Fri, Feb 08, 2002 page2

• Activists fight for colonial-era sites

  PRESERVING THE PAST The old Tainan District Court building and the former Chiayi Prison were both built by the Japanese -- and they are both nearly abandoned

  • By Jimmy Chuang / STAFF REPORTER
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  Activists for historical protection yesterday urged the government to act quickly to save two of the nation's historical sites -- the old Tainan District Court building and the old Chiayi Prison.

  "We are urging government officials to establish a judiciary museum at the old Tainan District Court and a prison museum at the old Chiayi Prison. Both sites are vital parts of our history, but have been nearly abandoned," said Wu Tung-Jye (吳東傑), the chairman of the Green Formosa Front (GFF, 台灣綠色陣線).

  

  Professor Hsu Chun from the Tainan National College of Arts speaks yesterday at a press conference called to establish museums at the old Tainan District Court building and the former Chiayi Prison site. Speakers sought to persuade government officials of the social value represented by the buildings.

  PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING

  Chang Yu-huang (張玉璜), the executive director of the Foundation of Historic City Conservation and Regeneration, said that it would be a pity if the sites were not protected.

  

  An activist prepares to speak in front of a picture of the old Tainan District Court building.

  PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING

  "The Japanese ruled Taiwan for 50 years starting in 1895," said Chang. "They built the Tainan District Court in 1912 and the Chiayi Prison in 1922. Both buildings belonged to Tainan's state government during that era."

  According to Chang, after the new Tainan District Court building was finished, the old building, of immense historical significance, was nearly abandoned due to a conflict over jurisdiction between the Ministry of Justice and the Tainan City Government.

  As far as the Chiayi Prison site is concerned, after workers and inmates were moved to a new site in 1998, the Ministry of Justice hired two maintenance workers to maintain the buildings. The workers said, however, that there has been no word given as to how long the present situation would last.

  Weng Jui-chang (翁瑞昌), a Tainan lawyer, said that although cultural affairs officials from Taipei and Chiayi cities have declared the sites relics, responsible government agencies have failed to safeguard them and put them to proper use.

  "Take the old Tainan District Court building, for example," he said. "The building and the land belong to the Judicial Yuan. However, according to legal precedent, since the property became Tainan City property after being put on the relic list in 1991, it is time for Tainan City to act."

  Weng said that he spent almost half of his life in the legal profession and that the old Tainan District Court building inspired him to devote himself to the law.

  "I'm 52," he said. "I remembered falling in love with this building when I came here to practice at the age of 26. Even though they don't use the old building anymore, if we take care of it, our children will have a similar chance to be inspired, too."

  For your information

  Relics go untended

  * Built by the Japanese in the early 20th century, the old Tainan District Court building and the former Chiayi Prison have been declared historical relics. * Since being replaced with newer edifices, the sites have been nearly abandoned, one over a jurisdictional dispute.
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