Designated as a Transitional Justice Center: Previously Residential Property of Lin

Taiwan Recognizes Former Lin Residence as a Site of Transitional Justice

In a significant move towards acknowledging Taiwan's authoritarian past, the Ministry of Culture has designated the former residence of democracy advocate Lin I-hsiung in Taipei as a heritage site. This makes the former Lin family home the first in Taiwan to receive the designation of being a "site relevant to injustices enacted by the state."

The decision comes after a long-standing campaign led by Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Fan Yun and the Gikong Presbyterian Church. Fan Yun, at a joint news conference, urged the Legislative Yuan to pass proposed guidelines for promoting the establishment of sites that are relevant to transitional justice.

The Lin family tragedy is a poignant reminder of the dark period in Taiwan's history. On February 28, 1980, Lin's mother and seven-year-old twin daughters were murdered in the house. A third daughter, aged nine at the time, survived a stabbing attack. The killers of Lin's family were never identified, although a 2023 Control Yuan report linked the murders to the National Security Bureau.

Lin I-hsiung was arrested and detained in 1979 over his involvement in the Kaohsiung Incident. The ensuing massacre and imposition of martial law marked the beginning of the decades-long White Terror era, during which thousands of people were arrested, imprisoned, and executed.

Fan Yun believes that the struggle for justice is never in vain. She stated, "The former Lin family home is a memorial to the injustices enacted by the state." She also thanked President William Lai for ordering the ministry to review the house's historical value.

The Gikong Presbyterian Church, the owner of the former Lin residence, previously applied for heritage status for the site but was turned down by the Taipei City Government. However, the ministry's decision reflects the injustice enacted by the state against the populace.

The Ministry of Culture defines "sites relevant to injustices enacted by the state" as those reflecting authoritarian rule, state human rights violations, and memorials highlighting state injustice and popular resistance during authoritarian rule. Fan Yun's office will continue to protect historical sites that bear witness to injustices during the authoritarian period.

The 228 Incident and the White Terror era are significant historical events in Taiwan's authoritarian past. The 228 Incident refers to a crackdown launched by the then-Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) regime against civilian demonstrations following an incident in Taipei on Feb. 27, 1947. The Ministry's decision to designate the former Lin residence as a heritage site is a step towards acknowledging and remembering these dark chapters in Taiwan's history.

Designated as a Transitional Justice Center: Previously Residential Property of Lin