A number of prominent members of the pan-green camp attended a memorial service for former Academia Historica president Chang Yen-hsien (張炎憲) yesterday at Taipei’s Shuang Lien Church (雙連教會), expressing their condolences at his sudden passing and affirming Chang’s contribution to the preservation of Taiwan’s history.
Chang died earlier this month at age 67 after a myocardial infarction while visiting the US for interviews on an oral history compilation covering the 228 Massacre.
Aside from pan-green political heavyweights, at least 1,200 members of the public also attended the memorial, far exceeding the original space offered on the 10th floor, prompting organizers to open the ninth, eighth and seventh floors to accommodate the visitors.
Photo: Chien Jung-fong, Taipei Times
Chang had a great passion for Taiwan and was the earliest known promoter of local oral histories, as well as being the first to push for preserving Taiwanese history in the Academia Historica and protecting history from governmental alterations, former Democratic Progressive Party chairman Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) said, adding that Chang’s efforts allowed people to learn what happened in the nation over time.
National Taiwan University honorary professor Lee Hung-hsi (李鴻禧) said his old friend had made the nation’s future his lifelong concern, and had contributed greatly to the democratic rule and maintenance of human rights in Taiwan during his eight years as president of Academia Historica.
The memorial service was arranged for Chang’s friends and students in the nation, as a memorial service for the family was held in the US on Oct 7.
SHIPS, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES: The ministry has announced changes to varied transportation industries taking effect soon, with a number of effects for passengers Beginning next month, the post office is canceling signature upon delivery and written inquiry services for international registered small packets in accordance with the new policy of the Universal Postal Union, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday. The new policy does not apply to packets that are to be delivered to China, the ministry said. Senders of international registered small packets would receive a NT$10 rebate on postage if the packets are sent from Jan. 1 to March 31, it added. The ministry said that three other policies are also scheduled to take effect next month. International cruise ship operators
HORROR STORIES: One victim recounted not realizing they had been stabbed and seeing people bleeding, while another recalled breaking down in tears after fleeing A man on Friday died after he tried to fight the knife-wielding suspect who went on a stabbing spree near two of Taipei’s busiest metro stations, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said. The 57-year-old man, identified by his family name, Yu (余), encountered the suspect at Exit M7 of Taipei Main Station and immediately tried to stop him, but was fatally wounded and later died, Chiang said, calling the incident “heartbreaking.” Yu’s family would receive at least NT$5 million (US$158,584) in compensation through the Taipei Rapid Transit Corp’s (TRTC) insurance coverage, he said after convening an emergency security response meeting yesterday morning. National
PLANNED: The suspect visited the crime scene before the killings, seeking information on how to access the roof, and had extensively researched a 2014 stabbing incident The suspect in a stabbing attack that killed three people and injured 11 in Taipei on Friday had planned the assault and set fires at other locations earlier in the day, law enforcement officials said yesterday. National Police Agency (NPA) Director-General Chang Jung-hsin (張榮興) said the suspect, a 27-year-old man named Chang Wen (張文), began the attacks at 3:40pm, first setting off smoke bombs on a road, damaging cars and motorbikes. Earlier, Chang Wen set fire to a rental room where he was staying on Gongyuan Road in Zhongzheng District (中正), Chang Jung-hsin said. The suspect later threw smoke grenades near two exits
The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency yesterday launched a gift box to market honey “certified by a Formosan black bear” in appreciation of a beekeeper’s amicable interaction with a honey-thieving bear. Beekeeper Chih Ming-chen (池明鎮) in January inspected his bee farm in Hualien County’s Jhuosi Township (卓溪) and found that more than 20 beehives had been destroyed and many hives were eaten, with bear droppings and paw prints near the destroyed hives, the agency said. Chih returned to the farm to move the remaining beehives away that evening when he encountered a Formosan black bear only 20m away, the agency said. The bear
RSS