A memorial park in honor of late minister of justice Chen Ding-nan (陳定南) opened in Yilan County on Saturday, coinciding with the fifth anniversary of his passing.
Chen, of the Democratic Progressive Party, died of lung cancer in November 2006. He was known as “Mr Clean” because of his dedication to fighting corruption during his political career, which began with his election as Yilan County commissioner in 1981.
The park’s opening ceremony was attended by former Academia Sinica president Lee Yuan-tseh (李遠哲) and Taiwan Solidarity Union Chairman Huang Kun-huei (黃昆輝).
Photo: Yang Yi-min, Taipei Times
When Chen passed away, the Chen Ding-nan Educational Foundation was established and donations were solicited for Chen Ding-nan Memorial Park to be built near his former residence in Sansing Township (三星), Yilan County, the foundation said.
The park has not only preserved the historic house in which Chen was born, it added new structures in an L-shaped layout, the foundation said.
Architect Huang Chien-hsing (黃建興) said the new buildings consist of primarily square structures in a bid to portray Chen’s just and upstanding life.
However, Huang Chien-hsing added that the buildings also incorporate arcs, to symbolizes that Chen, despite his rigid and inflexible morals, could still be soft and lenient in private.
The park’s landscaping was designed by Toshiya Ishimura to remind the visitor of Chen’s achievements during his stints as Yilan County commissioner and the minister of justice, the foundation said.
On display at the park’s exhibition hall are Chen’s briefcase as well as his shoes, and the watch given to Chen by his father when he was admitted into college.
There are also various written accounts of memorable events and small stories when Chen was the county commissioner and minister of justice.
Inside the memorial hall, many large pictures of Chen taken at various moments in his life are on display, allowing visitors to see Chen everywhere within the hall.
There is also artwork on display, such as a portrait of Chen made from 1,000 pencil heads in a matrix formation by artist Wang Chun-lung (王俊隆).
The park is open from 9am to 12am and 1:30pm to 5pm everyday except Mondays and admission is free.
Translated by Jake Chung, Staff Writer
POLAM KOPITIAM CASE: Of the two people still in hospital, one has undergone a liver transplant and is improving, while the other is being evaluated for a liver transplant A fourth person has died from bongkrek acid poisoning linked to the Polam Kopitiam (寶林茶室) restaurant in Taipei’s Far Eastern Sogo Xinyi A13 Department Store, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said yesterday, as two other people remain seriously ill in hospital. The first death was reported on March 24. The man had been 39 years old and had eaten at the restaurant on March 22. As more cases of suspected food poisoning involving people who had eaten at the restaurant were reported by hospitals on March 26, the ministry and the Taipei Department of Health launched an investigation. The Food and
A fourth person has died in a food poisoning outbreak linked to the Xinyi (信義) branch of Malaysian restaurant chain Polam Kopitiam (寶林茶室) in Taipei, Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Victor Wang (王必勝) said on Monday. It was the second fatality in three days, after another was announced on Saturday. The 40-year-old woman experienced multiple organ failure in the early hours on Monday, and the family decided not to undergo emergency resuscitation, Wang said. She initially showed signs of improvement after seeking medical treatment for nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, but her condition worsened due to an infection, he said. Two others who
The long-awaited Taichung aquarium is expected to open next year after more than a decade of development. The building in Cingshui District (清水) is to feature a large ocean aquarium on the first floor, coral display area on the second floor, a jellyfish tank and Dajia River (大甲溪) basin display on the third, a river estuary display and restaurant on the fourth, and a cafe and garden on the fifth. As it is near Wuci Fishing Port (梧棲漁港), many are expecting the opening of the aquarium to bring more tourism to the harbor. Speaking at the city council on Monday, Taichung City Councilor
Taiwanese should be mindful when visiting China, as Beijing in July is likely to tighten the implementation of policies on national security following the introduction of two regulations, a researcher said on Saturday. China on Friday unveiled the regulations governing the law enforcement and judicial activities of national security agencies. They would help crack down on “illegal” and “criminal” activities that Beijing considers to be endangering national security, according to reports by China’s state media. The definition of what constitutes a national security threat in China is vague, Taiwan Thinktank researcher Wu Se-chih (吳瑟致) said. The two procedural regulations are to provide Chinese