On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the February 28 Incident and the 30th anniversary of the lifting of martial law, Culture Minister Cheng Li-chiun announced plans to transform the National Chiang Kai-shekMemorial Hallfor transitional justice.
The guiding principles for promoting transitional justice include restoring historical truths, clarifying responsibilities, advocating political rehabilitation, and implementing human rights education. These goals will require the government to work with the private sector on the path to reconciliation.
Minister Cheng noted that the memorial hall, which is now a national agency affiliated with the Ministry of Culture, was established to commemorate an authoritarian ruler. She had responded to congressional interpellations after taking office, stating that the implementation of transitional justice has been one of her top priorities.
The Ministry of Culture will propose a draft amendment on the "Organization Act of the National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Management Office” to implement the transformation work on a legal basis as response to public expectations.
Scholars and experts have been invited by the Ministry of Culture to form an advisory group for transforming the National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. They will be assisting the Ministry with organizing civic discussions regarding measures, purpose, and urban planning of the transformation. Only after the discussions are complete will the Ministry propose the draft amendment.
The Ministry will do its best to help restore historical truths and reconstruct history from a cultural perspective to advocate continuous dialogue and reflection between contemporary society and its history. Transitional justice will also ensure freedom and human rights are the common values shared by citizens of Taiwan to promote reconciliation in society.
Read the original press release in Chinese here.