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Relative of White Terror victims wants statue removed

A relative of White Terror victims yesterday called for the removal of dictator Chiang Kai-shek's (蔣介石) statue from the recently renamed National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall.

"Chiang Kai-shek was a killer. If his statue has to remain in the hall, it should serve the function of contempt, not worship," Chang Ying-chueh (張瑛玨) said.

Chang made the remarks at a press conference held by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator William Lai (賴清德).

Lai said the Chinese Nationalist Party's (KMT) plan of revising its party charter so that it would include "Taiwan-centered" values cannot substitute for devotion to the country.

"The point is whether the KMT can face history with honesty," said Lai, who invited Chang to the press conference to express her feelings about the history of the White Terror, which lasted from 1949 until 1987, when martial law was lifted.

Weeping for her father and two brothers' persecution during the 1960s, Chang said the Generalissimo bore full responsibility for the tragedy.

Chang's older brother was sentenced to death, her younger brother died in prison after more than 13 years of imprisonment for ideological reasons, while her father, accused of plotting for her brother's escape, was jailed for 10 years.

"After I read the documents in the National Archive Administration, I found that my father had initially been sentenced to a five-year term. Chiang Kai-shek felt the sentence was too light and gave orders to make it heavier," Chang said.

Lai said that Chang's family was among the tens of thousands of families victimized during that period, but the KMT has been ignoring victims' calls for the truth to be brought to light.

Should the KMT oppose the removal of Chiang's statue, the government should erect a board next to the statue narrating Chiang's oppressive rule in the country, Lai said.
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