Taiwan Launches 'White Terror Not Lost Map' to Deepen Transitional Justice Education
Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
TLDR
- Taiwan's Ministry of Education has launched a new educational resource called the 'White Terror Not Lost Map' to teach about the White Terror period.
- The resource uses four maps based on the life stories of victims to illustrate historical context and personal experiences during the authoritarian regime.
- The initiative aims to deepen the understanding of transitional justice and human rights education among students and the public.
The Ministry of Education's National Curriculum Development and Research Institute has unveiled the "White Terror Not Lost Map - Local Edition," a significant educational initiative designed to bring Taiwan's difficult history of white terror to life. Launched at the Kaohsiung Museum of History, this project utilizes four meticulously crafted maps, each focusing on the life trajectories of victims like Li Ge-wen in Taipei, Zhong Xin-kuan in Yunlin, Ke Qi-hua in Kaohsiung, and Chen Yu-zhen in Pingtung. These maps are not mere geographical markers; they are narrative tools, weaving together political archives, historical research, geographic information, and audiovisual materials to reconstruct the past and illuminate the lives of those who suffered under authoritarian rule.
These maps are not just historical location markers, but also present the life trajectories of victims under the authoritarian regime.
This endeavor is crucial for deepening the practice of transitional justice education. As Control Yuan member Fan Hsun-lu noted during the launch, holding the event at a site of historical injustice carries profound symbolic weight. While human rights issues have been part of Taiwan's curriculum for years, and the national violence and transitional justice are explicitly included in the 108 curriculum, translating these concepts into tangible classroom experiences remains a challenge for educators. Fan highlighted the parallels between Taiwan and South Korea's historical experiences, such as the 28 February Incident and the Jeju April 3rd Incident, or the Kaohsiung Incident and the Gwangju Uprising, suggesting that international exchanges can offer valuable lessons in advancing transitional justice.
Holding the unveiling ceremony at a site of injustice carries important symbolic meaning.
The statistics are sobering: between 1945 and 1992, Taiwan recorded 12,060 victims of the White Terror, a number that swells considerably when considering the impact on their families. The Ministry of Education, through the Human Rights Education Resource Center, is working with teachers across the island to develop curriculum materials using national archives. This collaborative approach ensures that historical education gains depth and relevance. The "White Terror Not Lost Map" is more than just a research outcome; it is a vital educational resource intended to connect students with local stories and spaces, encouraging reflection on the past and fostering an awareness of the need to protect democracy and human rights. It seeks to transform the legacy of transitional justice into a dynamic force for societal progress, ensuring that these historical lessons are not forgotten but actively inform Taiwan's future.
The 'White Terror Not Lost Map' is not only a research outcome but also an important educational resource.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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