Human rights advocates and academics yesterday announced a series of events that are to be held in the lead-up to mark White Terror Memorial Day on May 19 and expressed their support for a mass campaign to recall dozens of legislators.
History professor Dai Bao-tsun (戴寶村), a member of the group 519 Combined Action, told a news conference that it would include a protest by civil groups demanding that the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall be changed or shut down, a book detailing Chiang’s dictatorship and his imposition of martial law, and a guided bike tour along the Tamsui River to Dadaocheng (大稻埕).
Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Su Chiao-hui (蘇巧慧) said that May 19 was designated as White Terror Memorial Day, as that was the day in 1949 Chiang and his Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) regime declared martial law.
Photo: CNA
It also marked the beginning of the end of the Martial Law era, as democracy activists and politicians in 1986 organized a massive protest — called May 19 Green Action — at Taipei’s Longshan Temple (龍山寺), demanding the end of martial law.
Koo Kwang-ming Foundation director Michelle Wang (王美琇) said that the KMT had Taiwan under military control from the late 1940s to 1987, with citizens going on street protests to gain freedom and democracy, but young people now only have a vague understanding of the White Terror era.
“So it is quite laughable for the KMT to propose a referendum opposing martial law rule. If we were under martial law rule right now, could the opposition party have the freedom to organize a referendum and speak out against the government?” she said.
Wang called on citizens to come out and support the recall movement’s signature drive to oust unsuitable KMT legislators, to defend Taiwan’s democracy and safeguard freedom.
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