｜ I. The five years between the lifting of martial law in 1987 and democratization with absolute freedom of speech in 1992 saw Taiwanese society clashing with the authoritarian regime more intensely and frequently than ever. In this turbulent era of passionate activism, opposition forces in all areas of society, including academic circles, the medical sector, social activists, cultural workers, disadvantaged groups, and religious groups, converged, forming an unstoppable raging wave. The number of protesters grew with every protest, making each demonstration stronger than the last. In particular, 1991 was a crucial year. The movement advocating for the abolishment of Article 100 of the Criminal Code reached a fever pitch that year, leading to the breaking of the last shackles limiting freedom of speech in 1992. September 8, 1991: The March for a Referendum to Rejoin the UN organized by the Referendum Promotion Association assembled and began marching at the Taipei Soccer Stadium. Photographer: Huang Yen-wen 88 Chapter 3 ｜ Protest: The Crucial 20 Days The 100 Action Alliance and Taiwan's Social Forces Coming Together Following the lifting of martial law, the end of the Temporary Provisions Against the Communist Rebellion, and the abolition of the Betrayers Punishment Act, Article 100 of the Criminal Code became the final shackles limiting freedom of speech in Taiwan. In September 1991, a week after cadre members of the World United Formosans for Independence like Kuo Pei-hung and Lee Ying-yuan sneaked back to Taiwan in response to the “Homecoming for Blacklisted Individuals” movement and were arrested and jailed, Su Ih-jen, Twu Shiing-jer, Chan Chang-chuan, and many other National Taiwan University Hospital doctors, led by Academica Sinica academician Lee Chen-yuan, visited them at the Tucheng Detention Center. Lee Ying-yuan graduated from NTU’s Department of Public Health. His arrest drew major concern from NTU and the medical field. Even his former teacher Lee Chen-yuan, who had never involved himself in politics, was shocked and saddened by the news. Lee Chen-yuan (1915-2001) once served as the Dean of NTU’s School of Medicine, Chairman of the Toxicology Society of Taiwan, Chairman of The Pharmacological Society in Taiwan, Honorary Member of the American and Japanese Pharmacological Societies, and President of the International Society on Toxicology. A well-respected scholar both in Taiwan and abroad, he devoted his life to basic medical research and was an internationally renowned authority on snake venom research. This prison visit ignited the decades-long suppressed anger he felt about the White Terror era, an anger that he could no longer suppress. The 100 Action Alliance sprouted from the 98 Referendum March On the other hand, the “March for a Referendum to Rejoin the UN” organized by the Referendum Promotion Association took place in Taipei on September 8, 1991. Their demand was simple, but as those involved in the Taiwan Independence Association incident, members of the Taiwan Jianguo Union, and exiled overseas activists were arrested successively over the past few months, the anger and drive to protest that people had long suppressed suddenly exploded. Those who participated in the march, including academic groups, student activist groups, the DPP, and the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan, in addition to the overseas Formosan Association for Public Affairs, jointly proposed three demands: “hold a referendum to rejoin the UN, abolish Article 100 of the Criminal Code, and release pro-independence political prisoners”. Although the weather was poor that day, tens of thousands of people still took to the streets, fearless of the authoritarian regime and the pouring rain. The cold rain mixed with the protesters’ tears and sweat, but could not put out the fire in their hearts. The parade of protesters was blocked by police barricades as they neared Zhongshan North Road and Nanjing East Road. The police even used water cannons to disperse the crowd, but the protesters refused to retreat. The standoff lasted late into the night. During the standoff, leaders of the march entered the Presidential Office Building twice to negotiate, requesting the release of jailed political dissidents, but 89