｜ Chapter 2 ｜ Lifting of the Martial Law: Defending Absolute Freedom of Speech V. The Taiwan Jianguo Union Incident: Street Protests Defending the Right of Association for Taiwan Independence The Taiwan Independence Association incident in mid-May of 1991 sparked a wave of student protests and mass protests on the streets of Taipei. The situation continued to escalate, especially with groups like the Taipei Society, Taiwan Association of University Professors, and certain academicians and researchers of Academia Sinica forming Intellectuals Against Political Persecution. Even overseas heavyweight scholars like Yu Ying-shih, Lee Yuan-tseh, and Tu Weiming joined in support. Movements in the streets of Taipei were mainly led by student movements and academic circles. In Taichung, however, another group of pro-democracy activists who had long advocated for Taiwan’s independence and suffered from political persecution announced the establishment of the Taiwan Jianguo Union on the 16th. The union was founded near the National Museum of Natural Science in Taichung City. Chief members included convener Chen Wan-chen, director-general Lin Yung-sheng, as well as Hsu Lung-chun, Tsou Wuchien, Chiang Kai-shih, Wang Chao-hsin, Pastor Lai Kuan-yi, Pastor Lin Fang-chung, Lin Chyueh-wei, and Te-Cho-jung. Chen Wan-chen was born in Changhua in 1950. She became a reporter for China Times after graduating from National Taiwan Normal University and covered news about the Provincial Consultative Council, where she got to know Tangwai activists and identified with their cause. She joined the opposition movement, becoming a candidate in the 1978 supplementary Legislative Yuan elections (however, the 82 election was suspended after the US broke off diplomatic ties with the ROC). In April 1979, she, Wu Che-lang, and Chen Po-wen founded the underground publication Tide, which caused a sensation. Chen Wan-chen is known for her tough political stance. She advocates the establishment of the “Republic of Taiwan” and defends the right of association for pro-independence activists. In addition to supporting the protest movement surrounding the Taiwan Independence Association incident, she also voiced her support for those who were jailed for proindependence advocacy such as Tsai Yu-chuan, Hsu Tsao-teh, and Huang Hua. Just a few short days after the Taiwan Independence Association incident, Kao Ming-hui stepped down and the Betrayers Punishment Act was abolished. However, on June 8, prosecutors subpoenaed Taiwan Jianguo Union convener Chen Wan-chen based on “Offenses Against the Internal Security” in Article 100 of the Criminal Code, demanding that she appear in court in 4 days. Chen Wan-chen not only refused to do so but also held a public auction of the subpoena. She stressed that all actions of the Taiwan Jianguo Union were exercising people’s basic right of resistance, and that the people have the right and obligation to overthrow unjust regimes by any means. Afterward, the Taiwan Jianguo Union, along with movements to bring exiled activists home, began a series of mass protests with the belief that so-called “love and non-violence” would only be dismissed by the regime. Therefore, when training volunteers, the 1989: Chen Wan-chen leading members in a protest on National Day. Photographer: Huang Yen-wen 1989: Chen Wan-chen leading members in a protest on National Day. Photographer: Huang Yen-wen 83