Remembering 228: Families remember `228'

Holding umbrellas and white chrysanthemums, family members of the victims of the 228 Incident and other interested parties braved the cold rain yesterday to visit key locations that witnessed the bloody government crackdown in 1947.

The memorial march was held by the Taiwan Hand-in-Hand Alliance and visited several key places, including the Tien-Ma Tea House, near the intersection of today's Nanking West Road and Yanping North Road.

It was here that a woman vendor, Lin Chiang-mai (林江邁), was beaten up by Monopoly Bureau agents for selling black market cigarettes, sparking the protests that led to the crackdown.

The marchers also visited the Executive Yuan, then the office of Taiwan's executive administration, where soldiers opened fire on members of the public protesting against Lin's beating and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) rule.

The participants eventually reached the 228 Peace Park where a memorial service was held.

Many of the marchers had witnessed the slaughter firsthand, but were reluctant to recall the details.

"We think the Chiangs should apologize," said Lin Tien-shiun (林天順), a relative of one of the victims, referring to the descendants of the dictator Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石).

"Although many people say we should forgive, I think only the victims' families are qualified to make that decision," alliance leader Ng Chiau-tong (黃昭堂) said. "People can never fully understand the suffering of those who lost family members in the 228 Incident."

Meanwhile, another memorial service was held at Taipei's Gikong Presbyterian Church yesterday to mourn the victims of a tragedy that occurred on Feb. 28, 1980, now known as the Lin Family Murders.

Former Democratic Progressive Party chairman Lin I-hsiung (林義雄) and his wife Fang Su-min (方素敏) attended the service to mourn their deceased twin daughters and Lin's mother.

In 1979, Lin was arrested by the KMT government for participating in the Kaohsiung Incident. On Feb. 28, 1980, while Lin was still imprisoned, his mother and twin daughters Lin Liang-chun (林亮均) and Lin Ting-chun (林亭均) were murdered in their home.

Lin's eldest daughter, Judy Linton (Lin Huan-chun, 林奐均), who was severely injured, was the only survivor of the bloody attack. Her assailant remains unknown.

The Lins' residence on Xinyi Road later became the Gikong Presbyterian Church, which holds a memorial service each year for the family.

Lin was solemn and silent throughout the service, which included poetry readings and chants.