Exhibit arouses political passions

As political fortunes changed in the intervening years, many KMT and PFP leaders have become viewed as "the oppressors" during the crackdown, while most of the defendants vilified as seditionists years ago are now the heroes of the nation's struggle for democracy.

The incident sowed the seeds for the DPP's founding in 1986 and acted as a baptism of fire for DPP leaders.

Almost all of the DPP's leadership were somehow involved in the incident or its aftermath -- as participants, family members or defense lawyers.

The Kaohsiung Eight are Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮), Examination Yuan President Yao Chia-wen (姚嘉文), Council of Labor Affairs Chairwoman Chen Chu (陳菊), DPP Legislator Chang Chun-hung (張俊宏), the late DPP chairman Huang Hsin-Chieh (黃信介), and former DPP chairmen Lin I-hsiung and Shih Ming-teh (施明德).

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), Kaohsiung Mayor Frank Hsieh (謝長廷), Taipei County Commissioner Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌), DPP Secretary-General Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) and DPP Legislator You Ching (尤清) served as defense lawyers for the Kaohsiung Eight and have been closely linked to the opposition ever since.