Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun of Kuomintang, Taiwan's opposition party, attends the annual remembrance ceremony for victims of Taiwan's White Terror. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
People in Taiwan gathered at the Taipei Machangding Memorial Park on Saturday to commemorate the annual remembrance ceremony for victims of Taiwan's White Terror, a period of political repression that dominated the island during the 1950s, calling for cross-Strait peace and unity.
During the White Terror period, numerous individuals who harbored pro-reunification sentiments or were seen as threats to the ruling regime of the Chinese Kuomintang were arrested and executed in Taiwan. Many of these victims were buried in unmarked graves, and it wasn't until 1993 that four such burial sites were discovered in Taipei. Since then, annual autumn ceremonies have been held at the park to honor their memory.
This year's ceremony saw the participation of White Terror survivors, family members of the victims, and various representatives from Taiwan society. Taiwan youth representative Chen Chu-yin delivered an eulogy, hoping the spirits of the martyrs to rest in peace and that their ideals of national reunification would be realized through the efforts of the younger generation.
People in Taiwan gather at the Taipei Machangding Memorial Park on Saturday to pay respect to people who died during the White Terror period in the 1950s. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Chou Hung-Chi, head of the mutual aid association of political victims in Taiwan, emphasized the importance of remembering history and continuing the struggle for national reunification and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun of Kuomintang, Taiwan's opposition party, attended the ceremony, offering a wreath to the victims. She reflected on Taiwan's journey from decades of martial law to the eventual uncovering of its bloody history in the 1990s. However, she warned that under the current Democratic Progressive Party administration, the "specter of authoritarianism and suppression of freedom of speech" has resurfaced in Taiwan.
Cheng said it's significant to learn from history, stand with the truth, and work toward cross-Strait reconciliation and the restoration of historical truth to clear the names of political victims.
A message from the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League, one of the eight non-Communist parties in the mainland, sent an eulogy, calling for the inheritance of the martyrs' legacy, unity in opposing "Taiwan independence", and collective efforts to advance the cause of reunification.
