Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers yesterday criticized Taoyuan Mayor Simon Chang (張善政) after the city disregarded an online poll and gave four new Taoyuan MRT stations names that included “Jhongjheng” (中正) — a name adopted by Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石).
DPP Legislator Ariel Chang (張雅琳) said that commemorating dictators is unhealthy for democracy, adding that the Transitional Justice Commission had called for the practice to end, and for such names to be removed.
Taiwan does not need four more metro stations with Chiang’s name to add to the 355 streets, lanes and alleys already named after the former president, she said, adding that the city’s decision is a setback for democracy.
Photo: Chen Yi-kuan, Taipei Times
The Taoyuan City Government’s christening of the MRT stations, which are part of the new Green Line expected to open in 2026 connecting to the Taoyuan Airport MRT, ignored a city-wide online poll to name the stations, she said.
The Taoyuan Department of Rapid Transit Systems on Wednesday last week said that under its guidelines, stations should be named after the most recognized street or place in their vicinity and that polls were for reference only.
However, Ariel Chang said that Chiang Kai-shek had no links to Taoyuan’s history or culture and is of no use to the municipality’s efforts to promote tourism.
Photo courtesy of the Taoyuan City Government
Taiwan has disposed of 197 authoritarian symbols in compliance with the Act on Promoting Transitional Justice (促進轉型正義條例), while Taoyuan has been idle in taking action on 65 of such symbols in its jurisdiction, DPP Legislator Fan Yun (范雲) said.
The city’s refusal to deal with the nation’s authoritarian legacy or to follow its legal obligation shows contempt for the rule of law and transitional justice, she said.
The lawmakers called on Simon Chang to give due respect to the will of the people, recognize that voters support transitional justice and obey the principles of democracy, she said.
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