[Global Times Special Correspondent Zhang Ruo] Today is the 76th anniversary of the "February 28 Incident".
As in previous years, Blue and Green launched a fierce war of words around this historical event, but unlike previous years, Jiang Wanan, the fourth generation of the Jiang family, will attend the commemorative event for the first time as the mayor of Taipei. received great attention from the island.
Various commemorative activities held on the island
On February 28th, Taiwanese local associations will hold many activities.
According to Taiwan's "Central News Agency" report on the 26th, more than 50 local associations including the Cai Ruiyue Dance Research Institute called on the public to gather on the streets again on the 28th to think about the pain brought by the "February 28 Incident" to Taiwan.
Their activity route will cover relevant historical locations: starting from Tianma Tea House, passing through the Taipei Branch of Monopoly Bureau, Taipei Broadcasting Bureau (Taiwan Broadcasting Station), and arriving at Taiwan's "Chief Executive's Office" (now Taiwan's "Executive Yuan").
The "independence" group "Taiwan National Alliance" refused to share the stage with Jiang Wan'an, and will hold a commemorative meeting of "Remember Lessons and Comfort the Dead" in front of "Freedom Square" on the afternoon of the 28th.
According to "United Daily News", New Taipei Mayor Hou Youyi will go to the "228 Peace Park" on the 28th to lay flowers to pay tribute to the families of the victims.
Of course, Jiang Wanan was the political figure who received the most attention on the island on the 28th.
The commemoration of the "February 28 Incident" in Taipei City will be held in Peace Park. Ma Ying-jeou will give a speech first, followed by Jiang Wanan's speech. After that, the two will hold a flower-laying ceremony with all the families of the victims. The whole ceremony will take about half an hour.
Tsai Shi-ping, director of the Taipei City Cultural Bureau, said that since Jiang Wanan took office, his attitude towards "February 28" has always been very humble and sincere. Before that, he had a discussion with the families of the victims.
Taipei City Deputy Secretary-General Wang Qiudong revealed that Jiang Wanan canceled his trip to Japan to commemorate the event, which shows that he attaches great importance to the anniversary.
When asked whether the content of the speech would seek reconciliation, Jiang Wanan responded, "The most important thing is that we will all face it calmly, hoping to heal the scars."
Political debate persists
The political debate surrounding "February 28" has never stopped on the island.
The Tainan City Government checked the city's public activity centers and found that there was still one hanging "Zhongshan Hall" and 30 hanging "Zhongzheng Hall". Changing the name from "Tang" to the location is more in line with the needs, and it is also to implement the so-called "transitional justice" spirit.
KMT member Cai Yuhui criticized "de-Chiangization" and "de-Sinicization" as too political, and we should look at a part of history with a normal mind.
And some public opinion worried that Taipei City arranged for Ma Ying-jeou to give a speech at the event site, which may further arouse dissatisfaction among some people.
In February 2021, the then Mayor of Taipei, Ke Wenzhe, invited Ma Ying-jeou to participate in the "February 28" commemorative activities, which caused an uproar.
Li Shengxiong, a member of the "independence faction", claimed that this was a great "insult" to the victims and Taiwanese, and asked Ma to apologize for the "February 28" and retreat in spite of the difficulties.
Ma Ying-jeou did not back down, but still participated in the activities. He said that he had devoted himself to the "February 28" for nearly 30 years, doing various rehabilitative work, "Don't ignore the efforts of the past 30 years because of the existence of prejudice."
According to Lianhe News, from 1993 to 2021, Ma Ying-jeou may indeed be the political figure who participated in the "February 28" related activities with the most apologies, but "his apology may not be appreciated by independent groups and green campers."
Similarly, these people are not satisfied with Jiang Wanan.
Taipei City Councilor Wang Shijian said on the 25th that Jiang Wanan inherited the aura and resources of the Jiang family, so he must also bear the merits and demerits of the Jiang family in history. ".
As a family member of the victims of the "February 28 Incident", he asked Jiang Wanan to "send his deepest and most sincere apology."
"Taiwan Independence" political party Taiwan Foundation Progressive Party Taipei City Party Committee Chairman Wu Xindai said on the 27th that Jiang Wanan obtained political dividends under the aura of the Jiang family, so he should bear the corresponding political responsibilities, including coordinating the abolition of the Jiang family's mausoleum park and burdening the Jiang family. For the disposal of the remains, coordinate and establish a consortium to maintain them by themselves or send them back to the mainland.
In this regard, Zhu Lilun, chairman of the Kuomintang, said that Jiang Wanan is the person who attaches the most importance to "transitional justice" and promotes the Peace Memorial Day in the Mesozoic of the Kuomintang. It makes everyone feel the peace and love of the entire society. Any political party alone can do it.
KMT member Qin Huizhu posted on Facebook on the 27th that some second generations of military dependents villages asked her, since there are "228 groups" that do not co-organize activities with the Taipei City Government, "Should Jiang Wanan not go to participate?"
Qin Huizhu replied "no".
She believes that the Taipei City Government must organize the "February 28" event, and Jiang Wan'an must also participate, because he is a descendant of the Jiang family, and because he is the current mayor of Taipei City, where the "February 28 Incident" originated, "he It is more necessary to face and deal with it, this is his homework, and it is also the imprint of Taiwan's social collective."
The true meaning of commemorating "February 28"
Cai Zhengyuan, a former "legislator" of the Kuomintang, wrote an article titled "Misunderstandings of the February 28 Incident" on the 26th, saying that many people have many misunderstandings about the "February 28 Incident".
For example, in the February 28 incident, only people from the province suffered, and people from other provinces did not suffer, and they were the perpetrators. As long as people from the province are detained for more than one hour, they are considered suffering, while people from other provinces must be injured and sent to the hospital to be considered suffering, and people from other provinces who are detained by people from other provinces are not counted as suffering.
Another example is "the victims of the February 28 incident all received compensation", but the truth is: people in the province received compensation, with a total amount of NT$7.2 billion, while people from other provinces received no compensation, and the compensation amount was 0. Yuan.
A comment published in China Times Electronic News stated that "February 28" was a tragedy in Taiwan's history, but the real tragedy was not at the present time, and the victims were not only the lives lost at that time.
Every year during the "February 28th", the political arena must be filled with various clamoring voices, especially in election years, it is like a torrential rain and a fire that washes away and burns away the kindness of humanity that Taiwanese have cultivated with great difficulty.
The article stated that "February 28" is history, and it is a painful experience that the people of Taiwan have experienced. The purpose of restoration is to learn lessons, forgive and understand, so as not to repeat the same mistakes. There should be a total of 228".