[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 25 (Thursday, February 25, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E238]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              COMMEMORATION OF TAIWAN'S ``2-28 MASSACRE''

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                           HON. SCOTT GARRETT

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 25, 2010

  Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
the 63th commemoration of Taiwan's ``2-28 Massacre.'' In the Fall of 
1945, 50 years of Japanese occupation of Taiwan ended with World War 
II. The United Nations gave administrative control of Taiwan to the 
Chinese Nationalist Party. After more than a year, the Taiwanese people 
were frustrated by the corruption and economic mismanagement that 
seemed to plague the party.
  On February 28, 1947, an elderly woman was arrested and beaten. A 
group of Taiwanese confronted the Chinese troops responsible. One of 
the Taiwanese was shot, riots raged, and Chinese soldiers gunned down 
thousands of unarmed civilians.
  During the following days, government troops arrived from mainland 
China. The Chinese soldiers began capturing and executing leading 
Taiwanese lawyers, doctors, students, and other citizens. It is 
estimated more than 18,000 people lost their lives. During the 
following four decades, the Chinese Nationalists continued to rule 
Taiwan with an iron fist under Martial Law that was not lifted until 
1987.
  The Massacre had far reaching implications. Over the next half-
century, these events helped galvanize Taiwan's struggle for 
independence and for its transformation from a dictatorship to a 
thriving and pluralistic democracy.
  I urge other Members to join me in commemorating this important 
historical event.

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