Pro-independence groups yesterday called for the removal of the statue of dictator Chiang Kai-shek (
Removal of the statue would be the first step toward lifting the "spiritual martial law," the groups said at a demonstration in front of the memorial hall yesterday.
"Although martial law was lifted 20 years ago, it still exists in the minds of many Taiwanese," said Tsay Ting-kuei (蔡丁貴), chairman of the Taiwan Association of University Professors.
PHOTO: CHU PEI-HSIUNG, TAIPEI TIMES
"Chiang's statues can still be found in many public places. We need to clean up all such public places before a complete removal of the spiritual martial law is possible," he said.
The memorial hall, formerly known as Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, was completed in 1980 under the then Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) regime.
Although the memorial hall was renamed earlier this year, a giant bronze statue of Chiang still remains in the main lobby.
An official from the memorial hall's management office received the demonstrators and accepted a copy of the petition from the groups.
Tsay gave an example of how the "marital law mentality" still existed in Taiwan.
He said that many people they approached were reluctant to sign petitions, "because they fear something, even though nothing would happen to them. That's what I call a martial law mentality.'"
Two young demonstrators at the scene may have exhibited such "martial law mentality," Tsay said, as even though they both agreed to talk to the Taipei Times, they would not give their full names.
The two women, surnamed Lin and Huang, said they both supported the groups' demands and hoped the statue would be "torn down as soon as possible."
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