President Ma Ying-jeou on the afternoon of December 10 attended ceremonies at the Jing-Mei Human Rights Memorial and Cultural Park in Taipei to mark 2010 Human Rights Day. The president once again expressed his deepest apologies and respects to victims of political persecution here and their families, and reiterated that the government would squarely face history, for it shares the pain the families feel. He said efforts will continue to be made to heal the wounds of history and build a harmonious and stable society.
All in attendance first observed one minute of silence for the victims, then President Ma addressed the gathering, noting that this is the third time he has visited the Jing-Mei Human Rights Memorial and Cultural Park. He expressed concern for those who were politically persecuted during the early decades and apologized on behalf of the government for the great sorrows caused. With regard to differing opinions on the government's handling of the situation, the president said that over the past 20 years he has come in contact with the victims and their families on many occasions, and entirely understands their continued anger. The president thanked the victims and their family members for attending related memorial activities, and expressed respect for their viewpoints. He furthermore stressed that the government in the future will make every effort to heal the wounds of the past and enable Taiwan to move forward.
President Ma explained that the Jing-Mei Human Rights Memorial and Cultural Park was originally the location of a penitentiary where many victims were long incarcerated on bogus charges, but the park site has stood witness to Taiwan's transformation from authoritarianism to democracy, and now the memorial is officially opening, with exhibits focusing on three different themes: historical records; the lives of the victims; and prison life. The memorial sheds light on history and demands that we remember the wrongs committed by the government in the past while thinking seriously about the attitude that the government should embrace with regard to human rights.
The president stated that many nations have faced up to past human rights abuses by their governments, but not every nation has drawn the proper lessons. President Ma said he was not yet born at the time of the February 28 Incident (in 1949), but the government must still take responsibility for it and other White Terror injustices, and should make use of available resources to address the situation. By admitting its mistakes, apologizing, erecting memorials, passing laws, designating February 28 a national holiday, and restoring the good names of victims, the government can help to heal the pain of those who suffered. This will enable society to gradually sense the government's sincerity, he remarked, adding that the government last year ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and incorporated them into domestic law. The president explained that he has also asked government agencies to amend or re-formulate within two years the content of any law or regulation that does not conform with the content of the two covenants. President Ma said that earlier in the day of December 10, the Presidential Office Human Rights Consultative Committee was established, with Vice President Vincent C. Siew serving as convener, and other eminent individuals serving as committee members. He said that in the future the committee will regularly review and issue human rights reports in a fair and just manner to prevent any further infringements on human rights. This will help Taiwan become a nation that safeguard human rights and upholds democracy, he said.
After concluding his remarks, President Ma joined with Premier Wu Den-yih and Council for Cultural Affairs Minister Emile C.J. Sheng in pouring pigments into an ice sculpture to symbolize the end of imprisonment and the embrace of tolerance and diversity. He also toured the exhibitions in the park with Tsui Hsiao-ping and Joseph Pai, representatives of the victims of political persecution and their family members.