[REEL] The Hidden Story Behind Taiwan’s Freedom of Speech Day

TaiwanPlus News

On April 7, 1989, Taiwanese democracy activist Cheng Nan-jung, also known as Nylon Cheng, took his own life in protest of the then-ruling authoritarian Kuomintang government.    At the time, Cheng was wanted for publishing texts supporting Taiwan’s independence, a direct challenge to the one-party rule. Despite the end of martial law in 1987, the government continued to pursue its mission to “reclaim” China and criminalize dissent.   To avoid arrest and protect his work, Cheng locked himself in his office for 71 days. When police finally broke down the door, he chose to take his own life rather than be captured.   Today, the street where Cheng’s office once stood is known as Freedom Alley, and the office itself is preserved as a museum. In his honor, Taiwan has chosen April 7 as Freedom of Speech Day to ensure his sacrifice is never forgotten.   Warning: This video contains disturbing images. Viewer discretion is advised.     Learn more about the story on our YouTube channel.

Transcript

00:00This blazing window looks right into the office of the magazine Freedom Era Weekly,

00:04where Editor-in-Chief Chen Nanrong made the ultimate sacrifice for his beliefs

00:09by setting himself alight as police arrived to arrest him for sedition.

00:14It was April 7, 1989.

00:17Chiu Wanzhin was the first photographer to document the event

00:20that would change the face of Taiwan,

00:23and the memories still haunt him to this day.

00:30The media immediately returned to me and told me to come back and take a picture.

00:35You can see a picture of a house, and it's very difficult to do it.

00:40Over there on the floor is where police found Chen Nanrong's charred body,

00:44and this room has been kept exactly as it was that day,

00:47with what remains of the furniture still in place.

00:49Chen Nanrong, who also went by the name Nailong Chen,

00:53was wanted for publishing texts supporting Taiwan independence.

00:56He challenged the then-ruling Kuomintang government,

00:59which had continued to follow its party mission to reclaim China

01:02and criminalized opposition to its one-party rule,

01:06even in 1987, after it had ended more than three decades of martial law.

01:12In 1989, Chen locked himself inside his office for 71 days,

01:17living and working here to avoid surveillance.

01:20Just moments before police broke down the door,

01:23Chen took his own life.

01:39Chen's youngest brother, Chen Qinghua, said not even his parents could sway his brother's determination.

01:45Still, the family supported the older Chen all the way,

01:48even though it could mean losing him forever.

02:10Chen's death sent shockwaves through the country.

02:12Tens of thousands of mourners took to the streets of Taipei on the day of his funeral.

02:18His sacrifice forced a realization

02:20that freedom didn't automatically follow the end of martial law.

02:24It had to be demanded.

02:25werden תfall Ludwig- illustrations and plays doğruют est証明.

02:30Derbyrix J. Scholars

02:32eine wait 날

02:33J. R.I.

02:34J. R.I.

02:34j. R.I.

02:34J. Rij

02:34J. R.I.

02:35Amen.

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