Cheng Nan-jung: Independence is Taiwan’s only path to survival. “My name is Cheng Nan-jung and I believe in Taiwanese independence”, Cheng Nan-jung loudly declared in Taiwanese Hokkien on the stage, his fist in the air and his voice resolute. The crowd immediately erupted into cheers. This is the first time the words “Taiwanese independence” were openly spoken in a mass event. A little over four months later, Tsai Yu-chuan and Hsu Tsao-teh established an organization advocating for Taiwan’s independence. The authoritarian regime cracked down hard, but that did little to deter Cheng Nan-jung and other radical Tangwai activists, who instead called for Taiwanese independence across Taiwan, holding marches and sit-ins to show support for Tsai and Hsu. Between October and November of 1988, Cheng Nan-jung once again worked with victims of political persecution like Huang Hua and Lin Yung-sheng to start the New Nation Movement Island March, loudly advocating that “the Taiwanese people have the right to establish a new and independent nation”. From the sharp words published in Freedom Era to radical mass movements on the streets, Cheng Nan-jung was a scoundrel constantly bringing up new issues, an unending source of trouble for the military police and the authoritarian regime. Cheng Nan-jung was not a member of the DPP, but most of those who enthusiastically rallied to his side and marched on the streets in protest with him were founding members or ardent supporters of the DPP. To these protesters, Cheng Nan-jung was able to proclaim their stance more bravely, clearly, and straightforwardly than any DPP official. This is especially true for his statement that “independence is Taiwan’s only path to survival”. Cheng Nan-jung, who was committed to fighting 62 for absolute freedom of speech, shocked Taiwanese society with his self-immolation on April 7, 1989. On the day of his funeral on May 19, tens of thousands of people in the opposition movement saw him off. The incensed crowd marched towards the Presidential Office Building, becoming the first demonstration in Taiwan to march onto Jieshou Road (now Ketagalan Boulevard). Cheng Nan-jung’s martyrdom greatly animated and accelerated the progression of Taiwan’s prodemocracy movement. In the following year, the Wild Lily student movement initiated constitutional reforms. Then came the first complete re-election of the National Assembly, the first direct presidential election, and the first transition of power between political parties as Taiwan’s journey towards democracy entered the 21st century. 2016 marked Taiwan’s third transition of power between political parties. The Executive Yuan announced the designation of April 7 as Free Speech Day, effective from 2017, in memory of Cheng Nanjung’s fight for absolute freedom of speech. September 1989: Cheng Nan-jung's widow Yeh Chu-lan (left) announces her candidacy in the supplementary Legislative Yuan elections. On the right is Cheng Nan-jung's daughter Cheng Chu-mei. Photographer: Tseng Wen-pang Starting November 16, 1988, Cheng Nan-jung, Huang Hua, and Lin Yung-sheng began touring Taiwan for the New Nation Movement Island March. Photographer: Sung Long-chyuan 63