Martial Law Lifted in Taiwan

Source: From Ruling the People to People’s Self-Rule
From: Professor Lee Hsiao-feng’s personal website
Date: May 2, 2001. Author: Lee Hsiao-feng

On May 19, 1986, Cheng Nan-jung and others launched the “519 Green Action,” with lifting martial law as the central demand. More than two hundred tangwai figures staged a sit-in protest at Lungshan Temple in Taipei until 9:30 pm. This “519 Green Action” opened half a year of street demonstrations by tangwai activists, challenging the martial law that had been in effect for thirty-eight years. Finally, on September 28 of that year, breaking the martial-law ban, they established the Democratic Progressive Party, marking a new milestone in Taiwan’s political history. Under the ferment of the democracy movement, the authoritarian rule of two generations of the Chiang family began to slowly unravel in Chiang Ching-kuo’s later years. On July 14, 1987, President Chiang Ching-kuo, compelled by circumstances, announced the lifting of the thirty-eight-year-long martial law.

 

Chiang Ching-kuo officially announces that Taiwan’s martial law will be lifted at midnight the following day (Source: Wikipedia)

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External Links

• Martial Law Lifted / Martial Law
• July 2, 1987: Executive Yuan Passes Martial Law Repeal (PTS News Issues Centre)
• Chiang Ching-kuo Cancelled Taiwan’s 38-Year “Martial Law” — Perhaps Moved by Ma Ying-jeou’s Words (NTD Television)
• Historical Photos: Chiang Ching-kuo Lifts Taiwan’s Martial Law; Families on Both Sides of the Strait Reunite (Daily Headlines)