- Date: Nov. 29, 2016 - May 21, 2017
- Venue: National Museum of Taiwan History
- Address: No. 250 Changhe Road Section 1, Annan District, Tainan City, Taiwan (ROC)
- Facebook: NMTH100
- Twitter: @CulturalTaiwan
- Related Content: White Terror Dossiers
The National Museum of Taiwan History has curated a special exhibition commemorating the 70th anniversary of the February 28 Incident in 2017 to help more people explore this period of history, because honest dialogue and empathy form the basis of co-existence and mutual trust.
Taking a different approach than the past, "Our 2.28: 70 Years After the 2.28 Incident” highlights the personal perspectives of the common people. Communities that sprang from the 1947 incident, including the Memorial Foundation of 228, National 288 Memorial Museum, Taipei 228 Memorial Museum, Chen Cheng-po Cultural Foundation, and Chiayi 228 Memorial Cultural and Educational Foundation, all provided invaluable documents and relics to help piece together a narrative not found in government archives.
From officially issued statements to accounts published by opposition parties, the museum's collection of relevant commentaries and reports from the past seven decades has also been incorporated into the exhibition to document the nation's response to the February 28 Incident.
Below is a simple summary and timeline of events:
On Feb. 27, 1947, Taiwan Tobacco & Wine Monopoly Bureau officials beat up a female vendor, opening fire and killing an innocent bystander.
The outraged public protested outside the Governor's office, demanding punishment for the murder. In response, demonstrators were shot.
Faced with an island-wide protest, governing authorities did not take negotiation requests seriously and instead asked Nanking for troops.
The brutal crackdown implicated and destroyed many innocent civilians. The number of missing and dead is estimated to be tens of thousands.
For nearly half a century, the crackdown remained a taboo topic until martial law was lifted in 1987, bringing White Terror to an end.
In pursuit of transitional justice, Taiwan will continue to right historical wrongs and work towards a future of reconciliation and unity.