White Terror (Taiwan)

Long ago, rules in Taiwan were very strict.

A group of leaders held power. They wanted to stay in charge. They treated many people unfairly. Some people were put in jail for their ideas. This lasted for many years. It was a very long time for the people. Later, new groups worked to fix these wrongs. They helped make things more fair for everyone. It is important to treat others with kindness.

For many years, Taiwan was under very strict rules. This time was called the White Terror. It began in 1949. A group called the Kuomintang, or KMT, ruled the island. They wanted to keep their power. To do this, they used martial law. This is a set of laws used during hard times.

The KMT used secret police to watch people. They looked for anyone who disagreed with them. Many people were called spies. Some were even called "bandit spies." The government arrested many people. They arrested thinkers and local groups. Some people were even jailed for their words.

This was a sad time for many. It is estimated that 3,000 to 4,000 people were executed. The strict rules lasted for 38 years.

Later, things began to change. Martial law ended in 1987. In 2018, a new group started to help. They worked to fix the wrongs from the past. They helped clear the names of many people who were treated unfairly.

The White Terror was a time of strict control in Taiwan. It was a period of political repression by the government. The Kuomintang, or KMT, was the group in power. They ruled the island after moving from mainland China in 1949. This happened during the final stages of the Chinese Civil War. The KMT wanted to make sure their rule was strong. To do this, they used very harsh rules to stop any disagreement.

This period worked through a system of intense monitoring. The government used a secret police called the Taiwan Garrison Command. They also used other intelligence units to watch the people. The KMT used special criminal laws to target those they disliked. Many people were accused of being "bandit spies" or communist spies. Sometimes, people were even labeled as separatists. This allowed the government to arrest anyone who did not follow their views. Even the right to privacy was often ignored.

History shows that this period lasted for a very long time. Martial law began on May 19, 1949. It lasted for 38 years and 57 days. This was one of the longest periods of martial law in the world. The strict rules finally ended on July 15, 1987. Later, in 1992, a law was removed to stop more prosecutions. Many people were arrested for their ideas or their words. For example, one man was jailed just for how he translated a comic strip.

There were many real people affected by these events. It is estimated that 3,000 to 4,000 civilians were executed. The government also targeted intellectuals and local groups. Some people, like Uyongū Yata'uyungana, were part of the indigenous peoples. Others were members of the Formosan League for Reemancipation. Even future leaders faced hard times. Lee Teng-hui was detained and questioned by the secret police in 1969.

Today, Taiwan works to make things right from this era. In 2018, a group called the Transitional Justice Commission was formed. Their job is to fix the wrongs of the past. They have worked to clear the names of many people. For instance, they revoked the convictions of thousands of people. This included groups of 1,270 and 1,505 people in different batches. By doing this, the country honors those who were treated unfairly. This helps the people of Taiwan remember their history clearly.

The White Terror was a period of intense political repression in Taiwan. It was led by the Kuomintang (KMT) government. This group held power after retreating from mainland China during the Chinese Civil War in 1949. The KMT sought to consolidate its control over the island's remaining territories. To do this, they implemented harsh measures to stop political dissent. This era is defined by the use of martial law to suppress perceived enemies.

The mechanism of the White Terror relied on strict legal and surveillance tools. The government utilized the Taiwan Garrison Command (TGC), which acted as a secret police force. They also used various intelligence units to monitor the population. The KMT used special criminal laws to purge dissidents from society. Many people were labeled as "bandit spies" or communist spies. These labels were often applied without merit to anyone who disagreed with the regime.

This repression targeted several distinct groups of people. The KMT focused on suspected leftists and those sympathetic to communism. They also targeted Taiwanese locals and indigenous peoples, such as Uyongʉ Yata'uyungana, who were involved in the 28 February incident. Intellectuals and social elites were frequently imprisoned to prevent resistance. Groups like the Formosan League for Reemancipation were viewed as being under communist control. Even individual expression was not safe, as seen when Bo Yang was jailed for his translation of a Popeye comic strip.

History shows that this period lasted for several decades. Martial law was officially declared on 19 May 1949. It was enabled by the 1948 Temporary Provisions against the Communist Rebellion. Martial law lasted for 38 years and 57 days. At the time it was lifted, it was the longest period of martial law in the world. It was eventually lifted on 15 July 1987. The era officially concluded when Article 100 of the Criminal Code was repealed on 21 September 1992.

The scale of the White Terror was significant. It is estimated that between 3,000 and 4,000 civilians were executed by the government. The government was also suspected of extrajudicial killings against exiles in other countries. Many victims were mainland Chinese who had moved to Taiwan with the KMT. Despite the danger, some victims became leaders in the movement for democracy. For example, Lee Teng-hui was detained and interrogated by the TGC in 1969. He later became the president of Taiwan.

There has been much debate regarding the legality of these actions. Some groups claimed the martial law orders were never properly ratified by the Legislative Yuan. They argued the legal procedures were flawed and the military court jurisdiction was invalid. This led to calls for the government to re-examine confiscated property and provide redress. While some victims' families sought compensation, many requests were initially rejected. This caused tension regarding how the state should handle its historical mistakes.

Today, Taiwan uses transitional justice to address this era. In 2018, the Transitional Justice Commission was established to redress past wrongs. The Commission has worked to revoke the convictions of thousands of people. In one batch, they revoked 1,270 convictions. In another, they revoked 1,505 convictions. A third batch included 1,056 people, and a fourth included 2,006 people. These actions aim to restore the legal standing of those who were treated unfairly.