The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) government's plan to change the name of National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall back to Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is a severe insult to Taiwanese, former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairman Lin I-hsiung (林義雄) said yesterday.
Lin made the remarks after attending a memorial service in remembrance of his mother and twin daughters, the victims of a brutal murder nearly three decades ago.
On Feb. 28, 1980, the body of Lin's mother, Lin Yu A-mei (林游阿妹), 60, was discovered by the basement stairs of the Lin family residence. She had been stabbed 13 times. Lin's seven-year-old twin daughters Lin Liang-chun (林亮均) and Lin Ting-chun (林亭均) were also found dead after being stabbed once. His nine-year-old daughter, Lin Huan-chun (林奐均), who had been stabbed eight times, survived. His wife, Fang Su-min (方素敏), was visiting Lin in prison at the time. Lin was arrested on Dec. 13, 1979 for participating in a human rights rally in Kaohsiung three days earlier.
PHOTO: LIN CHENG-KUNG, TAIPEI TIMES
“It is a great insult to the Taiwanese people when the government employs abundant resources to commemorate a man who is perceived by most historians in other countries as a dictator,” Lin said when asked by reporters for comments on the government's plan to change the name of the hall back to Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
“To this day, who should be held accountable for the 228 Incident remains unknown,” he said. “All the memorial services and compensation for the 228 Incident are meaningless if it remains unclear who should be held responsible.”
Many pro-independence activists suspect that the “Lin Family Murders,” as the case came to be known, were orchestrated by the KMT government to discourage political activism, but this has never been proved.
To this day, no assassin has been apprehended and the motive remains unknown.
Lin Huan-chun and Fang Su-min also attended the memorial service yesterday at Gikong Presbyterian Church (義光教會). The church is located on the Lin family's former residence, the site of the murder 29 years ago.
Asked to comment on DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen's (蔡英文) criticism that President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) was not sincere in his apology over the 228 Incident, Lin I-hsiung said whether or not one apologizes is meaningless to overall social progress.
People who have committed mistakes should admit their wrongdoings and make a sincere effort to right their wrongs — not just offer an apology, he said.
He added that to the families of the 228 Incident victims, an apology would not erase the wounds.
The key is to set the record straight and let truth about the 228 Incident be known so that future generations can learn from the past, Lin said.
Taipei has once again made it to the top 100 in Oxford Economics’ Global Cities Index 2025 report, moving up five places from last year to 60. The annual index, which was published last month, evaluated 1,000 of the most populated metropolises based on five indices — economics, human capital, quality of life, environment and governance. New York maintained its top spot this year, placing first in the economics index thanks to the strength of its vibrant financial industry and economic stability. Taipei ranked 263rd in economics, 44th in human capital, 15th in quality of life, 284th for environment and 75th in governance,
The Sports Administration yesterday demanded an apology from the national table tennis association for barring 17-year-old Yeh Yi-tian (葉伊恬) from competing in the upcoming World Table Tennis (WTT) United States Smash tournament in Las Vegas this July. The sports agency said in a statement that the Chinese Taipei Table Tennis Association (CTTTA) must explain to the public why it withdrew Yeh from the WTT tournament in Las Vegas. The sports agency said it contacted the association to express its disapproval of the decision-making process after receiving a complaint from Yeh’s coach, Chuang
Control Yuan Secretary-General Lee Chun-yi (李俊俋) tendered his resignation last night, admitting that he had misused a government vehicle, as reported by media. His resignation was immediately accepted by the Control Yuan. In a statement explaining why he had resigned, Lee apologized for using a Control Yuan vehicle to transport his dog to a pet grooming salon on May 20. The issue first came to light late last month, when TVBS News reported that Lee had instructed his driver to take the dog to the salon. The news channel broadcast photos that it said were taken by an unnamed whistle-blower, which purportedly showed the
Democratic Progressive Party caucus chief executive Rosalia Wu, front, grabs the pennant in a dragon boat race hosted by Qu Yuan Temple in the Shuanghsi River in Taipei’s Beitou District yesterday.