President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday apologized for the bad treatment of democracy pioneers by the previous Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) regime and promised to continue efforts to unveil the truth behind past tragedies.
Ma was addressing the inauguration of a memorial center paying tribute to activist Lei Chen (雷震), who was accused of sedition and sentenced to 10 years in prison for publishing a magazine trumpeting democracy in 1960.
The memorial hall and research center were established to honor him on the 33rd anniversary of his death.
Photo: Wang Min-wei, Taipei Times
Ma said the establishment of the center at National Chengchi University was of great significance, because the university used to be a school for the KMT.
“[The KMT] owes Lei Chen an apology and as president and KMT chairman, I offer my apology to let people know that the government is willing to face history and correct past mistakes with honesty,” Ma said.
The president stressed the government’s efforts to compensate victims of the 228 Massacre and White Terror era as it uncovers the truth, and promised to carry out measures related to transitional justice.
“The nation paid a price during the 228 Massacre and White Terror era and the protection of human rights will be a major topic for the nation’s future development,” he said.
Lei, a KMT member, had been charged by the KMT authorities with sedition for publishing the opposition Free China (自由中國) magazine and launching the China Democratic Party.
He passed away in 1979 at the age of 81.
In 1998, then-Taipei mayor Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) began seeking national compensation for Lei on his behalf and honored him as a pioneer of democracy after the DPP came into office in 2000.
Former premier Yu Shyi-kun and Lei’s daughter, Lei Mei-lin (雷美琳), also attended the ceremony yesterday.
Lei Mei-lin said the family had chosen to forgive the KMT in the name of social harmony.
Former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on Monday called for greater cooperation between Taiwan, Lithuania and the EU to counter threats to information security, including attacks on undersea cables and other critical infrastructure. In a speech at Vilnius University in the Lithuanian capital, Tsai highlighted recent incidents in which vital undersea cables — essential for cross-border data transmission — were severed in the Taiwan Strait and the Baltic Sea over the past year. Taiwanese authorities suspect Chinese sabotage in the incidents near Taiwan’s waters, while EU leaders have said Russia is the likely culprit behind similar breaches in the Baltic. “Taiwan and our European
The Taipei District Court sentenced babysitters Liu Tsai-hsuan (劉彩萱) and Liu Jou-lin (劉若琳) to life and 18 years in prison respectively today for causing the death of a one-year-old boy in December 2023. The Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office said that Liu Tsai-hsuan was entrusted with the care of a one-year-old boy, nicknamed Kai Kai (剴剴), in August 2023 by the Child Welfare League Foundation. From Sept. 1 to Dec. 23 that year, she and her sister Liu Jou-lin allegedly committed acts of abuse against the boy, who was rushed to the hospital with severe injuries on Dec. 24, 2023, but did not
Taiwanese indie band Sunset Rollercoaster and South Korean outfit Hyukoh collectively received the most nominations at this year’s Golden Melody Awards, earning a total of seven nods from the jury on Wednesday. The bands collaborated on their 2024 album AAA, which received nominations for best band, best album producer, best album design and best vocal album recording. “Young Man,” a single from the album, earned nominations for song of the year and best music video, while another track, “Antenna,” also received a best music video nomination. Late Hong Kong-American singer Khalil Fong (方大同) was named the jury award winner for his 2024 album
Hong Kong singer Eason Chan’s (陳奕迅) concerts in Kaohsiung this weekend have been postponed after he was diagnosed with Covid-19 this morning, the organizer said today. Chan’s “FEAR and DREAMS” concert which was scheduled to be held in the coming three days at the Kaohsiung Arena would be rescheduled to May 29, 30 and 31, while the three shows scheduled over the next weekend, from May 23 to 25, would be held as usual, Universal Music said in a statement. Ticket holders can apply for a full refund or attend the postponed concerts with the same seating, the organizer said. Refund arrangements would
RSS