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TAIPEI - TAIWAN'S ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday marked a sensitive anniversary with much fanfare to galvanise supporters ahead of the March 22 presidential election.
At a rally held to commemorate the so-called Feb 28 incident, DPP's presidential candidate Frank Hsieh avoided playing the communal card and instead called for reconciliation.
'We're not fighting against any party,' he said to more than 10,000 supporters gathered at a stadium in Taipei. 'The spirit of Taiwan is to unite and pursue freedom.'
Mr Hsieh's conciliatory tone stood in marked contrast to President Chen Shui-bian's hard-hitting tone earlier in the day.
While opening a special exhibition on the anniversary, Mr Chen called on the public to 'remember the lesson' of the Feb 28, 1947 massacre, which he blamed on late Kuomintang (KMT) leader Chiang Kai-shek.
'Some people are unwilling to face the history of violating human rights under an authoritarian government...and demand victims to forgive their abusers,' he said.
Chiang ordered KMT forces from the mainland to crack down on riots sparked after a KMT inspector beat a female vendor in Taipei for selling untaxed cigarettes. Tens of thousands of people died in the crackdown.
Last night, Mr Hsieh also tried to drum up support at the rally by underscoring the campaign platform differences between the independence-leaning DPP and the KMT, which favours improved ties with Beijing.
'Economy is an important issue, but we must not boost the economy at the expense of Taiwan's sovereignty,' he said.
'If the KMT presidential ticket's call for forming a 'common market' with China is put into practice, then China's agricultural produce, workers and professionals would flood into Taiwan,' he said.
Earlier, the DPP held a march through the streets of Taipei from 2.28pm.
The KMT yesterday also lined up a series of events to mark the anniversary.
Its presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou called for reconciliation at a memorial service in southern Taiwan, a stronghold of the DPP.
'It is mercy that binds us together, not hatred ... The 2/28 incident is a historical tragedy and we should let relatives of the victims mourn their loved ones peacefully and refrain from political manipulation,' he said in the Taiwanese dialect of Minnan in Chiayi city.
He blamed his own party for the mass killings 61 years ago.
'The government was corrupt and ineffective, and people were leading hard lives,' he said. 'This was what led to the 2/28 incident.' He made similar remarks in 2006.
Mr Ma - who is leading Mr Hsieh by about 20 points in opinion polls - later attended a concert in Taipei in tribute to the victims.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, ASSOCIATED PRESS
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