‘2ㆍ28 臺灣 民衆抗爭’과 대만인의 ‘臺灣意識’

Abstract

The 2ㆍ28 Incident occurred in 1947. It was the biggest incident that gave an impact to Taiwan after World WarⅡ. Up to now, most parts of political, social, historical problems of Taiwan are based on this incident. Chiang Kai-Shek was the chief of the Nanjing national party government and military force at that moment, therefore he has the greatest power. He was the only one to decide launching army. He did not seem to know about Taiwan’s conditions. He misunderstood Taiwan’s demand for innovation and regarded it as a revelation, so he dispatched army to repress Taiwan. Under his wings, Jin-Ye overlooked public opinions, and launched army because of the uprising, 2.28. Around eighteen thousands to twenty eight thousands people were arrested in this period. Massive blood was shed in suppression by military power (綏靖). The government took a ‘visiting from door to door search’ method for a suspected person (淸鄕). Due to the suppression, especially young elites of Taiwan died and injured. There were battles between army and militia which was consisted of students and the younger generations. The militia, lacking supply of weapons and other munitions, was in a inferior situation. For this reason, they, the members of militia, were arrested and received death or jail sentence at court, or others ran away to mountains and launched guerrilla. After the suppression, the military force performed an operation which visit from door to door search for a suspected person, They took the census thoroughly, and arrested ‘riots.’ Also, they bind three neighbors for guaranteed themselves, and the force required weapons and munitions to people. As the process of visiting from door to door search developed, the force had authority to search every houses without any restrict, and people were plundered or raped by the force. City was like a hell. According to statistics recorded by 2.28 research team of the Executive council, the number of deaths were around eighteen thousands to twenty eight thousands. However the most important things were psychological alterations of survivors. Due to Nanjing government’s brutal subjugation, Taiwan society was buried into long-term panic. Mental shock that Taiwanese suffered brought about distrust, terror, and indifference among the people. They didn’t refer about 2.28, and taught their children not to have attention to political rights and wrongs, or not to discuss with irregularity of politics. Soon after Chiang Kai-Shek government retreated to Taiwan, and ruled taiwan for thirty eight years. Being under this martial low, Taiwanese couldn’t have any word even though they had rights to speak. Some passive people reserved their decisions to accept the government as their country. However others who were active insisted the independence of Taiwan, and fought for national independence in foreign countries. It was not until the fortieth anniversary of 2.28 movement, 1987, that arousing public response for recovery of honor of 2.28 movement was formed. Although open forum held in these periods, it only dealt with dissolution of eschewal and consolation for victims. They couldn’t disclose the truth and where the responsibility lies even then. After 1991, public’s concern about 2.28 was getting increased, therefore the movement for demanding data and studies for 2.28 revitalized. The executive Council composed 2.28 research team, drew up reports of investigation of 2.28 Incident, and in February 1992, they opened it to the public. This report modified that the words ‘riot’ and ‘rebellion’ asserted by Yang Liang Gong(楊亮功)ㆍHe Han Wen(何漢文) were not corresponded with historical facts. It also described occurrence and progress of the incident. From that time, searching for historical materials and study of 2.28 were advanced properly. But still, the political situation in 1991 was not allowed to refer about the problem of responsibility of the incident. The most sensation-creating fact is ‘Problem of responsibility of 2ㆍ28’. According to the research, several researchers define Chiang Kai-Shek as the most responsible person, and they tend to take off China or history of China originated from him. I thought Taiwanese regard state of under China as well as being colonized by Japan. It means that a strong nation colonizes weak nation, Taiwan, by power. They claim that 2.28 was the starting point of Taiwan independence movement from foreign power invasions, and the motive power to find Taiwanese themselves. People rejected China because of the influence of fifty years of colonization by Japan. Chinese overlooked the factor of this incident that Taiwan wanted innovation of society. It was not until the fortieth anniversary of 2ㆍ28 movement, 1987, that arousing public response for recovery of honor of 2ㆍ28 movement was formed. February twenty eighth, 1995, the president Lee Deung-hui (李登輝)attended unveiling 2ㆍ28 monument ceremony. In this ceremony, he apologized to victims and their families as the representative of government in public. With this as a turning point, movement for recovery of the honor was elevated. In same year, National Assembly issued regulation which compensate victims of 2ㆍ28, and the Executive organized 2ㆍ28 foundation to promote compensation. Also, as political democratization was in process, voice of ‘Taiwan by Taiwanese’ increased. The term ‘Taiwan by Taiwanese’, which was an aim of 2ㆍ28 movement, in other words the independence movement that Taiwanese wanted to remove china to found their own country got on the right track in 2000 after the political power shifted by Chen Sui-Bien(陳水扁). He was a member of Democratic Progressive Party, and he was named as the “Sun of Taiwan.” He separated Taiwan with China and took his own line. The spirit of 2.28 and political problems in Taiwan were double-edged sword. Chen Sui-Ben won in 2000 and 2004 elections, and these events were accepted that Taiwanese choose the independence line. Power shift to Democratic Progressive Party accelerated taking off Chinese color. 2004, Chen Sui-Bien won the election again and he emphasized Taiwan’s identity. He removed the word “China” from official company names. September sixth, 2006, Chang Kai-Shek international airport and Chiang Kai-Shek memorial hall renamed to ‘Taiwan Tao Yuan International Airport’ and ‘Democracy Memorial Hall’ However, despite assertion of the spirit’s rightfulness, it does not seem to obtain Taiwan’s independence easily.