Kaohsiung Incident
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The Kaohsiung Incident (traditional Chinese: 高雄事件) also known as the Formosa Incident (traditional Chinese: 美麗島事件) was the result of pro-democracy demonstrations that occurred in Kaohsiung, Taiwan December 10, 1979. Other names for the event include the Meilidao Incident and the Formosa Magazine incident.[1][2]
The time period experienced a rising middle class, and a more open-minded Kuomintang (KMT) ruling regime that allowed some fostering of political opposition.[3] Taiwanese citizens were becoming weary of mainlander authority, and were eager for a more democratic society. The event turned into a series of political protests that led to public trials and arrests. It is considered a turning point for pro-democracy groups/KMT political oppositions.[3]
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[edit] Background
In the summer of 1979 a slight thaw had set in, during which two opposition magazines were established: Formosa Magazine, headed by veteran opposition Legislative Yuan-member Huang Hsin-chieh, and The Eighties, headed by up and coming opposition leader K'ang Ning-hsiang. Formosa Magazine quickly became the rallying point for the budding democratic movement. During the fall of 1979, it became increasingly vocal. December 10th became an opportunity to express views concerning the lack of democracy and human rights on the island. Prior to the event the atmosphere had become tense, because of increasingly violent attacks by right-wing extremists on offices of the magazine and homes of leading staff members.
[edit] Incident
The event on December 10, 1979 started out as the first major Human Rights Day celebration on the island. Until that time the authorities had never allowed any public expression of discontent.
Between 2:00 and 3:00 p.m. in the afternoon of December 10, 1979 (four hours before the demonstration commemorating Human Rights Day started, and before any irregularities had taken place), the military police, the army and the police had already taken up positions when the demonstrators arrived.
When the event took place during the evening, the military police marched forward and closed in on the demonstrators, then they retreated again to their original position. This was repeated two or more times. The battalion commander explained that the purpose of this exercise was to cause panic and fear in the crowd and also to provoke anger and confusion. Political demonstrators clashed with troops sent by the KMT.[3]
[edit] Arrests, imprisonment
The KMT authorities used the incident as an excuse to arrest virtually all well-known opposition leaders. They were held incommunicado for some two months, during which reports of severe ill-treatment filtered out of the prisons. The arrested groups were subsequently tried in three separate groups.
[edit] Lin Yi-hsiung
In February 1980 Lin Yi-hsiung, a leader of the democratic movement, was in detention and beaten severely by KMT police. His mother saw him in prison and contacted the Amnesty International Osaka office. The next day Lin's mother and twin 7 year old daughters were stabbed to death. Lin's older daughter was badly wounded in his home. The authorities claimed to know nothing about it, even though his house was under 24 hour police surveillance.[4]
[edit] First group: The Kaohsiung Eight
In March/April 1980, the eight most prominent leaders "The Kaohsiung Eight" were tried in military court and were sentenced to terms ranging from 12 years to life imprisonment. The trial was also publicised.[4]
[edit] Second group: The Kaohsiung 33
In April/May 1980, another group of 33 people, "The Kaohsiung 33", who had taken part in the Human Rights Day gathering were tried in civil court and sentenced to terms ranging from 2 to 6 years.[4]
[edit] Third group
A third group of 10 people were associated with the Presbyterian Church for hiding Mr. Shih Ming-teh, who feared torture and immediate execution. Most prominent among this group was Dr. Kao Chun-ming, the general-secretary of the Presbyterian Church. Dr. Kao was sentenced to seven years imprisonment. The others received lesser sentences. Shih got life sentencing. His wife Linda Gail Arrigo, a United States citizen was deported.[4]
[edit] Others:
15 of Taiwan's most important political leaders, a group of writers and intellectuals, associated with the Formosa magazine were arrested.[3] 15 publications were closed down including Meilidao/Formosa magazine.[4] Newspapers after the event reported that the ensuing confrontations led to civilian and police injuries.
Four tangwai were arrested and imprisoned on trumped-up charges of sedition after the incident including Huang Hsin-chieh, Yao Chia-wen, Chang Chun-hung and Lin Hung-hsuan.[5]
[edit] Turning point in Taiwanese history
After the Kaohsiung incident, a decade of political struggle continued between the mainlander-controlled KMT and the other political parties.[3] The importance of the incident is that both Taiwanese people in Taiwan as well as the overseas Taiwanese community were galvanized into political actions. The movement which grew out of the incident formed the basis for the present-day opposition Democratic Progressive Party.[3] While the political oppositions at the time was not yet calling for Taiwanese independence, the event called for self-determination.[4] An overseas support network of Taiwanese organizations were also formed in North America and Europe. Virtually all leading members of the present-day democratic opposition had a role in the event, either as defendants or as defense lawyers. By the year 2000, DPP successfully ended KMT rule.
[edit] References
- ^ Chang, Sung-sheng. [2004] (2004). Literary Culture in Taiwan: Martial Law to Market Law. Columbia University Press. ISBN 0231132344.
- ^ Copper, John Franklin. [2003] (2003). Taiwan: Nation-State Or Province?. Westview Press Taiwan. ISBN 0813340691.
- ^ a b c d e f Chang, Sung-sheng. [2004] (2004). Literary Culture in Taiwan: Martial Law to Market Law. Columbia University Press. ISBN 0231132344.
- ^ a b c d e f Roy, Denny. Taiwan: A Political History. [2003] (2003). Cornell University Press. ISBN 0801488052.
- ^ Taiwan Communique
