｜ Chapter 2 ｜ Lifting of the Martial Law: Defending Absolute Freedom of Speech III. The Huang Hua Incident: Taiwan Independence Timetable The death of Chiang Ching-kuo and the nativeborn Lee Teng-hui’s ascension to acting president brought about an atmosphere of political uncertainty, where all parties felt unsure whether their personal security could be guaranteed. In both Taiwan and abroad, all eyes were on the precarious and unpredictable future of Taiwan. Huang Hua was devastated by Cheng Nan-jung’s sacrifice in April 1989. With a heavy heart, he remained committed to the nation-building movement. In October of the same year, he wrote the New Nation Movement Handbook and the Taiwan Independence Timetable. Huang Hua quickly received a subpoena from the High Prosecutors Office, but he refused to appear in court. The subpoena from the High Prosecutors Office was also a subtle threat because at the end of the year, Taiwan would be holding its first “supplementary” Legislative Yuan election after martial law was lifted (the last supplementary election before the complete re-election of the National Assembly, but no one knew it at the time). At the same time, not wanting to influence the election, the High Prosecutors Office stalled Huang Hua’s arrest. It wasn’t until after the election that Huang Hua was arrested and charged with “intent of insurrection” under the Betrayers Punishment Act in January 1990. January 3, 1991: After being prosecuted under Paragraph 3, Article 2 of the Betrayers Punishment Act, Huang Hua yelled "long live the Republic of Taiwan!" as he walked out the courtroom. Photographer: Chiu Wan-hsing 66 Since November 16, 1988, although Huang Hua had already gone to jail three times for his political convictions and in spite of the TsaiHsu Taiwanese Independence Incident, he bravely led the New Nation Movement March. Photographer: Chiu Wan-hsing 67