Sun, Feb 29, 2004 page8

• Editorial: Just say `no' to Chinese missiles

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  This year, 228 Memorial Day saw a memorable and meaningful commemoration. Yesterday was a most touching scene as people of Taiwan formed a human chain from one end of the island to the other and then held up their hands at precisely 2:28 pm. Rather than feeling hatred and vengeful, the message that the people tried to get across to the world is their love and faith in their land and their longing for peace. This was despite the tragic massacres and bloodshed perpetrated 57 years ago by the totalitarian Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) government, which served as a prelude to decades of white terror and the martial-law era.

  Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) put it best when, during the televised vice presidential debates held yesterday afternoon, she said "the tragedies of history can be forgiven, but they cannot be forgotten." The reason that the 228 tragedy should not be forgotten is the need to learn the underlying lesson.

  The 228 experience taught us the importance of democracy and freedom and the ruthlessness of single-party totalitarianism. The people of Taiwan will never give up the fruits of democracy and embrace the dictatorship of Beijing. The sovereignty of this country must be safeguarded. The experience also revealed to us the evil of unchecked aggression. Therefore, the people of Taiwan must call for peace and say "no" to Chinese missiles.

  Moreover, it is the wish of the organizers and the participants of the event to unequivocally teach not only China, but in fact the entire world the valuable lessons they have learned, so that Beijing can no longer deceive the international community about what is the will of the people of Taiwan.

  The lessons of the 228 Incident are heartfelt by the people of Taiwan, and have become a part of their core values. This was reflected by the overwhelming and enthusiastic participation in the rally yesterday. It was estimated that 500,000 people would have been enough to form the human chain. At the end, according to the chairman of the rally, Huang Chao-tung (黃昭堂), approximately 2.2 million people showed up. In many segments of the human chain, people had to stand in two, three, and even four lines. Moreover, thousands of Taiwanese from overseas flew back to Taiwan just to take part in this meaningful event.

  However, it is truly puzzling how some people, mostly supporters of the pan-blues, could paint the holding of the rally as inciting and manipulating ethnic rivalry and hatred. For example, as late as on Friday, the Miaoli campaign headquarters of pan-blue presidential candidate and KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) and People First Party Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) was still talking about delivering a protest letter to President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝), who were to join the human chain yesterday in Miaoli.

  While it is true that in the past many people in Taiwan perceived the 228 Incident as a massacre of native Taiwanese by the ruling Chinese regime, people in Taiwan -- across all ethnic groups -- have come to realize that such an interpretation is an over-simplified depiction of the tragedy. Everyone who lives here is Taiwanese. In fact, it was the intention of the organizers to highlight the theme of ethnic harmony and unity through this rally -- as demonstrated by the participation of people from every ethnic group in the rally and the invitation of representatives from the five major ethnic groups in Taiwan to stand next to Chen and Lee in the event.

  The 228 Incident should not be a taboo or a hush-hush topic -- the way it was treated before Lee openly issued an apology for it during his presidency. It is part of Taiwan's history that must be faced with love and tolerance, which is exactly what this rally was about.
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