The government plans to continue its efforts to secure reparations for those persecuted during Taiwan’s authoritarian period, Minister of Culture Lee Yung-te (李永得) said on Saturday at a memorial service hosted by the National Human Rights Museum.
The ministry organized the annual memorial service to pay tribute to the victims of political persecution, and to remind Taiwanese that freedom and democracy were hard-earned through the sacrifice of such individuals, Lee said.
The government would continue to promote transitional justice, preserve historical archives and sites, and provide reparations to the victims and their families, he said.
Photo: CNA
Also at the event, Tsai Kuan-yu (蔡寬裕), founder of the Taiwan Association for the Care of the Victims of Political Persecution during the Martial Law Period, spoke about the sacrifice of political activists unjustly imprisoned or executed by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) government during the White Terror era from 1949 to 1992.
Had it not been for such people, Taiwanese would not have the democratic rights they enjoy today, Tsai said.
Imprisoned for 13 years for his involvement in uprisings in 1957 and 1962, Tsai, who is now 90, said that an enduring regret for him has been failing to pass on the last words of his cellmate Gai Tian-yu (蓋天予) to Gai’s family in China.
Tsai said that Gai was arrested on suspicion of colluding with the Chinese Communist Party government — a charge commonly used by KMT regime at the time to control Taiwanese society.
The stories of the victims of political persecution should be passed from generation to generation so that people learn not to repeat the mistakes from this dark chapter in history, Tsai said.
Saturday’s memorial, which is traditionally held around Tomb Sweeping Day in April, was rescheduled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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