[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 29 (Thursday, February 28, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E227]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     IN COMMEMORATION OF THE 66TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 2-28 MASSACRE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ROBERT E. ANDREWS

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 28, 2013

  Mr. ANDREWS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to observe the 66th 
commemoration of Taiwan's 2-28 Massacre. The Massacre was an anti-
government uprising in Taiwan that began on February 28, 1947 and was 
violently suppressed by General Chiang Kai-shek's Chinese Nationalist 
Kuomintang (KMT) government during the following weeks. Estimates of 
the number of deaths are around 28,000.
  In the fall of 1945, 50 years of Japanese occupation of Taiwan ended 
after Japan had lost World War II. In October of that year, the KMT-
administered Republic of China (ROC) received administrative control of 
Taiwan. 16 months of KMT administration on Taiwan led to the widespread 
impression among the people of Taiwan that the party was plagued by 
nepotism, corruption, and economic failure.
  Tensions increased between the Taiwanese people and the ROC 
administration. The flashpoint came on February 28, 1947 when in Taipei 
a dispute between a female cigarette vendor and an officer of the 
Government's Office of Monopoly triggered civil disorder and open 
rebellion by the native Taiwanese against the KMT repression.
  During the following weeks, Chiang's government sent troops from 
China to the island. The Chinese soldiers started to round up and 
execute a whole generation of an elite of Taiwanese lawyers, doctors, 
students, professors etc.
  It is estimated that up to 30,000 people lost their lives during the 
turmoil. During the following four decades, the Chinese Nationalists 
continued to rule Taiwan with an iron fist under a Martial Law that 
would not be lifted until 1987.
  Mr. Speaker, the Massacre had far reaching implications. Over the 
next half century, the Taiwanese democracy movement that grew out of 
the event helped pave the way for Taiwan's momentous transformation 
from a dictatorship under the Chinese Nationalists to a democracy.
  In some ways, the 228 incident was Taiwan's Boston Massacre for both 
events functioned as the cradle of a move by both peoples to full 
democracy and helped galvanize the strive to independence.
  Mr. Speaker, I have said it before: Freedom is not negotiable. May 
the lessons learned from the 2-28 Massacre continue to inspire the 
people of Taiwan in their struggle for freedom, full independence, 
international participation, and for the continued enhancement of the 
mutual relationship between Taiwan and the United States.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me today in commemorating 
this important historical event.

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