Sung Chien-liang (宋建樑), a Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) supporter who launched a recall petition against Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Lee Kuen-cheng (李坤城), is suspected of using forged signatures and other crimes. The evening Sung was summoned to the New Taipei City Prosecutors’ Office for questioning, he showed up carrying a copy of Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf and wearing an armband with a swastika on it. He also made a Nazi salute. All of this was done in front of cameras.
Sung’s actions not only trampled on Taiwan’s hard-earned democracy, they have led to condemnation from the representative offices of several countries, most notably Germany and Israel. This is extremely damaging to Taiwan’s international image.
Four KMT legislators defended Sung’s action, calling it a satirical jab against the DPP, whom Sung and others have repeatedly called an authoritarian regime. These KMT politicians’ attitudes not only reflect the party’s tolerance of authoritarian symbols, but also show their indifference to public sentiment. The four legislators owe the public an apology. The situation shows how urgently transitional justice needs to be implemented.
What is even more preposterous is that while the KMT accuses the many independent civic organizations that have launched campaigns to recall KMT legislators are being manipulated by or are a front for the DPP, its own recall campaigns against DPP lawmakers are headed by members of its Youth League who claim they are legitimate, independent civic organizations.
The KMT recall campaigns are now under investigation on suspicion of copying names from its members’ list and forging signatures, along with other legal violations. However, instead of addressing this issue, the KMT is attempting to distract and change the narrative by claiming judicial persecution.
It is unclear whether Sung is a pawn being manipulated behind the scenes by elements within the KMT leadership. However, the public should be wary of the fact that the KMT has not once taken a hard look at or truly reckoned with its authoritarian past. The KMT is unwilling to promote transitional justice within the party, which is why it attracts supporters with extremist views, and even gives them the right to speak up and lead civic or political movements.
Nazi glorification is not a joke, and it is not something that should be turned into a political stunt. The Nazis were a political force that took a major European democracy toward war and national destruction. If Taiwan is not on guard against such extremism, we as a society could end up paying a heavy price.
The KMT has always remained silent on China’s human rights issues, yet domestically, the party has no problem publicly blocking compensation to political victims, or the liquidation of its ill-gotten party assets and the advance of transitional justice. This double standard evinces typical authoritarian logic and deranged values.
A sprawling memorial hall complex to a dictator paid for long ago with public funds still stands tall and proud at the intersection of several major arteries in downtown Taipei — the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. Our currency is still minted with the image of this authoritarian ruler and the KMT’s symbols.
If we do not face up to and reflect on this symbolism as early as possible, the remnants of the KMT’s party-state authoritarian culture and worldview would continue to permeate our society, and would only give rise to more extremists like Sung. This permeation could go as far as to morph into the party’s ideological backbone, and would continue to threaten our democratic institutions.
Transitional justice is not solely about teaching history and righting wrongs, but also about ensuring our future. We can only firmly plant ourselves and advance if we have a proper and accurate view of history, and clear away the remnants of authoritarianism.
Ni-an Chou is the chairwoman of the Taiwan Solidarity Union and a former legislator.
Translated by Tim Smith
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