Taiwan Church Press
3340 Edition
February 29 – March 6, 2016
Church Ministry
228 Massacre Event Commemorated Across Taiwan
Reported By TCNN Staff Reporters
To remember the 69th anniversary of 228 massacre, memorial services are held across Taiwan island. Pleading for seeking truth, justice and reconciliation among Taiwan society, PCT also positively engages in these commemorative assemblies in towns and cities.
Rev. Chao Jen-er, chairman of 228 Massacre Committee of Chiayi City, expressed in a February 27th memorial service that time is up for every Taiwanese to boldly act as the master of her own destiny. We have to work hard together to build a democratic society with reconciliation, said Rev. Chao, “The history and truth of 228 massacre is not allowed to be erased, as they are the top issues to be well handled in the coming Transitional Justice Committee of the central government.”
Families of the victims of 228 massacre also attended in the commemorative services. Mr. Pan Hsin-sing, son of Pan Mou-che executed publicly by KMT before the Chiayi railway station, read his father’s final letter from prison to his mother with emotions: “I have no regret dying for my citizens.”, said Pan Mou-che. In the meantime, a long name list of the executed citizens before Chiayi railway station were read out aloud by Mr Pan to pay tribute to them.
In a musical memorial service held in Tainan, Rev. Lo Reng-quei, former Moderator of PCT General Assembly, hoped Taiwan society could face the past history in honesty and make Taiwan a new country with justice, peace and hope through such a musical commemoration.
In a college students’ tour guide at his church, Rev. Huang Chun-sen, pastor of Chi-nan Presbyterian Church, urged the young students to figure out the ways to solve the conflicts in human society. Rev. Huang took his own Chi-nan church as an example, which accommodated both Taiwanese church and Mandarin church at the same church building, explaining the challenges to live in peace and reconciliation even for the church.
At a memorial service paying tribute to the “27 Brigade” in Taichung area, Rev. Cheng Wen-ren, Moderator of PCT General Assembly, remarked that it was no justice to those families of the victims under 228 massacre if such historical truth could be hidden, concealed or even stigmatized. Rev. prayed to God that the classified official files to be publicized to the public, in order to make reconciliation, love and justice truly prevailed; he also sincerely wished justice and peace could be permanently established between Taiwan and China, delivering Taiwan free from China’s 2,000 missiles targeting on this beautifully God-blessed island.
Translated by Peter Wolfe
Passing through the famous KANO central fountain at Chayi City, PCT Chayi Presbytery participated into a parade of 228 commemorative assembly ending at the plaza before Chayi Railway Station where dozens of Chayi citizens were openly executed by KMT regime.
Photo by Chen Yi-hsuan
Paying tribute to the “27 Brigade”, a famous guerrilla force fighting against KMT after the outbreak of 228, Taichung City Mayor Lin Chia-long planted a tree with the veterans of “27 Brigade”, families of 228 victims and legislators.
Photo by Simon Lin
A special exhibition, “American, George H. Kerr, Dedicated His Whole Life To Taiwan”, was held at the Discovery Center of the second floor inside Taipei City Government from February 24 to May 22. Dr. Chen Yi-shen, an associate research fellow in Academia Sinica, affirmed two special contribution made by Kerr toward Taiwan: First, his personal witness and records of 228 massacre; second, his strong support for Taiwan’s self-determination.
Photo by Lin Yi-yin
A musical service for the sake of justice and peace, commemorative of the victims of 228 massacre, was held in Tainan Municipal Cultural Center in the evening on February 28, 2016.
Photo by Lee Mar-bau
Ms Tsai Ing-wen(second from left, president elect), Mr Su Chia-chyuan(first from left, the Speaker of Legislative Yuan ) and Mr Lin Yi-hsiung(third from left, former DPP chairman) attended the 228 commemorative service together in Gi-kong Presbyterian Church in the morning on February 28, 2016.
Photo by Lin Yi-yin
Mr Kao Yi-sen, a legendary aboriginal hero leading his Tsou people to maintain peace in Chiayi City and fight against KMT’s aggravated troops in 228 massacre, was remembered in a memorial concert entitled as “Tazan’s Song – A Memorial Concert with Love and Hope”. Together with Chiayi Civil Orchestra and Choir, Mr Kao Chung-wen, grandson of Kao Yi-sen, especially played a trombone with two Tsou aboriginal church choirs, Ta-bang church and Te-fuye church, in order to bring comforts to the aboriginal families of 228 massacre victims.
Photo by An Shu-mei
A musical service in memory of 228 massacre victims, entitled as “Justice, Peace and Taiwan Independence”, was held in Pingtung church of Pingtung Presbytery. Rev. Chen Yi-ren, pastor of Kao-shu church, gave his sermon thinking why God called Moses to lead the Israelite out of Egypt. Pastor Chen reminded the audience that, just like the calling received by Moses to salvage God’s people, only an independent life could lead to an abundant life from God without the enslaved fear in bondage.
Photo by Chen Yi-fan
