President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday apologized to victims of the 228 Massacre and their families at a national memorial service marking the 63rd anniversary of the event, saying he hoped the tragedy would become a driving force for the advancement of Taiwan.
He also said, however, that regardless of how many times the government apologized, it could not ease the pain of victims and their families.
“The most important thing is not to let it happen again. We must also strengthen education on democracy and human rights,” he said in a speech delivered at the national memorial service in Tainan City yesterday morning.
The 228 Massacre refers to an uprising against the then-Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) government that began on Feb. 27, 1947.
A Taiwanese woman selling contraband cigarettes was beaten by Monopoly Bureau agents, leading to rioting that was brutally crushed by KMT troops sent from China, leaving thousands dead.
It marked the beginning of the infamous White Terror and the purge of “dissidents” in which people suspected of being anti-government were jailed. Many died or disappeared, with no explanations given to their families.
Because Taiwan is now a democratic society, Ma said he believed that as long as local representatives and the media continue to keep the government in check, there would not be another 228 Massacre.
“The 228 Incident gives Taiwan a great opportunity to review itself,” he said. “I hope Taiwan will become freer, more advanced and more democratic. I also hope the incident will become the motivation for Taiwan to move forward.”
Ma said that 63 years ago, the government was so corrupt that it caused a lot of public suffering and many people lost their freedom or even their lives.
Premier Wu Den-yih (吳敦義), who also attended the service, said three things about the 228 Massacre need to be handled. Those were uncovering the truth, continuing legal and moral compensation for the victims and their families, and restoring their reputations, he said.
He said that after he was sworn in as premier in September, he asked the legislature to approve a NT$300 million (US$9.3 million) budget to renovate the national 228 memorial museum.
The legislature has since passed the measure.
The 228 Memorial Foundation planned to open the national 228 memorial museum next year to present the “honest” truth behind the “228 Incident” free from political bias, he said.
Later yesterday when attending another memorial service at Taipei City’s 228 Monument in 228 Peace Park, family members of 228 Massacre victims — in the presence of Ma — said the full truth about the massacre still hasn’t been revealed and urged the KMT government to stop hiding evidence.
“The full truth of the 228 Incident still hasn’t been uncovered,” Chiang Chieh-yun (蔣節雲), daughter of former Taiwan provincial councilor Chiang Wei-chuan (蔣渭川) who narrowly escaped death during the massacre, said on behalf of 228 victims’ families at the ceremony.
“We [families of the 228 victims] no longer have hate in mind and we get along well with Mainlanders,” she said. “But we only want the full truth — the KMT should stop covering up the evidence, be frank, be responsible and publicize everything [about the massacre].”
Delivering his remarks after Chiang, Ma said he agreed that historical facts about the 228 Massacre should be uncovered, adding that this was what the government has been doing.
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