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Friends, family pay tribute to Deng Nan-jung

Former acting Kaohsiung mayor Yeh Chu-lan speaks at an event to commemorate her late husband Deng Nan-jung, who died 18 years ago when he set himself on fire in defense of freedom of expression. PHOTO: CNA

Loved ones and democracy activists gathered yesterday to pay tribute to Deng Nan-jung (鄭南榕), who died 18 years ago when he set himself on fire in defense of "100 percent freedom of expression."

"My heart aches. No matter how strong I want to be ... tears still run like water down my face," said Yeh Chu-lan (葉菊蘭), Deng's widow and former acting Kao-hsiung mayor at a commemorative event hosted by the Deng Liberty Foundation (鄭南榕基金會) at Chinpaoshan Cemetery (金寶山) in Taipei County.

On April 7, 1989, Deng, then editor-in-chief of Freedom Era Weekly (自由時代週刊), set himself alight as heavily armed police attempted to break into his office following 71 days of self-imposed isolation after he was charged with sedition for the anti-government stance of his magazine after it published a draft "Taiwan Republic Constitution" in 1988.

Among the more than 100 people attended the ceremony was Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairman Yu Shyi-kun.

"My heart aches. No matter how strong I want to be ... tears still run like water down my face."

Yeh Chu-lan, widow of Deng Nan-jung and former acting Kaohsiung mayor

Questioning whether Taiwanese trust the nation's political parties, government, politicians and media, Yu said that Deng's self-immolation was the result of his being true to his belief in democracy.

Yu added that as Taiwan searches for a new Taiwanese democracy, Deng's example helped people believe, stay true to their word and behave in an upright manner, which Yu said was the kind of person Taiwan required today.

Yeh thanked everyone for attending the service and said that Deng had made her feel their family was the proudest and happiest one in Taiwan.

Yeh added that while Taiwan had left the white terror behind over the past 18 years to become a country that enjoys freedom of expression, it is also necessary to consider the responsibilities that this freedom implies.

Born in Taiwan in 1947 to a Chinese father, Deng publicly argued for Taiwan independence on numerous occasions during the 1980s -- a time when vocal supporters of independence were often charged with sedition.

"I am the child of a mainlander and I advocate Taiwan independence," he once said.

After failing to win his philosophy diploma from National Taiwan University because he refused to take courses on the philosophies of Sun Yat-sen (孫中山), Deng decided to launch a magazine.

A follower of liberalism, Deng held a deep belief in freedom of expression and established Freedom Era Weekly in 1984 in pursuit of what he called "100 percent freedom of expression."

To prevent the magazine from being banned or suspended by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) regime, Deng registered licenses under 18 different names such as "a spare tire."

The magazine lasted five years and eight months and finally closed six months after Deng's death.

The magazine achieved fame in the 1980s, when the country was under martial law, for its reports on the KMT's corrupt practices and articles that challenged the authority of late president Chiang Ching-kuo (蔣經國).

As a result of its outspokenness, the magazine broke the record for the number of times a publication had been banned or suspended.

Yesterday's ceremony ended with Reverend Kao Chun-ming (高俊明) speaking on love for and dedication to Taiwan, which was followed by a choral performance before Yeh led a procession of attendees to Deng's grave where they each laid a rose.
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