In an attempt to preserve history and educate the next generation, the Preparatory Office of the National Human Rights Museum has released a series of documentaries that tell the poignant stories of the survivors of the White Terror era.
The seven documentaries are composed of interviews with survivors and their families about their lives before, during and after their imprisonment during the White Terror, a period of suppression of political dissidents in Taiwan that lasted from 1947 until the lifting of martial law in 1987.
The documentaries, each focusing on the story of one survivor, also include images and documents from that period.
Wang Yi-chun (王逸群), director of the office, said the documentaries are aimed at recording the lives and never-yielding spirit of the survivors, and as teaching materials for classrooms.
He added that his office is scheduled to complete another nine documentaries this year.
William Liao, the documentaries’ director, said he has been touched by the strength and perseverance of the survivors, who are in their 80s and 90s.
“Everyone’s story is different,” Liao said. “I hope these stories can be preserved and shown in schools, so that the younger generation can gain a proper understanding of human rights.”
Da Fei, 90, who is featured in one of the documentaries, was sentenced to 12 years in prison on charges of “planning to revolt” after he came to Taiwan from China in 1978.
“I hope the documentary will show people what really happened during the White Terror era,” said Da, who said he passed his time in prison by reading and writing books.
He received redress during former president Chen Shui-bian’s (陳水扁) term and compensation of NT$2.9 million (US$96,000) for the time he spent in prison.
Da, a former secretary of a Republic of China army colonel, served 19 years in prison in China, accused of being a Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) spy by the Chinese Communist Party, before arriving in Taiwan.
The White Terror refers to the suppression of political dissidents following the 228 Incident, an anti-government uprising in 1947, and the subsequent brutal crackdown by the authoritarian regime of the then-KMT.
During the White Terror, 140,000 to 200,000 people — many of who were from the intellectual and social elite — were imprisoned.
There are no official numbers on how many people were killed during the period, but the Compensation Fund for Unlawful Persecution and Espionage Cases During the Martial Law Period has handled at least 800 cases of executions.
The actual figures are believed to be higher, as many documents are believed to have been lost or destroyed during the 38 years of martial law.
The documentaries, each 48 minutes long, were released on Wednesday last week.
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