NHRM book offers solace for White Terror victims

2015/10/14

A new book recounting the emotional trials and tribulations of Taiwan’s White Terror victims was launched Oct. 12 by the Preparatory Office of National Human Rights Museum in New Taipei City.

“Long Night’s Journey” is a three-volume anthology of 57 narrated accounts by political prisoners and their families during the country’s 38-year period of martial law ending in 1987. It is the latest installment in a series by the museum aimed at furthering transitional justice.

NHRM Director Wang Yi-chun said the museum publishes an anthology every year in memory of those suffering past persecution. “This project underscores the government’s ongoing efforts to preserve firsthand accounts of the period and save historical truths from oblivion.

“Transitional justice is a process of redressing past wrongs through restoring history. We must keep our shoulders to the grindstone and ensure the development of human rights remains on track in Taiwan.”

Four of the victims’ daughters were present at the book launch to share their personal experiences. Among them was Teresa Shih, daughter of longtime political activist and former Democratic Progressive Party Chairman Shih Ming-teh.

“The publication serves to help families come to grips with their personal tragedy,” she said. “A lot of the victims’ children suffered grave self-doubts and even blamed themselves for what happened.

“By sharing their stories, they sorted out the circumstances of their plight and finally got to let go.”

Wu Wen-hui, whose late father Wu Yih-min was a National Taiwan University student when arrested by the National Security Bureau and imprisoned for 13 years, said she only came to understand his predicament when he began talking of the pain years afterwards.

“I knew nothing about his cruelly curtailed youth and life in prison until he spoke of the experience last year for the book.”

Ouyang Hui-mei and Huang Hsin-hua also endured a great deal of hardship as a result of their stigma. When Huang was born to a mother behind bars, her father had already been executed.

“I did not even know what kind of man he was until 60 years later when I finally got to read his declassified testament and will,” Huang said.

“How many 60 years are there in a person’s lifetime? I hope the public documentation of our experiences ends all past wrongs and paves the way toward a brighter future.”

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=237657&ctNode=2194&mp=9)