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Independence activists march for 228
FORGIVENESS: DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen said it was
difficult for the families of the victims to forget, because the KMT had never
repented nor admitted its mistakes
By Ko Shu-ling
STAFF REPORTER
Sunday, Feb 28, 2010, Page 3
A coalition of pro-independence groups staged a march in Taipei yesterday to
mark the eve of the 63rd anniversary of the 228 Massacre.
The 228 Massacre refers to the uprising in 1947 against the then-Chinese
Nationalist Party (KMT) regime and the brutal crackdown that left tens of
thousands dead and led to nearly four decades of rule under martial law.
Participants gathered at Yongle Market (永樂市場) on Dihua Street and proceeded to
the Tien Ma Tea Room (天馬茶房), where the conflict between anti-contraband officers
and locals took place. The parade, co-organized by the Taiwan Nation Alliance,
Taiwan Association of Caring for 228 and eight other independence groups, then
proceeded to the Monopoly Bureau, the Executive Yuan and finally the 228
Memorial Museum inside the 228 Peace Park.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday
urged the KMT to examine itself, face history and admit the mistakes that it
made.
Tsai said the 228 Incident was one of the most significant chapters in Taiwanese
history, which left two wounds on the country.
First was the KMT regime's ruthless treatment of Taiwanese, and second was its
failure to repent and its attempt to conceal the facts and distort the truth
behind the tragic incident, she said.
Tsai said some people say they can forgive, but they cannot forget. We can hope
for forgiveness, she said, but the perpetrator must reflect on itself and admit
its mistakes.
“Without analyzing its past and admitting mistakes, it [the KMT] cannot
empathize with the victims and their families, nor can it win the forgiveness of
the victims,” she said.
Tai Jui-min (戴瑞民), one of the participants at the parade, joined the procession
with his two daughters. He said he wanted his children to learn for themselves
how the incident began and knew how it spread into a nationwide protest.
His oldest daughter, Tai Ju-yi (戴如意), said she was interested in Taiwanese
history, but unfortunately her school did not teach much of the subject.
“I know more about the ‘228 Incident’ from the books my father bought me and at
the library,” the fourth-grader said.
Lin Chao-chi (林肇基), another participant, joined the march on a wheelchair
because of poor health. Lin said two of his best friends at National Taiwan
University were falsely accused of “joining the Communist Party” and executed.
“I can never forget or forgive what they did to my friends because they [the KMT]
were merciless,” the 84-year-old said.
To commemorate the historic tragedy, a national memorial service will be held in
Tainan City today.
At a separate setting yesterday, Premier Wu Den-yih (吳敦義) said he understood the
feelings of the families of the 228 Massacre victims because he was one of them
“in a broad sense.”
Wu Den-yih said his father,Wu Shi (吳奚), was “jailed for two years and nine
months for no reason, two or three years after the 228 Incident of 1947.”
The man who fabricated the treason charge against his father revealed the truth
before he was executed. Military prosecutors reopened the case and his father
was able to clear his name and was released from prison.
However, Wu Shi, who was a senior officer at the Taichung County Government
before he was arrested, was not able to go back to work, Wu Den-yih said.
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