[3131] 228 Massacre remembered across Taiwan through music, film, and eyewitness accounts

228 Massacre remembered across Taiwan through music, film, and eyewitness accounts

Reported by staff reporters

Written by Lydia Ma

A memorial service honoring people who perished during the 228 Massacre took place on the eve before February 28, 2012, at Liberty Square in Taipei. This service hosted by Taiwan North Association, Taiwanese National Congress, Taiwan Republic Campaign, Alliance of Referendum for Taiwan, and Healthy Taiwan Society, began at 6:30 p.m. near the biggest bronze statue of Chiang Kai-shek in Taiwan in the plaza formerly known as Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Square.

One notable guest present at this service was 94-year-old Su Beng (also known as Shih Ming), a leader of the Taiwanese independence movement, who braved the cold to attend this service along with about 100 other people. They held a candle and a fresh flower as they walked from Liberty Square to Jingfu Gate and National Taiwan Hospital, before finally arriving at their destination – 228 Peace Memorial Park in Taipei.

The crowd paused before the 228 memorial monument inside the park and Su Beng lead them in a bow of respect. They circled the monument afterward and laid flowers and candles in front of the monument before concluding this service at 10:20 p.m.

Su Beng underscored that the “228 Incident” was indeed a massacre and urged Taiwanese to remember this event as a historical fact. He added that past government administrations, including the current Ma administration, have sought to gloss over this tragedy and muddle the facts to avoid pointing out that Chiang Kai-shek was indeed ultimately responsible for this massacre. In so doing, these leaders have weakened Taiwanese people’s national consciousness and their determination to create a free and independent country.

In Chiayi, 228 Peace Memorial Day was observed in the evening of February 26 through a memorial service at Hsin-kang Presbyterian Church. The service was hosted by Chiayi County Government, Chiayi Presbytery, and Chiayi County Good Neighbor and Family Development Association. Members from Chiayi Presbytery and Tsou District gathered together to pay tribute to those who sacrificed their lives for Taiwan and comfort the families they left behind.

Many family members of those who died in the 228 Massacre were present at that service, including the son of renowned national artist Chen Cheng-po and the son of renowned indigenous musician Uyongu Yatauyungana. In response to this tragedy that affected them very personally, they have nevertheless chosen to live with optimism. On that day, they sang along with everyone else and encouraged one another to continue promoting love, justice, and peace.

According to Chiayi Church and Society Committee Secretary Chen Ching-shui, just as early missionaries in Taiwan sowed gospel seeds throughout Taiwan with sweat, blood, and tears, these martyrs also sowed seeds of Taiwanese democracy and independence with their very own lives.

Kaohsiung and Shoushan Presbyteries marked this memorial day a little bit differently this year. Instead of the usual memorial service held each year, a public viewing of the new documentary “Hand in Hand” was held at Kaohsiung City Government’s Labor Affairs Bureau, Kang-Shan Senior High School, and Fongshan Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall on February 26-28, 2012. Following the viewing of the documentary, its director was invited to lead a symposium based on the movie.

Viewers who saw this new documentary got a fresh look at Taiwan’s history and struggle for democracy. One young man who saw the documentary for the first time said afterward that he was taken aback by some of the things he learned about Taiwan’s past as result of watching this movie because many of the issues covered in the film were never taught in public schools. Through this film, he began to appreciate the steep price people paid in confronting an authoritarian regime so that future generations might enjoy democracy and freedom.

This year’s 228 Peace Memorial Day was also noted in Taiwanese communities outside of Taiwan. For example, Houston Taiwanese Association in Texas, USA, held a 228 Memorial Concert on February 26 that included Taiwanese folk music, prayers, and an overview of the massacre. In Vancouver, Canada, a memorial service was held at Burnaby Taiwanese Presbyterian Church. Meanwhile, Taiwanese Fellowship in London, UK, invited Taiwanese students to watch the new Taiwanese film “Hand in Hand” on February 26.

“Hand in Hand” is both a documentary about Taiwan’s democracy as well as an epic love story between democracy activists Tien Meng-shu and Tien Chao-ming. This couple’s undying love for each other was matched by their love for the land of Taiwan and their willingness to sacrifice their lives for their ideals and beliefs.