Print

Mail

wiki links

Letter: Justice won't cause tensions

The nation is at a critical juncture in its national development -- the threshold where every country's questions and unresolved business concerning its past and identity are confronted and resolved.

The popular term here is "transitional justice."

If one pays attention to the headlines, it is clear that a majority of the nation's citizens identify themselves as Taiwanese, acknowledge that Taiwan used to be a dictatorship under the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and seek to nurture the seeds of Taiwanese culture and identity that were suppressed until recently.

Further steps have been taken, such as the removal of Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石) statues that were once reminders of subjugation, and the renaming of CKS International Airport to Taipei Taoyuan International Airport.

Now our state-owned enterprises are being renamed to correspond with reality. Let's not stop there.

However, at this pivotal moment in a blossoming democracy's maturation, there is, as always, potential for abuses across the political spectrum.

To the descendants of the military occupiers and the refugees that fled from China after 1945 and to their supporters, the perceived threat of transitional justice is not that it could cause ethnic tensions and provoke conflict.

Rather, they worry about any move that brings to light the abuses of the KMT's military dictatorship.

If everyone would accept the past and acknowledge the abuses of the White Terror and 228 Incident, among other things, there would be no conflict or tensions.

Transitional justice is necessary for people to move on. This month is Black History Month in the US. The racism that has plagued the US and continues to be a problem is highlighted during this month, and African-Americans are honored for their contributions to society.

The US instituted a national holiday for Martin Luther King Jr and this ceremonial month not only to honor the achievements of African-Americans, but also to promote awareness of the shameful history of slavery in the US.

Apart from a small group of white supremacists, Americans of any ethnicity do not regard Black History Month as provoking "ethnic tensions."

The advocates of transitional justice must implement policies for the sake of justice and not vengeance. That means refraining from turning this into a political issue.

In South Africa, black South Africans initiated programs to educate people and reverse the evils of apartheid. Nelson Mandela, who later became president, forgave his captors despite decades in prison. His forgiveness was just as essential for transitional justice as any other policy.

Taiwanese should do the same -- take an objective look at abuses, implement transitional justice and forgive the crimes of the past.

Mark Du
Miami, Florida

This story has been viewed 1447 times.