TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Civic groups gathered in Taipei on Sunday to call for major changes to and the repurposing of Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, urging public support to remove what they described as a symbol of authoritarianism, per CNA.
Protesters displayed English-language banners reading “Taiwan Does Not Need a Memorial Hall for a Dictator,” calling for the removal of the statue of Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石) and the transformation of the site into a space dedicated to democratic values. They said such actions would allow Taiwan to fully move beyond its authoritarian past.
The demonstration marked the third consecutive year of similar protests and coincided with the anniversary of Chiang’s death in 1975. The event was organized by the 519 Action Group, with participation from 58 civic organizations.
In the afternoon, demonstrators carried photos of political victims and banners as they marched from the Liberty Square archway to the memorial hall. A large red banner bearing the Chinese character “拆” (demolish) was displayed on the steps, drawing attention from locals and foreign tourists.
Wang Mei-hsiu (王美琇), convener of the 519 Action Group and chair of the Koo Kwang-ming Foundation, said the memorial hall’s 46-year existence reflects incomplete transitional justice in Taiwan.
She said that from the 228 Incident to 43 years of martial law, Chiang’s rule led to the deaths of tens of thousands of Taiwanese. Despite more than three decades of democracy, she said, the continued presence of the memorial in the capital raises questions about the values Taiwan presents to the world.
Wang outlined three key demands: closing the memorial hall and removing Chiang’s statue, accelerating plans to transform the site into a democracy plaza, and eliminating authoritarian symbols from schools and public spaces nationwide. She emphasized the need for civic action to persist until those goals are achieved.
Lan Yun-ruo (藍芸若), daughter of Lan Ming-ku (藍明谷), a victim of the Keelung Guangming Daily incident, became emotional as she spoke about her family’s experience. She said her father was executed by order of Chiang 75 years ago, while her mother was sent to Green Island for failing to report alleged communist activities, leaving her and her brother alone as children.
Lan said many young people and international visitors are unaware of Taiwan’s historical trauma. She cautioned that visitors to Liberty Square might mistakenly attribute Taiwan’s democratic achievements to Chiang’s leadership without proper context.
She called on authorities to fully transform the site and remove the statue, saying such steps are necessary for Taiwan to truly bid farewell to authoritarianism, as seen in countries including Germany, Spain, and South Africa.
