Taiwan Church Press

3340 Edition

February 29 - March 6, 2016

Church Ministry

228 Massacre Event Commemorated Across Taiwan

Reported By TCNN Staff Reporters

To remember the 69th anniversary of 228 massacre, memorial services are held across Taiwan island. Pleading for seeking truth, justice and reconciliation among Taiwan society, PCT also positively engages in these commemorative assemblies in towns and cities.

Rev. Chao Jen-er, chairman of 228 Massacre Committee of Chiayi City, expressed in a February 27th memorial service that time is up for every Taiwanese to boldly act as the master of her own destiny. We have to work hard together to build a democratic society with reconciliation, said Rev. Chao, "The history and truth of 228 massacre is not allowed to be erased, as they are the top issues to be well handled in the coming Transitional Justice Committee of the central government."

Families of the victims of 228 massacre also attended in the commemorative services. Mr. Pan Hsin-sing, son of Pan Mou-che executed publicly by KMT before the Chiayi railway station, read his father's final letter from prison to his mother with emotions: "I have no regret dying for my citizens.", said Pan Mou-che. In the meantime, a long name list of the executed citizens before Chiayi railway station were read out aloud by Mr Pan to pay tribute to them.

In a musical memorial service held in Tainan, Rev. Lo Reng-quei, former Moderator of PCT General Assembly, hoped Taiwan society could face the past history in honesty and make Taiwan a new country with justice, peace and hope through such a musical commemoration.

In a college students' tour guide at his church, Rev. Huang Chun-sen, pastor of Chi-nan Presbyterian Church, urged the young students to figure out the ways to solve the conflicts in human society. Rev. Huang took his own Chi-nan church as an example, which accommodated both Taiwanese church and Mandarin church at the same church building, explaining the challenges to live in peace and reconciliation even for the church.

At a memorial service paying tribute to the "27 Brigade" in Taichung area, Rev. Cheng Wen-ren, Moderator of PCT General Assembly, remarked that it was no justice to those families of the victims under 228 massacre if such historical truth could be hidden, concealed or even stigmatized. Rev. prayed to God that the classified official files to be publicized to the public, in order to make reconciliation, love and justice truly prevailed; he also sincerely wished justice and peace could be permanently established between Taiwan and China, delivering Taiwan free from China's 2,000 missiles targeting on this beautifully God-blessed island.

Translated by Peter Wolfe