Taiwan tributes to massacre victims
Remembering martyrs: Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian (5th L) and officers observe a moment of silence to pay respects to the victims killed by Chinese nationalist troops 60 years ago in a crackdown seen as a catalyst for the independence movement, yesterday, in Taipei.Picture: AFP
Thursday, March 1, 2007
IN ISLANDWIDE ceremonies, Taiwan yesterday honoured thousands of people killed by Chinese nationalist troops 60 years ago in a crackdown seen as a catalyst for the independence movement.
President Chen Shui-ban, unveiling a new memorial to the victims, vowed to unveil the truth behind the killings, days after singling out late nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek as the man most responsible for the bloodshed.
"Although 60 years have passed, the pain inflicted by the incident on the victims' families remains deep, and the scars to society unhealed," he said.
An official report by a government-funded foundation last year said Chiang — who died in 1975 — "should shoulder greatest responsibility" for what is known here as the "2-28 Incident".
Chen earlier this week said the late Kuomintang (KMT) leader should be put on trial posthumously for the events, which the report said killed 18,000 to 28,000 people.
Feelings remain high — in the southern Tainan county, several statues of Chiang at parks and a university campus were sprayed in red paint and Chinese characters reading "Butcher, culprits of 2-28"."Sixty years have elapsed, but the problems caused by the event have not been fully resolved because truth has been distorted and culprits have been covered up... this is something unforgiveable," Chen said.
"Without truth, there will not be reconciliation." The events of February 1947 were sparked when a Kuomintang (KMT) inspector beat a female vendor in Taipei for selling untaxed cigarettes. The incident triggered riots which were crushed, according to the official report, by troops sent from the mainland.
AFP
President Chen Shui-ban, unveiling a new memorial to the victims, vowed to unveil the truth behind the killings, days after singling out late nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek as the man most responsible for the bloodshed.
"Although 60 years have passed, the pain inflicted by the incident on the victims' families remains deep, and the scars to society unhealed," he said.
An official report by a government-funded foundation last year said Chiang — who died in 1975 — "should shoulder greatest responsibility" for what is known here as the "2-28 Incident".
Chen earlier this week said the late Kuomintang (KMT) leader should be put on trial posthumously for the events, which the report said killed 18,000 to 28,000 people.
Feelings remain high — in the southern Tainan county, several statues of Chiang at parks and a university campus were sprayed in red paint and Chinese characters reading "Butcher, culprits of 2-28"."Sixty years have elapsed, but the problems caused by the event have not been fully resolved because truth has been distorted and culprits have been covered up... this is something unforgiveable," Chen said.
"Without truth, there will not be reconciliation." The events of February 1947 were sparked when a Kuomintang (KMT) inspector beat a female vendor in Taipei for selling untaxed cigarettes. The incident triggered riots which were crushed, according to the official report, by troops sent from the mainland.
AFP
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