The Kaohsiung Incident (Chinese: 高雄事件), also known as the Formosa Incident (Chinese: 美麗島事件), was the result of pro-democracy demonstrations that occurred in Kaohsiung, Republic of China (Taiwan) to commemorate Human Rights Day on December 10, 1979. A man carries a sign at the September 24, 2005 anti-war protest, a demonstration in Washington, D.C. American Civil Rights March on Washington, leaders marching from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial, August 28, 1963. ... Nickname: The Harbor City (港都), Maritime Capital, Waterfront City Coordinates: Country  Republic of China (Taiwan) Region Southern Taiwan Capital Lingya Dist (苓雅區)  - Mayor Chen Chu (陳菊) Area    - City 153. ... Motto Three Principles of the People (三民主義 San-min Chu-i) Anthem National Anthem of the Republic of China Capital Taipei (de facto)  Nanjing (de jure)1  Largest city Taipei Official languages Mandarin (GuóyÇ”) Government Semi-presidential system  -  President Chen Shui-bian  -  Vice President Annette Lu  -  Premier Su Tseng-chang... Listen to this article · (info) This audio file was created from an article revision dated 2005-12-10, and may not reflect subsequent edits to the article. ... December 10 is the 344th day (345th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, 21 days before the next year. ... For the song by the Smashing Pumpkins, see 1979 (song). ...

It erupted following the police raid of Formosa Magazine, an illegal publication created to help end the Kuomintang (KMT) party's stranglehold on power in Taiwan. The ROC Government Information Office, under the leadership of James Soong, hoped to chill opposition voices through heavy-handed methods. The protest disintegrated into a brawl as protesters, police and undercover agents collided. Soong addressed the incident in a public speech condemning the protesters, labeling one of the leaders, Shih Ming-teh (施明德), the "King of Bandits." Formosa Magazine (『美麗島』雜誌 Pinyin: Meilidao Zazhi) was a magazine created by Tangwai individuals in Taiwan during the summer of 1979. ... The Kuomintang of China (abbreviation KMT) (Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese: ; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Tongyong Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Chung1-kuo2 Kuo2-min2-tang3)[1], also often translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party, is a political party in the Republic of China, now on Taiwan, and is currently the largest political party in... This article needs to be wikified. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... During its time as a one-party authoritarian state, the Kuomintang-Republic of China exercised strict control of the media. ... Shih Ming-teh (Chinese: ; pinyin: , a. ...

The incident publicized the repressive tactics used by the Taiwanese government, and the trial of eight protest leaders allowed a team of defense lawyers to publicly question the torture methods used by the KMT to extract confessions. Most of the defendants and defense attorneys were members of the Chinese Comparative Law Society (中國比較法學會), which is now the Taiwan Law Society (台灣法學會).

One of the accused, Lin Yi-hsiung (林義雄), was routinely tortured by police interrogators. Then, on February 28, 1980, while Lin's wife was out of their home discussing his case, Lin's mother and her twin 7-year-old daughters were murdered; a third older daughter miraculously survived despite numerous stab wounds. The killings, known as the "Lin Family Murders," remain unsolved. Lin Yi-hsiung (b. ... February 28 is the 59th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ...

Several of the accused in the Kaohsiung Incident became politicians after completing their prison terms, while members of the defense team became leaders of the Tangwai (Outside Party) movement and later the Democratic Progressive Party. Members of the defense team included Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) (President of the ROC), Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) (Premier of the Republic of China) and Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) (Former Premier of the Republic of China). Among the accused were Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) (Vice President of the ROC), Shi Ming-teh (施明德) (Political Leader), and Lin Yi-hsiung (林義雄) (environmental activist and former DPP chairman). The Tangwai (黨外; pinyin: dăng wài; literally, outside the party) movement was a political movement in the Republic of China on Taiwan in the mid-1970s and early 1980s. ... The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) (Traditional Chinese: 民主進步黨; Simplified Chinese: 民主进步党; abbrev. ... Chen Shui-bian, President of the Republic of China Chen Shui-bian (ch. ... The Presidential Building is located in Zhongzheng District, Taipei City. ... Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌, pinyin: SÅ« ZhÄ“nchāng; born July 28, 1947) is a Taiwanese politician of the Democratic Progressive Party. ... The President of the Executive Yuan (行政院長), colloquially referred to as the Premier (閣揆), is the head of the Executive Yuan, the executive branch of the Republic of China, which currently administers Taiwan. ... Frank Chang-ting Hsieh (Chinese: 謝長廷; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Hsieh Chang Ting; Pe̍h-oÄ“-jÄ«: Siā Tiông-têng or Chiā Tiông-têng) (born May 18, 1946), a politician of the Democratic Progressive Party, was the mayor of Kaohsiung City until his appointment as... The President of the Executive Yuan (行政院長), colloquially referred to as the Premier (閣揆), is the head of the Executive Yuan, the executive branch of the Republic of China, which currently administers Taiwan. ... Hsiu-lien Annette Lu (Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ) (born June 7, 1944) is the incumbent vice president of the Republic of China and member of the Democratic Progressive Party. ... Shih Ming-teh (施明德; pinyin: Shī Míngdé; born January 15, 1941 in Kaohsiung) is a former political prisoner and politician in the Republic of China on Taiwan. ...

In a sign of how much Taiwanese politics have changed in three decades, Shi Ming-teh was seriously considered for the KMT candidacy for mayor of Kaohsiung in 2002. Another important leader during the incident, Hsu Hsin-liang (許信良), left the DPP in 2000 and ran for President as an independent. Both have been very critical of Chen Shui-bian's government. James Soong remained active in politics, splitting with the KMT to form the similarly-aligned PFP party, running for President in 2000 and Vice-President in 2004, losing by small margins in both elections. Hsu Hsin-liang (Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: , born May 27, 1941) is a Taiwanese politician, formerly Chairman of the Democratic Progressive Party, but now a supporter of the Pan-Blue Coalition. ... The Election for the 10th-term President and Vice-President of the Republic of China (第十任中華民國總統、副總統選舉), the second ever direct elections for President and Vice President of the Republic of China on Taiwan and the 10th...

Notes

In English, the term Kaohsiung Incident[1] is used more often than Formosa Incident[2], while 美麗島事件[3] (Formosa Incident) is used more often [4] than 高雄事件[5] (Kaohsiung Incident) in Chinese.

See also:

• Propaganda in the Republic of China