KMT expresses opposition to fascism after activist wears Nazi swastika

Taipei, April 16 (CNA) The Kuomintang (KMT) expressed its "firm opposition to Nazism" on Wednesday after an activist leading a KMT-supported recall campaign against a ruling party lawmaker in New Taipei was widely condemned for displaying Nazi symbols.

"The KMT firmly opposes Nazism, fascism and any form of totalitarianism or human rights persecution," Taiwan's main opposition party said in a statement on Facebook.

"Those involved have clearly stated many times that the action has nothing to do with the KMT," the statement said, without clarifying whether or not the activist is a KMT party member.

Instead, the KMT said that the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has a "dark history of using Hitler in its propaganda" and "using Nazi issues to discredit its opponents."

Sung Chien-liang (宋建樑), the leader of a KMT-backed campaign to recall DPP lawmaker Lee Kuen-cheng (李坤城), wore a Nazi armband and carried a copy of Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf into the New Taipei District Prosecutors Office on Tuesday evening where had been summoned for questioning.

Sung, who is suspected of involvement in signature fraud relating to the recall vote campaign, repeatedly performed a Nazi salute in front of reporters, sparking a media frenzy.

The man did not explain why he was dressed up as a German National Socialist.

The incident led to Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) issuing a statement denouncing the political activist's actions, as well as other statements of condemnation from international organizations in Taiwan including Israeli and German representatives.

On Wednesday morning, when asked about Sung's display of Nazi symbols, KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) told reporters that "all kinds of ways are satirizing the DPP dictatorship."

In the afternoon at a KMT central party meeting, however, Chu said the KMT "firmly opposes" fascist, Nazi and communist dictatorships, and suggested that the DPP wanted to "lock up" opposition party members.

Also on Wednesday, the KMT Youth League issued a statement on Facebook in which it said "improper symbols and behavior should never be accepted as a legitimate form of civic activities or advocacy under any circumstances."

The KMT Youth League also said that Sung "has never been" a member of their group.