Taiwan Church News
3809 Edition
Feb 24 ~ Mar 2, 2025
Weekly Topical
Commemorating 228 Massacre, Taiwan Rejects the Dark History to Repeat Again
Reported by Lin Yi-ying from Taipei
In his speech, addressed to the 78th anniversary of 228 Massacre on February 22, Dr Chen Yung-hsing, who launched the “228 Movement for Justice and Peace” together with Mr Nylon Chen and others in 1987, said that Taiwan was again murdered after 228 Massacre in 1947. Dr Chen’s accusation referred to the heinous murders of Lawyer Lin Yi-hsiong’s mother and twin daughters in 1980.
“These two ruthless slaughters of the innocent Taiwanese, reminiscent of fear and terror under KMT’s white terror rulings in 1950s, tell us crystal clear the reasons why we shall stand up to fight against China’s hegemonic infiltrations and reckless annexation in order to avoid a third 228 Massacre in Taiwan,” Dr Chen called.
A 228 memorial parade, named as “228.0 Memorial Action”, started from Rihsin Elementary School and then headed toward Tianma Tea House, where the participants stopped and mourned in silence with a trumpet playing the hymn of “Amazing Grace”. Later, Rev Lin Chong-cheng prayed for the land and all the Taiwanese. After passing through Taipei Branch of Taiwan Tobacco and Wine Monopoly Bureau and 228 Memorial Hall (formerly Taiwan Radio Station), the parade arrived its final stop at the Executive Yuan (formerly Chief Executive Office of Taiwan Province).
PCT pastors of the various presbyteries, including Chi-Hsin, Taipei, Tayal and etc, were invited to join in the first team of the parade, reminding the public that the PCT pastors who had always stood at the forefront of Taiwan democratic movement daring to say truth to KMT’s authoritarian rulings. Remarkably, Rev Hsu Ya-ting, daughter of late Rev Hsu Tien-hsian, was especially invited to attend the parade for 228 Massacre. Her father was astonishingly arrested by KMT police at the church podium during Sunday service, just because KMT suspected he had participated the Formosa Magazine Incident in 1979.
Interviewed amid the parade, Rev Liu Ding-an, pastor of Bai-Chia church of Taipei presbytery, said that he hoped to reflect further on the meaning of suffering, love and reconciliation with Taiwan society. Listening to names and ages of the 228 Massacre victims read out one by one, Rev Lin Yi-jie, pastor of Jian-Cheng church, said frankly “It is beyond my personal experiences to feel the pains and bereavement suffered by family of 228 massacre victims. However, we should not forget the past, and we should be more vigilant to stop the historical tragedy to happen again in Taiwan.” Rev Lin Yu-jun, pastor of Hua-Hsing church, affirmed the importance of national security is manifest by such an annual 228 Massacre memorial event.
Rev Lin Jun-jay, pastor of the Chong-Cheng church of Taipei presbytery, said directly ”since the taboos of 228 Massacre had been broken, Taiwan marched on an irrevocable road for democracy, freedom and human rights, and it has become more and more evident why we have to protect Taiwan by our own hands!” Ms Liu Yu-jun, manager of Taipei office for political victims and their families, said that 228 Massacre is absolutely a historical milestone for everyone in Taiwan.
As a symbol that souls of 228 Massacre will be remembered and comforted, flowers of yellow periwinkle held by the participants were hurled to big white cloths at the end of parade.
Translated by Peter Wolfe
