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Chen emphasizes role of KMT in 228 Incident
MISUNDERSTANDING:
A recent documentary funded in part by the Taipei City Government argued that the massacre was in fact the result of a language barrier
By Ko Shu-ling
STAFF REPORTER
Friday, Jan 19, 2007, Page 4
The 228 Incident was not just a matter of the government oppressing the public, thereby pushing them to rebel, but total denial of democracy and human rights, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) said yesterday.
The 228 Incident was a rebellion that was sparked on Feb. 27, 1947 against the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) government.
Historians estimate that around 20,000 people were killed.
KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) has said that the incident was the result of actions of local government "officials," who provoked the rebellion, but was not connected to the KMT or Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石).
A documentary sponsored by the Taipei City Government's Department of Cultural Affairs during Ma's mayorship drew criticism last month because it portrayed the bloody 228 Incident as a "pure misunderstanding resulting from language barriers."
The National 228 Memorial Hall is scheduled to open on Feb. 28 this year, which marks the 60th anniversary of the tragedy.
Chen, in the latest issue of his weekly e-newsletter, published yesterday, said that the 228 Incident was a prelude to 50 years of one-party rule.
The 228 Incident ushered in the White Terror, during which an unknown number of people lost their lives. The Lei Chen (雷震) Incident, the Kaohsiung Chiaotou (橋頭) Incident and the Kaohsiung Incident all occurred during this period.
During his stint as Taipei mayor, Chen said he changed the name of Taipei New Park to 228 Peace Park, established the 228 Memorial Museum and designated Feb. 28 as Peace Memorial Day, which later became a national holiday.
After being elected as the president in 2000, Chen said, he continued to issue compensation to victims and their families, restore their reputation, and declassify and publish related official documents.
Despite government efforts, Chen said that because many details of the 228 Incident had not been cleared up, justice had still not been served, and he empathized with victims and their families.
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