The National Human Rights Museum (NHRM) held a ceremony on May 17 to unveil the newly updated name inscriptions on the memorial monument at the Green Island White Terror Memorial Park. Minister of Culture Li Yuan, NHRM Director Hung Shih-fang (洪世芳), along with political victims and their family members, attended the event.
During the ceremony, Minister Li shared his family’s experiences during the White Terror period, which made him deeply aware of the importance of passing this history on to future generations through various media such as novels, music, art, film, picture books, and comics. He also emphasized the vital role of the NHRM in raising public awareness about this significant chapter in Taiwan’s history.
Designed by renowned Taiwanese architect Han Pao-teh (漢寶德), the Green Island White Terror Memorial Park was built partially underground due to environmental considerations. The patterns of flowing water and grains were incorporated as symbols of life and human rights. The park opened on Dec. 10, 1999, with the names of 953 political victims inscribed on the wall of the monument, serving as a poignant reminder of the past and a call for justice and remembrance.
As historical research progresses, the NHRM updated the list of political victims to 12,060 individuals in 2024. Besides updating the inscriptions at the memorial park, the ceremony also installed a search system for public use, with the life history of the victims included.
Minister Li and the distinguished guests also visited the Green Island Biennial 2025, where they witnessed how the values of human rights have been transformed into artistic expression.
