[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 2821]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            64TH COMMEMORATION OF TAIWAN'S ``2-28'' MASSACRE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT GARRETT

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, February 28, 2011

  Mr. GARRETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to observe the 64th 
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 the Chinese Nationalist government over the 
following weeks. Estimates of the number of deaths vary from ten 
thousand to thirty thousand.
  The massacre began when Taiwanese citizens confronted Chinese 
Nationalist troops that had beaten and arrested an elderly woman. In 
the weeks that followed, the Republic of China sent soldiers to capture 
and execute unarmed civilians--innocent doctors, lawyers, and students 
that were guilty of only wanting a more free and independent 
government. Over the following four decades, the Chinese Nationalists 
continued to rule Taiwan with an iron fist under Martial Law that was 
not lifted until 1987.
  However, through this daunting experience, a bigger and brighter 
Taiwan is beginning to emerge. In the over half-century since these 
events, we have seen a Taiwan that struggled for independence under an 
authoritarian regime, now have a thriving and pluralistic democracy. 
While they are still fighting for sovereignty from China, since 2000 
the Taiwanese have made strides to control their own destiny, and have 
transitioned between ruling parties based on the will of its citizens 
on multiple occasions.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge other Members to join me today in commemorating 
this important historical event.

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