The end of martial law and the beginning of Taiwan’s democratization

It is impossible to calculate the number of Taiwan citizens who were killed during the February 28 Incident of 1947. During the long White Terror period that followed, the blood of innumerable people of integrity, both local Taiwanese and post-war evacuees from the mainland, was shed at the execution grounds of the race track, with more taking their place in the fight for human rights. Four decades later, in February 1987, Cheng Nan-jung, who had been born the year of the February 28 Incident, pushed for justice. As riot police lined the streets, he toured the island giving speeches and holding marches, appealing for a redress of historical wrongs and the release of political prisoners.

15 July 1987 march calling for the lifting of martial law. (photo by Liu Chen-hsiang)

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Amnesty International: a long-time initiator of global rescue efforts

Amnesty International (AI) was founded in the UK in 1961, and grew quickly in the 1970s. The organization won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1977 for its outstanding contributions to world human rights. Secretary-general Martin Ennals visited Taiwan twice in 1969 and 1970 in his search for information on political prisoners, and brought the political prisoner list compiled in the detention center to the outside world. 

From the left, Chen Chu, Tien Chu-Chin, Japanese Professor sent by AI, and Yu Deng-fa. In the mirror was Linda Gail Arrigo, who took this picture in 1979 during the trial of Yu Deng-fa.

Taiwan Political Prisoner Rescue Association in Japan

Formed in Tokyo in 1977, the association gathered information on political prisoners through various channels which they disseminated worldwide through open forums, assemblies, marches, newspaper articles and so forth, putting pressure on the KMT government, demanding the release of the prisoners. The group was disbanded in 1994 after Taiwan moved toward democratization following the lifting of martial law.

An activity in Japan’s streets held by the Taiwan Political Prisoner Rescue Association. (provided by Tezuka Toshio) 

Overseas friends: James Bond-like covert rescue operations

Lynn Miles currently lives in Longtan, Taiwan. In 2006, Miles described the rescue process in an interview.

In the 1970s, covert underground rescue methods began to appear that were instigated by individuals. Numerous foreign nationals, including students, musicians, housewives and journalists, passed on information on Taiwan’s human rights situation in a sporadic manner, mainly regarding freedom of speech and the press, as well as the release of political prisoners.