The 228 Incident marked Taiwan’s first major democratic movement after World War II, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) said yesterday, urging people to safeguard hard-earned democracy.
Ahead of 228 Peace Memorial Day today, Cheng said that the Incident was not only a tragedy, but also the opening chapter in the struggle for democracy.
Cheng, joined by senior KMT officials and civic group representatives, laid flowers at the 228 Peace Memorial Monument in Taipei’s 228 Peace Memorial Park, and called on citizens to protect democratic rule of law, freedom of speech and judicial independence.
Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times
The Incident was the result of state violence and abuse of power, leaving a painful legacy of oppression and bloodshed, she said.
Taiwan’s democratic and legal systems were forged through successive democratic movements and were intended to ensure an independent judiciary, Cheng said.
However, she criticized what she called a decline in judicial neutrality.
“Taiwan’s judiciary today has willingly debased itself by becoming a tool of those in power, serving as their claw to strike at political opponents,” she said.
Constitutional democracy requires limits on state power, Cheng said, adding that a constitution exists to restrain those in authority and prevent abuse, not to serve as a ruler’s instrument.
Deng Chu-mei (鄭竹梅) — daughter of Deng Nan-jung (鄭南榕), the democracy advocate who founded Freedom Era Weekly in 1984 to fight for freedom of speech — said she believed history would judge Cheng’s comments.
Any political figure must face the questions from voters, and it matters how they answer and from what perspective they give those answers, Deng Chu-mei said during a 228 march in Taipei.
She called on the KMT to sincerely understand Taiwan’s past, saying that many books on Taiwan’s history are available and should be consulted if the party still needs clarification.
Asked by reporters if Cheng needs to “touch up” on her understanding of democracy, Deng Chu-mei said she believed that KMT-leaning voters would know more about that question.
Deng Chu-mei called on the KMT to be honest about its past mistakes and actions.
The 228 Incident refers to civilian uprisings in Taiwan and the violent crackdown by the KMT government that began on Feb. 28, 1947.
Additional reporting by Lin Che-yuan
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