The KMT absolutely respects all legal rallies, but we are also worried about
possible accidents… The Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall is open to the public on
Sunday and the safety of nearby businesses and residents is our main concern,”
Tseng said.
The party is considering holding the congress at Chungshan Hall on Yangmingshan
on Oct. 26, since the venue is far from downtown Taipei, which should make it
easier to keep protesters at a distance.
However, the new date has yet to be confirmed as many KMT officials are
scheduled to fly to China to attend a forum between the KMT and the Chinese
Communist Party.
The party’s annual summit has been the subject of increased public focus amid
the ongoing political battle between Ma and Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng
(王金平), whose invitation to the congress was rescinded after the KMT revoked his
party membership over alleged improper lobbying.
Responding to the cancelation, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairman Su
Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) said that avoiding the protests by rescheduling would not
solve any problems.
“The congress is supposed to be the KMT’s business. However, protests were
organized for people to voice their opinions on Ma’s poor governance. As the
ruling party, the KMT should respond to the public’s complaints,” Su said.
Su also endorsed the DPP’s boycott of a report that was to be delivered by
Premier Jiang Yi-huah (江宜樺) to the Legislative Yuan and said that the DPP’s act
would not suspend the legislature’s operation.
“However, Jiang should adhere to the constitutional principle of separation of
powers,” he added.
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