President Tsai Ing-wen vowed Feb. 25 to never again overlook the perspectives of Taiwan’s indigenous peoples while uncovering the truth behind the February 28 Incident, spotlighting the government’s commitment to achieving transitional justice.
 
The lives of many indigenous individuals were deeply affected by the chaos at the time, Tsai said. Now that discussing and researching the incident are no longer taboos, it is time to honor the memory of all those affected, she added.
 
The 228 incident occurred in 1947 when protesters demanded reforms. When these demands were unmet and riots broke out against the government, military reinforcements were called from China, and many were killed during the ensuing crackdown.
 
Tsai made the remarks during a symposium on indigenous peoples and the incident hosted by Academia Historica, the country’s foremost historical research institution, in Taipei City.
 
According to Tsai, the incident was not a simple conflict divided along ethnic lines; indigenous peoples in different communities and regions responded to the violence differently. Ensuring the memories and perspectives of all of the country’s ethnic groups are recognized is key to the successful pursuit of transitional justice, she said.
 
Promoting transitional justice and safeguarding human rights were central planks in Tsai’s campaign platform. Since her first term began in May 2016, the president and her administration have implemented a raft of measures to redress past injustices.

These include clearing victims of charges, offering compensation and passing legislation to bring the country’s related laws in line with the U.N. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. (DL-E)

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