US Congress is urged to remember the 228 Massacre

US Congress is urged to remember the 228 Massacre

By William Lowther / Staff Reporter in WASHINGTON

Members of the US Congress are being urged to commemorate the 64th anniversary of Taiwan’s 228 Massacre as an “important historical event.”

Congressman Scott Garrett has entered a plea into the Congressional Record.
The 228 Massacre refers to the brutal crackdown following the uprising in 1947 against the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) regime, which left tens of thousands dead and led to a nearly four-decade-long period of martial law.

After outlining what happened in the tragic 1947 event, Garrett said: “Through this daunting experience, a bigger and brighter Taiwan is beginning to emerge. Now we have a thriving and pluralistic democracy. While they are still fighting for sovereignty from China, since 2000 the Taiwanese have made strides to control their own destiny, and have transitioned between ruling parties based on the will of its citizens.”

Bob Yang (楊英育), president of the Formosan Association of Public Affairs, said later: “Recent attempts by the KMT government to whitewash this horrific episode in Taiwan’s history are extremely disturbing. The government urging the general public in Taiwan ‘to forgive and forget’ is utterly unacceptable.”

He added: “The 228 Massacre must never be forgotten. The time is now that the Kuomintang Nationalist party [KMT] must make amends for the crimes it committed during the massacre and its protracted aftermath of White Terror.”

Discussing the 228 Massacre remained taboo for decades under Chiang Kai-shek’s (蔣介石) rule. Chiang died in 1975.

It was not until 1995 that then-president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) of the KMT made the first official apology for the incident. The legislature later agreed on compensation and made Feb. 28 an official national holiday.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY STAFF WRITER