Sun, Oct 28, 2001 page24

• A dark corner of history

  Many of Taiwan's Aboriginal tribesmen fought alongside the Japanese during World War II -- a part of the nation's history that some would like to forget

  • By Ian Bartholomew / STAFF REPORTER
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  At a time when violent conflict again comes to the foreground of our consciousness, it is sobering to look back on the still unresolved aftermath of past wars. Tonight at 10pm, Public Television Service (PTS, 公視) will premiere a new documentary on Taiwan Aborigines who were pressed into service with the Japanese Imperial Army and who died in vast numbers in the Pacific war.

  The hour-long documentary has taken director Pan Hsiao-sha (潘小俠) one year to complete, and is based on nearly 10 years of work by Chen Teng-shan (陳登山), the chairman of a heritage foundation dedicated to preserving the memory of these soldiers.

  

  Members of the Kaosha Volunteers were conscripted by the Japanese and formed primarily of Taiwan's Aborigines.

  PHOTO COURTESY OF PTS

  The documentary is titled Who Are We Fighting For? -- The Story of the Kaosha Volunteers (不知為誰而戰 -- 高砂義勇隊影像故事), and documents interviews with veterans of this troupe, most conscripted as porters, many of whom are now in their 80s.

  The director admitted that the documentary itself was not one of the most exciting pieces of television to be made and that it was primarily "a piece of oral history, preserving something that would otherwise disappear." The number of Aborigines conscripted by the Japanese numbered as high as 20,000, two-thirds of which it is estimated died in action. Unfortunately, their contribution to the war effort was on the losing side, and their history has largely been forgotten.

  When the subject of compensation for soldiers who were conscripted by the Japanese came up in early 1970s, the demands of the Aborigines of the Kaosha Volunteers were largely neglected. Although used mostly as porters, their martial tradition often made them show great courage, lovingly documented in Japanese propaganda publications towards the end of the war. With the defeat of Japan, this courage became a source of shame, and the Japanese and Taiwanese governments have tried their best to forget about their existence.

  The documentary allows people caught in a situation outside their understanding to tell their story. On this the 56th anniversary of Taiwan's retrocession, Who Are We Fighting For? is a timely reminder how war destroys societies at many different levels.

  "This is a good opportunity to think about our history and about our future," said Chen Yu-hsiu (陳郁秀), chairman of the Council for Cultural Affairs at the program launch. On a lighter note, Pan said the greatest hardship he underwent in making the documentary was the courtesy he received. "It was impossible to do an interview without some serious drinking taking place," he said.

  The program will be repeated on PTS tomorrow at 2pm.
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