The murder, which remains unsolved, is widely believed to have been politically motivated because of Lin's prominent role in the opposition movement.
At the time, Chien wrote a letter to the editor of the United Daily News to express his family's fears, but the pro-KMT newspaper never printed the letter. Chien then sent the letter to a pro-independence magazine, The Eighties. Much to his surprise, the magazine not only ran the letter but also invited him to join them as a political cartoonist.
"That incident changed my life forever, and that's how I got into politics," Chien said.
Democratic crusader
In the fall of 1994, Chiou I-jen (
The group later evolved into a new party faction called the New Tide. Its aim was to fight for the interests of marginal groups such as farmers and manual workers.
Attracted by the faction's ideals, Chien left The Eighties and joined the faction's New Tide magazine as a political cartoonist and became involved in event coordination.
Chien said he was particularly proud of the procession organized on May 19, 1986, in front of the Lungshan Temple. It was organized to pressure the KMT regime to lift martial law. One year later, on July 15, 1987, martial law was lifted.
Another demonstration Chien said he was proud of being involved in took place on Dec. 10, 1988, to ask the KMT government to release political prisoners as well as independence activists jailed in connection with the Kaohsiung Incident.
Another of Chien's events, a peaceful sit-in on the square of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in March 1990, was called to protest the abuse of power by National Assembly members.
"Without those democratic movements, the legalization of opposition parties, the lifting of martial law and the direct election of the head of state may never have come to pass," Chien said.
A unique politician
Although Chien's career detour might surprise some, most of his friends hold another view.
Ping Lu (平路), a social critic and columnist, said that she was not surprised to learn that Chien has chosen to retire from politics.
"I expect unique people to make unique decisions," she said. "After all, why does a politician have to stick to politics if that person finds that politics is not what he wants to devote his life to?"
Although working for peace might not see immediate results, Ping said that it is a cause worth fighting for and is well suited too Chien's personality.
For Chiou, whom Chien has long considered a mentor, Chien is a man of energy and ideals.
"It's surprising to see a 55-year-old man still possess so much stamina and creativity," he said. "He not only sets a good example for the younger generation but also pushes me to keep moving."
DPP lawmaker Lin Cho-shui (林濁水) said that he admires Chien's courage in taking up a new career.
"Unlike most politicians who are good at using every means to obtain what they want, Jan is a unique politician who doesn't care about power but about people," he said.
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