The National Human Rights Museum (NHRM) of the Ministry of Culture launched "An Exhibition on International Concern for Taiwan Political Prisoners 1960-1992" on December 10, shining a spotlight on the history of efforts in rescuing political prisoners and human rights activists at home and abroad during the White Terror between 1960 and 1992.
The exhibition revisits the history of human rights activism and specific incidents during that period, presenting important figures and organizations that were involved. It is hoped that the public will attend the exhibition and acknowledge themselves the important progress of democratization.
The exhibition also showcases many invaluable artefacts, such as the "Free China Journal (自由中國)" and "Taiwan Political Review (臺灣政論)" periodicals, as well as some items which are on display for the first time, including the tricolor strips from the Kaohsiung Incident (美麗島事件), the wedding gown of Linda Arrigo (艾琳達) and Shi Ming-teh (施明德) and the painting that Miyake Kyoko (三宅清子) gave to Lynn Alan Miles (梅心怡). The exhibited pieces all bear moving stories for the audience to explore.
Deputy Minister of Culture Peng Chun-heng (彭俊亨), Vice Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission Yun-Cheng Kao (高涌誠), members of the commission Chiu-Chin Tian (田秋堇), Yeh Ta-hua (葉大華), Antonio Hong (鴻義章), Fan Sun-lu (范巽綠), as well as National Human Rights Museum Director Chen Chun-hung (陳俊宏), curator of the exhibition Chen Ming-cheng (陳銘城), and Director of the Wu San-Lien Foundation for Taiwan Historical Materials Wu Wen-fang (吳文芳) attended the opening.
Human rights activists Linda Arrigo (艾琳達), Willi Böehi (白衛理), Vallourie Cawford, Tien Meng-shu (田孟淑), Hsieh Hsiu-mei (謝秀美), and Lu Xiao-zhi (盧孝治), and victims of political oppression Chen Chung-tung (陳中統), Liu Chia-chin (劉佳欽) and Huang Hua (黃華) were also present. Another activist, Mark Thelin（練馬克), was represented by his son Carl Thelin（練克煒）at the ceremony.
Deputy Minister of Culture Peng Chun-heng, on behalf of Minister of Culture Lee Yung-te, said that since its founding in May 2018, the NHRM has served its function to preserve the history of human rights violations that occurred in Taiwan, hoping that the public can learn from history the value of human rights and become concerned about contemporary human rights issues.
"An Exhibition on International Concern for Taiwan Political Prisoners 1960-1992" which opened on December 10 at NHRM in Jing-Mei White Terror Memorial Park will last until May 2, 2021. The museum will also arrange lectures and workshops of related topics. Anyone interested in Taiwan's human rights history are welcomed to participate and revisit this important period at the NHRM.
For detailed information on the event, please visit the NHRM's official website and Facebook page.