Formosa generation moving on

At times of political turmoil in the past, they were heroes. The ideals of the so-called "Formosa generation" (美麗島世代) -- who built a political movement around Formosa magazine at a time when opposition parties were still outlawed -- helped push Taiwan forward toward democracy and away from authoritarian rule.

But now that the DPP has risen to power, many of the key members of the Formosa generation have found themselves sidelined.

Ever since President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) -- a typical figure of the so-called "Post-Formosa generation" (後美麗島世代) -- seized power, the Formosa generation has been facing enormous pressure to leave the political stage to younger actors.

"The emphasis on political reform now differs from that of the Formosa generation. The younger generation sees electoral victories and political participation as top priorities," said Yao Chia-wen (姚嘉文), currently a senior advisor to the president.

On this day, 21 years ago, Yao and others like Shih Ming-te (施明德), the leaders of the Formosa generation, participated in a watershed anti-government march for human rights in Kaohsiung The protest, however, turned violent in what is believed to have been a staged attack on the peaceful protesters. Regardless of who was at fault, the ruling KMT jailed eight people including Yao and Shih for their involvement in what later became known as the Kaohsiung Incident (美麗島事件).

The Kaohsiung Eight include Shih, Yao, Chang Chun-hung (張俊宏), Former DPP Chairmen Huang Hsin-chieh (黃信介), Lin I-hsiung (林義雄), Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮), theologian Lin Hung-hsuan (林弘宣), then office manager of Formosa magazine and chairwoman of the Council of Labor Affairs Chen Chu (陳菊).

Some say, however, that the fact that they have slipped out of the spotlight doesn't bother them.

"Twenty-five years in prison made me what I am today. I feel life is so wonderful now," Shih, the leader of the Formosa movement, said recently reflecting on the past.

Among members of the Formosa generation, the vice president is the only one who still holds considerable power and maintains her position at the center of the political stage.

Critics have said, however, that her political performance so far has been neither satisfactory nor a true reflection of her political wisdom.

"Though we may be in a time of media politics, [Lu] cares too much about how the media thinks of her. This is not the style of the Formosa generation," a senior reporter who wished to remain anonymous said.

Unlike Lu, former DPP Chairman Lin I-hsiung abdicated his chairmanship to the younger generation last year, claiming that he had chosen "the road less traveled."

The Formosa generation may have different fates now but they were all born to be rebels, said Cabinet Secretary General Chiou I-jen (邱義仁).

"They still want to rise in rebellion. They still have this revolutionary passion. But the goals of the opposition movement have become vague," Chiou said.

While finding clear causes to fight for might be a problem in Taiwan's complex politically pluralistic society, the former director of the DPP's policy committee Julian Kuo (郭正亮) still saw the Formosa generation as providing a paradigm of political commitment and involvement.

"The Formosa generation can be characterized as a generation supportive of liberalism and tolerance and with strategic understanding. Those are characteristics the younger generation does not have," Kuo said.