Taiwan marks 1947 massacre anniversary
TAIPEI (AFP) — Less than a month before Taiwan's presidential elections, the island's political leaders rallied supporters on Thursday to honour thousands killed in a 1947 crackdown by nationalist troops.
President Chen Shui-bian, opening a special exhibition on the so-called February 28 incident, urged the public to "remember the lesson" of the massacre, which he blames on late nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek.
Chen, who has called for Chiang to be tried posthumously for his alleged role in the incident, then launched a thinly veiled attack on the nationalist Kuomintang party, which is trying to win the presidency from his DPP in March.
"Some people are unwilling to face the history of violating human rights under an authoritarian government ... and demand victims to forgive their victimisers and ask the society to forget history," he said.
"We have to acknowledge what happened on this land and remember the lesson in order to move forward and strengthen democratic values."
In southern Taiwan, presidential frontrunner Ma Ying-jeou of the Kuomintang -- who is campaigning against ex-premier Frank Hsieh from Chen's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) -- called for reconciliation at a memorial service.
"It is mercy that binds us together, not hatred ... The 2-28 incident is a historical tragedy and we should let relatives of the victims mourn their loved ones peacefully and refrain from political manipulation," he said.
The February 28 massacre came following riots sparked when a Kuomintang inspector beat a female vendor in Taipei for selling untaxed cigarettes.
Chiang -- then fighting a civil war against Mao Zedong's communists in China -- ordered nationalist forces from the mainland to crack down on the riots which were spreading across Taiwan, and a killing spree ensued.
The massacre remained taboo for decades under Chiang's rule. He died in 1975 after ruling the island for 26 years.
It was not until 1995 that then KMT president Lee Teng-hui made the first official apology. Parliament later agreed on compensation for the victims and made February 28 an official holiday.
Hundreds of DPP supporters set off through the streets of Taipei from 2:28 pm (0628 GMT), to mark the date of the incident, and Hsieh, together with his running mate Su Tseng-chang, joined the marchers later Thursday.
The DPP candidate tried to drum up support at the night rally of thousands of people at a stadium by underscoring the campaign platform differences between the independence-leaning DPP and the KMT, which favours improved ties with Beijing.
"Economy is an important issue, but we must not boost the economy at the expense of Taiwan's sovereignty," he said.
"If the KMT presidential ticket's call for forming a 'common market' with China is put into practice, then China's agricultural produce, workers and professionals would flood into Taiwan," he said.
Across town, Ma -- who is leading Hsieh by about 20 points in opinion polls after the KMT crushed the DPP in January legislative elections -- attended a concert in tribute to the victims later in the night.
Some 1,000 people attended, including relatives of some of the victims, organisers said.
Taiwan will go to the polls on March 22 to choose a successor to Chen, who will retire at the conclusion of his second and final term in May.
