‘228 is an important historical event for every Taiwanese who lived under the oppression of the party-state system and does not distinguish between ethnic groups. But the 400 years of oppression experienced by Taiwan’s indigenous peoples is still poorly understood and rarely discussed.’

The News Lens
Date: 2017/03/07
By: Lin Fei-fan
Translated by Aaron Wytze Wilson, republished via New Bloom.

Today, on Feb. 28, Peace Memorial Day, I choose to stand with Taiwan’s indigenous peoples.

Recently, because of schoolwork, and also because of my plans to go abroad, I have rarely participated in public events, and have also turned down various interviews.

This 228 Peace Memorial Day, there is a wide range of activities and events, from northern to southern Taiwan. I had originally thought I could perhaps quietly participate in a couple of commemorative events. But in the end, I chose to stand with my friends from the indigenous community, and marched from Ketagalan Boulevard towards 228 Peace Memorial Park.

Those who don’t understand the march might assume these indigenous had come to make an unnecessary commotion. If they were to think more maliciously, they might assume these people were once again being used by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), and were there to block the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) from exercising governance.    [FULL  STORY]