展覽緣起
Exhibition Origins
1947 年發生 228 事件，許多臺灣人民未經法院審判，就被殺害或失蹤。根據行政院 228 研究報告推估，約有一萬多人至二萬多人在國家暴力下受難。而1949 年起的白色恐怖，更因抓捕匪諜及異議者，又有數萬人淪為政治犯，其中上千人遭槍決。戒嚴下的臺灣，一片噤聲，鮮少有人敢聲援被捕的政治受難者或關心他們的家屬。
一直到 1960 年代，海外成立臺灣人政治團體「台灣青年社」與發行《台灣青年》刊物，臺灣政治犯救援工作開始嶄露曙光。當時全球冷戰正熾，以美國為首的西方陣營，在亞太地區以反共名義扶植獨裁政權。在這樣的時代背景下，許多國際人士來到臺灣，卻親眼見證當局在「自由中國」的神話招牌下厲行威權體制，打壓箝制民主自由。加上越戰期間掀起的反戰思潮，使得一個又一個國際人權工作者抱持著對人權的信仰，前仆後繼加入救援臺灣政治犯的行列，並與海外臺灣人組織及人權團體合力搭橋，將零星的救援行動組建為跨國聯絡網，為絕境中的政治犯爭取一線生機。
從傳遞政治犯消息的信差、協助異議人士喬裝流亡的牧師、為獄中丈夫奔走全美國的政治犯之妻，到忠實披露臺灣政治實情的媒體…，這些來自各界的行動者，冒著遭撤銷簽證、驅逐出境、被捕入獄，甚或淪為無法返鄉的「黑名單」等沈重代價，在暗黑時代接棒守護臺灣的民主火苗不致熄滅，更戳破官方宣稱「中華民國沒有政治犯」的謊言，讓臺灣的人權問題在國際社會引發關注。
本展介紹1960 年代至解嚴期間參與人權救援的國內外救援者及團體，及其智慧與勇氣所發揮的影響力。從追求民主、人權的血淚斑斑歷史中，體悟臺灣目前所享有的民主與自由，是如何得來不易。今日臺灣雖然不再有政治犯，卻仍有臺灣人因莫須有的政治理由，在異國身陷囹圄，同樣亟須國際社會的聲援與支持；而面對當前在全球各地正上演的人權危機，走過威權歷史的「自由臺灣」，更應接下火炬，照亮異地追尋民主的漫長征途，讓我們珍視人權普世價值，願援力無國界。
In the wave of repression beginning February 28, 1947, thousands of Taiwanese people were killed or disappeared without any legal process. According to the Executive Yuan’s investigation of the 228 Massacre, between 10,000 and 20,000 people lost their lives in state violence. Then the White Terror began in 1949. Tens of thousands were arrested as communist spies or dissidents, and more than a thousand executed. Taiwan under martial law was frozen in a silence of fear. Few dared to speak up for the arrested political victims, or to show concern for their families.
Only in the 1960’s were political organizations like the Taiwan Youth Society founded among Taiwanese abroad, in Japan, and its publication “Taiwan Youth” began to expose these abuses and thus work to aid political prisoners. Under the Cold War atmosphere of the times, the Western world led by the United States propped up dictatorial regimes in the Asian region. But even with this background of propaganda, many international visitors to Taiwan personally witnessed and realized the draconian reality implemented under the myth of “Free China”: complete repression of democracy and freedom. One by one, international human rights workers, holding their deep beliefs in human dignity and often with the anti-war fervor ignited by experience of the Vietnam War, joined in the ranks of those dedicated to helping Taiwan political prisoners. They built bridges between overseas Taiwanese organizations and human rights groups, until the scattered efforts at rescue coalesced into cross-national networks, throwing a lifeline to political prisoners in the depths of despair.
From the flurry of letters that carried news of political persecution, to Christian ministers who helped disguise dissidents so they could escape the country, to wives who crisscrossed America for the sake of their imprisoned husbands, to the news correspondents who accurately portrayed the conditions of political prisoners … these were activists who came from many walks of life. They risked cancellation of their visas, deportation, arrest and imprisonment, blacklisting, and other heavy punishments for their actions. In that dark era, they passed the torch to keep the flame of hope for democracy alive; they broke through the lie that “The Republic of China has no political prisoners.” They ignited concern in international society for the problem of human rights violations in Taiwan.
This exhibition will proceed by chronological order, introducing the major political prisoner cases in Taiwan from 1960 to the repeal of the national security laws in 1992, as well as those groups and individuals that participated in activities to aid them. We can sense the influence they were able to exert through their intelligence and courage. Listening to this difficult history of pursuing democracy and human rights, we may realize how their blood and tears were able to achieve the democratic freedoms that Taiwan enjoys today. Although Taiwan today no longer has political prisoners, there are still a few Taiwanese unreasonably imprisoned abroad, and we must call on international society for help. Furthermore, observing the crises of democracy currently faced throughout the world, we may hope that the example of the history of “Free Taiwan” can allow for this flame of hope to be passed on, lighting the path of those in other countries who search for democracy. Our precious human rights are universal and borderless.
