TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) on Sunday attended the unveiling of a commemorative plaque at the former residence of Lin Yi-hsiung (林義雄), now home to Gikong Presbyterian Church, honoring its role in Taiwan’s transitional justice efforts.
Lai said the event preserves a historic site and marks a critical moment in which the nation confronted its past, acknowledged its suffering, and strengthened its democracy. He expressed hope that the location, once associated with tragedy, can become a beacon of democracy that promotes faith and upholds justice, per CNA.
In his remarks, Lai noted the site was also where the Lin family massacre occurred. Last June, the church applied to have the location designated as a site of transitional justice significance, becoming the first privately initiated application of its kind. The designation was later approved following review by a government panel and formally announced by the Ministry of Culture.
Lai said he had requested the ministry at last year’s 228 Incident Memorial Ceremony to begin the review process, paving the way for Sunday’s unveiling as the first privately applied for and approved site of its kind.
The president said the massacre, which took place 46 years ago on Feb. 28, shocked Taiwan and the international community. He described it as an unbearable tragedy for the Lin family and a dark chapter in Taiwan’s history of authoritarian-era human rights abuses.
Since taking office, Lai said he has pushed for the accelerated declassification of political archives to uncover the truth. As of February, more than 140,000 documents, including those related to the case, had been declassified by the National Security Bureau and transferred to the National Archives Administration.
He cited a Control Yuan investigation that concluded the killings were intended to suppress nonpartisan political activity and strengthen social control. A 1980 intelligence report had already ruled out the involvement of pro-independence activists or international organizations.
Lai said years of investigation point to state involvement and subsequent cover-ups under authoritarian rule. He emphasized that Taiwan’s democratic government must confront the truth and continue advancing transitional justice.
He thanked the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan, Gikong Presbyterian Church, and the Lin family for transforming a site of tragedy into a symbol of democratic values.
Lai also noted that recent film and television portrayals of the massacre have sparked renewed public discussion, prompting more people to visit the site and learn about Taiwan’s history. He said this growing awareness is encouraging and expressed confidence that as more people engage with the past, Taiwan will be better able to share its story with the world.
“The story of the Taiwanese people is one of courage,” Lai said, adding that despite repression following the massacre, the public remained determined to push Taiwan toward democratization.
