Taiwan Tati Cultural and Educational Foundation

Exposing the 228 Massacre’s secrets

Taipei Times Editorial

As Taiwanese readied to observe the 66th anniversary of the 228 Massacre last week, many were angered when it emerged that President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), at the behest of a descendant of a perpetrator, had sent a letter to Academia Sinica’s Institute of Modern History asking it to uncover the “real facts” behind the incident.

For critics, Ma’s request was regarded as an attempt to rewrite, possibly with the intent of whitewashing the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) responsibility, a dark, albeit defining, chapter in the nation’s history.

Woeser dedicates ‘Courage’ award to Tibetan self-immolators

Phayul.com

Tibetan writer Tsering Woeser in a file photo.

DHARAMSHALA, March 5: Beijing based Tibetan writer Tsering Woeser has dedicated her International Women’s Courage Award to Tibetan self-immolators, numbering over 100, who have set themselves on fire protesting China’s occupation.

Writing to Phayul, Woeser, 44, who is currently under house arrest due to heightened security restrictions following China’s parliamentary session, said the recognition by the United States government gives her “mixed feelings.”

‘Judicial victims’ plan lawsuits

Taipei Times

A group of former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration officials who have been proven innocent in corruption cases said yesterday that they planned to file charges against prosecutors of abuse of power.

The self-proclaimed “judicial victims” told a press conference that prosecutorial abuse had no place in a democracy and their cases reflected widespread political persecution after the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) return to power in 2008.

Action needed on human rights

Taipei Times Editorial

The latest international review on Taiwan’s first national human rights report showed that the nation’s efforts to protect human rights are falling short of international standards and there is still a long way to go before the nation can join other major countries in the development of human rights.

The review, presented last week by 10 human rights experts that were invited by President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) administration to assess the first national human rights report, urged the government to abolish capital punishment, suspend the execution of death sentences, reveal the truth behind the White Terror era, respect freedom of assembly and prevent monopolization of the media. The 84 recommendations listed by the experts included calls for the improvement of rights for migrant workers, Aborigines, women, gay and transgender people, and people with disabilities.

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