Chen apologizes for white terror era

President Chen Shui-bian takes a certificate restoring the reputation of victims suffering unjust verdicts during the martial law era out of an ice-box yesterday, symbolizing that victims can now come in from the cold. PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING, TAIPEI TIMES

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday presented victims of unjust verdicts during the martial law era with a certificate to signify a formal apology from the government.

"I am here today to represent the government of Taiwan in offering a formal apology to victims of the white terror era," Chen said at the award ceremony.

Chen said that out of the 7,200 cases in which an unjust verdict was passed, 6,700 were being processed and will be compensated accordingly.

According to Chen, the ceremony was held to pay respect to the people who fought for democracy in Taiwan and ensured a bright and peaceful society for future generations.

Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮), who also attended the ceremony, said that she had more than one reason to be there.

"I am here today as the vice president of the country, the director of the Presidential Office's human-rights committee and as a victim of an unjust verdict during the white terror era," Lu said.

Lu said that it was a wonder that she and Chen, who were both involved in the Kaohsiung Incident and its fallout, had risen to the nation's top office.

"On Feb. 28, 1980, in the martial court, President Chen was the youngest defense attorney for the Kaohsiung Incident case while I was the youngest defendant. Who could have thought that we both would become the elected leaders of Taiwan 20 years later?" Lu said.

The Kaohsiung Incident occurred on Dec. 10, 1979, as the KMT government imprisoned participants in an anti-government parade organized by Formosa magazine. The crackdown is also known as the Formosa Incident.

According to Lu, the Compensation Foundation for Improper Verdict on Sedition and Communist Espionage Cases during the Martial Law Period (財團法人戒嚴時期不當叛亂暨匪諜審案件補償基金會) has set aside NT$22 billion to compensate victims.

"Without the past sacrifices of these individuals today, the society based on human rights that we have today would not have been possible. Historical mistakes can be forgiven, yet not be forgotten," Lu said.

Po Yang (柏楊), a victims representative and human-rights activist, said that the award ceremony had added significance.

"It was the first time ever that the head of state has publicly offered an apology to the victims of the white-terror era. Furthermore, it is the first time the victims have had the chance to be compensated for their suffering," Po said.

Po added that both sides of the Taiwan Strait had been shrouded in white and red terror.

The Association for Human Rights told reporters yesterday victims of unjust verdicts needed legal assistance to fully reverse their verdicts.

According to the association, under the National Security Law (國家安全法) Article 9, none of the 30,000 white terror cases could be reversed.

"It states that political cases cannot be appealed, which is against the principles of a country which depend on verdicts that are just and fair," said Hsieh Tsung-min (謝聰敏), national policy adviser to the president.

Hsieh also said that even after political prisoners had been released, their criminal records could still be found on their identification cards and household documents.