Activists call on the government to convert Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall to democracy building

Even though the mausoleum for former presidents Chiang Kai-shek and Chiang Ching-kuo was completed more than 17 years ago, the remains of the father and son have still not been interred at the New Taipei site. Instead the two former leaders’ remains are at separate locations in Taiwan with their fate in limbo. For their part, the Chiangs’ last requests were to be buried in China, but this has been difficult to realize. Scholars and independence activists are now calling on the government to bury them in the mausoleum. They also pointed to the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, which houses a large bronze statue of the older Chiang. They said transitional justice should be implemented without delay, and that the hall should house a democratic organization.
Lee Chuan-hsin
Taiwan Society head
We believe that the Taiwanese government should clearly deal with the remains of the two Chiangs. They can be relocated to Wuzhi Mountain Military Cemetery, and they can be given a place that gives them much respect, a special area. In addition, there’s the bronze statue of Chiang Kai-shek and the memorial hall. We think the bronze statue must go. And then after this, we can keep the memorial hall building. After a few adjustments, we can convert it to a democratic agency or the Legislative Yuan.
Lin Chiung-hua
National Taipei University of the Arts
The Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall actually amounts to the deification of an individual. Of course, its name needs to be changed, that’s the most fundamental thing. This also applies to our national currency, our roads, anything that’s got his name on it, along with images and bronze statues of him. I think these are all things that need to be changed little by little.
The administration of pro-independence President Chen Shui-bian spent NT$31.42 million building the mausoleum devoted to the Chiangs. It was completed in 2005. However, the attitude of some members of the Chiang family, along with complex political factors, have prevented the late presidents’ remains from being relocated there. Lee Chuan-hsin, head of the pro-independence Taiwan Society, thinks that compared with spending nearly NT$50 million a year to maintain the empty mausoleum, it’s much better to have the remains of the two Chiangs interred in it as soon as possible. He adds the two former presidents should be given a state funeral, complete with courtesies such as lowering the flag at half staff.

[@juancastillo2900]

I oppose this! Chang Kai Sheik’s statues should remain!

[@georgeadams3954]

Perhaps you ask his offspring? They may know their sentiments.

[@michaelyuan3382]

What about the sentiments of the families of the victims of the genocide against the Taiwanese and decades of political oppression?

[@TheLastRun]

@@michaelyuan3382 This guy gets it!

[@Podpeopleteam]

Dang, just let the guy rest. Don’t erase your history! It’s embarrassing and cringe when US does it; don’t want to see it in another Red White and Blue country…

[@HTV-2_Hypersonic_Glide_Vehicle]

What?

[@HTV-2_Hypersonic_Glide_Vehicle]

They are "letting him rest". They're just renaming a building.

[@TheLastRun]

One of the most annoying things about being in Taiwan is having to listen to Americans give their opinions on Taiwanese politics and history.

[@HTV-2_Hypersonic_Glide_Vehicle]

@@TheLastRun well it's annoying to hear from those that don't know the situation.

[@Podpeopleteam]

@@TheLastRun lol it’s a company for English speakers on the news in the country. I don’t what you expect in the comments section. We have similar issues and if you let the radical left rename and move relics around, it won’t work out for you. People will forget their history and stop being encouraged to learn historical context. CCP China did this and ROC Taiwan shouldn’t follow.

[@michaelyuan3382]

Imagine having a giant statue of Hitler in the middle of Berlin today and remains of Nazi war criminals being revered in national monuments in Germany. This is basically what Taiwan has done so far. Long overdue reckoning.

[@user-dp1jc5jw7y]

Awww but did you die tho?

[@user-xv4he4mt4x]

But he’s not Hitler. this is not Berlin.

[@Lucas_5092]

Bro thinks CKS is HItler 💀

[@juancastillo2900]

If it wasn’t for Chang Kai Shek, Taiwan would have been part of Communist China and the island’s residents would be living in a complete hell