[3079] Lin family massacre 31 years ago still remembered

Lin family massacre 31 years ago still remembered

Reported by Lin Yi-ying

Written by Lydia Ma

Besides being the 64^th anniversary of the 228 Massacre, February 28, 2011, also marked the 31^st anniversary of the Lin Family Massacre. The congregation of Yikuang Presbyterian Church gathered on that day for a memorial service held at the church to pay their respects to Lin Yi-hsiung’s twin daughters and mother who were murdered on that fateful day.

Among the 100 or so people present at the service were former Premier Chang Chun-hsiung and his wife Chu A-ying, former PCT General Secretary William J.K. Lo, renown scholar Dr. Albert Lin, and Lin Yi-hsiung and his wife Fang Su-min.

Lin and Fang’s twin daughters and Lin’s mother were stabbed to death 31 years ago on February 28, 1980 in their own home in the wake of the Kaohsiung Incident, also known as the Formosa Incident. Lin was a member of the democratic movement at the time and was detained by police when an intruder entered his house and killed his family. His home has since been transformed into Yikuang Presbyterian Church.

Former Premier Chang referenced democratic movements in China and compared them with those in Taiwan before concluding that 228 Peace Memorial Day was devoted to commemorating the 228 Massacre that happened 64 years ago and the Lin Family Massacre that occurred 31 years ago. He referred to these people who lost their lives as heroes who sacrificed their lives on the altar of Taiwan’s democracy.

Lin Yi-hsiung was silent throughout this service and traveled to Chilin Cemetery in Ilan afterward to visit the burial place of his twin daughters and mother and lay flowers, pray, and pay his respects. He was accompanied by former Kaohsiung Mayor Frank Hsieh among others.