Taiwan Church News

3392 Edition

February 27 - March 5, 2017

Headline News

Historical Truth Of 228 Massacre Wanted! A Parade Held For The 70th Anniversary Of 228 Massacre Event

Reported by Lin Yi-yin

A significant parade, organized by Nylon Cheng Liberty Foundation, Memorial Foundation of 228, TaiwanAssociation for Human Rights(TAHR), Tsai Jui-yueh Cultural Foundation, PCT and dozens of civil groups, commemorative of the 70th anniversary of 228 massacre event was launched in Taipei city at 1:30 p.m. on February 27.

Names of the 228 massacre victims were read out aloud one by one in a religious chant en route via many historical sites,reminiscent of 228 massacre and killings, including Tianma Tea House, Taipei Branch Office of Taiwan Tobacco and Wine Monopoly Bureau, Taipei Hoso Kyokai, and Taiwan Provincial Governor's Office(Now Executive Yuan).

Mr Cheng Chin-hua, younger brother of Nylon Cheng - the self-immolated martyr for Taiwan independence andfreedom of speech, stressed that this parade was not a common activity but an action! Through this commemorative parade for the 70th anniversary of 228 massacre event, Cheng Chin-hua hoped that not only the endeavor to find the historical truth of 228 massacre be established as a top-priority agenda in Taiwan society, but also the legislature of the Transitional Justice Promotion Act could be sped up to pass the congressional session before July.

The parade of the 70th anniversary of 228 event at Taipei reminded Taiwan society a series of pioneeringdemonstrations, initiated 30 years ago at Tainan on 15 February 1987 and hence held northbound across the island, urging Taiwan government and the people not to forget this heinous massacre. In fact, the door of transitional justice of 228 massacre was formally opened after this 1987 demonstration chanting Taiwan government the truth of 228 event should not be forbidden to talk or search any more.

To pledge a persistent pursuit of justice, most of the protagonists, including Dr Chen Yong-sin(President of TAHR), Lawyer Lee Seng-hsiung, Rev Lin Chon-zeng, and many others, of the history-breaking 1987 demonstration came back to participate the 70th anniversary of 228 massacre event held in Taipei City.

During an interview at the site of Taiwan Provincial Governor's Office(now Executive Yuan), Dr Chen Yong-sinretrieved, when his security was threatened by the authoritarian KMT regime and his body was even harshly beaten by the riot police in 1987 demonstrations for 228 events, the image of Jesus' determined entrance into Jerusalem in spite of his awareness of an imminent sacrifice on the cross kept inspiring him and let him overcome his fear. Lawyer Lee Seng-hsiung expressed that, only whenA Declaration on Human Rights by PCT (1977) could be faithfully followed in Taiwan society, the transitional justice could be implemented and the past political wrongs could be rectified!

Comforted by a poem read out by the poet Lee Ming-yong, the participants of this 70th anniversary of 228 massacreevent received a final blessing from Rev Lin Chon-zeng in the song of "Rosy Periwinkle"(meaning Forever Spring), written by an aboriginal accordion musician Kao I-sen who was also a white-terror victim, expecting this 228 massacre event would transform Taiwan society into an epoch of forever spring.

Translated by Peter Wolfe