Civil and student groups march in Taipei ahead of 228 Incident anniversary

Event marked the incident but also emphasized importance of human rights and transitional justice now

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/02/23
By:  Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — More than 40 civil and student groups marched on the streets of Taipei Saturday afternoon (Feb. 22) in commemoration of the 228 Incident – the island-wide suppression of civilians who protested against the Kuomintang (KMT) government that eventually led to tens of thousands of deaths — seven decades ago.

Marching before the 73rd anniversary of the 228 Incident, organizers said the event was intended to encourage the public to remain aware of the tragedy and its impact on society. It was also a timely reminder to the government to persist in the work of transitional justice.

The organizers called on the government to put more emphasis on human rights issues. Laws and regulations related to human rights, including the Refugee Act, should be legislated for or reformed, said the organizers.

This is the fourth consecutive year that Professor Chen Wen-Chen’s Memorial Foundation has organized the march, in partnership with other groups, with the theme this year being “Refuse to forget, insist on resisting.” A number of lawmakers also took part in the event.
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