｜ August–November 1979: Formosa Magazine, which only published four issues. Courtesy of: Chang Fu-chung The cover reads, “Formosa: The Magazine of Taiwan’s Democratic Movement”. Service offices were successively established in each city and county, making it clear that Formosa Magazine was the magazine of a political movement and establishing it as a “political party without a name” under the government’s ban on political parties. This was the unrealized dream that Free China and the generation of Japanese-speaking Taiwanese elites had 19 years ago. The authoritarian regime tolerated Taiwan Political Theory for five issues, but it only tolerated Formosa Magazine for four. Throughout the time these four issues were published, far-right groups and the military police brazenly followed, harassed, and violently threatened those involved with the magazine, heightening the tension until the December 10 speaking event held in Kaohsiung for International Human Rights Day, which devolved into the “Kaohsiung incident” that shocked Taiwanese society and the world. Following the event, the Taiwan Garrison Command arrested 152 people. This was the largest political purge since 1960s. Due to the martial law, there 40 were no demonstrations to support those arrested in Taiwan, but Taiwanese associations overseas mobilized like never before, doing everything in their power to speak out, to save and support those arrested. With international media attention, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) and numerous US senators expressed concern, overseas Taiwanese/Chinese intellectuals sent petitions and open letters to Chiang Ching-Kuo, and the New York Times published an editorial submitted by Harvard Professor Yu Ying-shih emphasizing how “it is not these people that are on trial but Taiwan’s democracy”. The international pressure was immense and overwhelming for Chiang Chingkuo, who had been president for less than two years. Chiang Ching-kuo was forced to make concessions, allowing “public trials” and reducing the number of subjects to be tried in military courts. On February 20, the Taiwan Garrison Command announced the release of 91 people; charged 8 people, namely Huang Hsin-chieh, Shih Ming-te, Chang Chun-hung, Yao Chia-wen, Lin Yi-hsiung, Chen Chu, Lu Hsiulien, and Lin Hung-hsuan, with the crime of insurrec- Chapter 1 tion; and transferred the remaining 37 people to be tried in judicial court. Nonetheless, this political concession seems to have incensed the far-right faction. Lin Yi-hsiung’s mother and two young daughters were murdered on the significant date of February 28, a case that shocked Taiwanese people in Taiwan and abroad. The Taiwanese media covered the incident extensively, drawing more attention to the “Kaohsiung Incident Trial”. Starting on March 18, 1980, the 9-day “Kaohsiung Incident Trial” attracted substantial media coverage at home and abroad. The defendants and defense attorneys elevated their defense to the concepts of freedom, democracy, human rights, and independence. The trial was a stunning “political lesson” for society in Taiwan, where information was heavily censored at the time. The “public trial” and widespread media coverage galvanized young intellectuals with independent ide- ｜ Martial Law: Derailing From International Human Rights Trends as. After the military court trial, these youths actively supported the opposition movement, even joining elections and creating an unstoppable wave of prodemocracy movements and street demonstrations. Leading the charge of this wave of pro-democracy movements in the 1980s were Tangwai magazines, which sprang up like bamboo shoots after spring rain. The Taiwan Garrison Command exhausted themselves as they rushed to ban, confiscate, and suspend publications. Their efforts caused temporary financial losses, but quickly became a catalyst that stimulated sales. The arming of ideological forces turned into even more courageous street protests. The political party ban was lifted in 1986, martial law was lifted in 1987, and the press ban was lifted in 1988. The pro-democracy movement continued to advance fearlessly. 41