The National History Museum is now under the supervision of Pan Meng'an, Secretary-General of the Presidential Office, and will be handed over from the outgoing director Chen Yishen to the new director, Taiwanese historian Chen Cuilian. In her speech, Chen Cuilian bluntly stated that the "stealing of concepts" has been serious in recent years. The power of the democratically elected government is obviously subject to restraint and supervision, but it is accused of being authoritarian and dictatorial. Some people have even stolen the name of the democratic movement to form a "grand alliance outside the party." Such ridicule and confusion will corrode the public's confidence in democratic freedom. In the future, the National History Museum will delve deeper into the history of democratization, build a centripetal force for the "Taiwan community" regardless of ethnic groups, and carefully handle surveillance files in the deep water area of transitional justice.
Talking about the focus of her work, Chen Cuilian explained that the first thing is to "continue to delve deeply into the history of Taiwan's democratization" and take a good look back at what authoritarian rule and dictatorship are? Why does authoritarianism harm society? In such an era, what kind of situations did different ethnic groups face? How can we work together to promote democratization? Which vivid images should remain in the collective memory of society and serve as models? This is the first part to do.
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Chen Cuilian bluntly said that in recent years, the situation of "stealing concepts" has been very serious. The power of the democratically elected government is obviously subject to various restrictions and supervision, but it has been maliciously accused of being authoritarian, dictatorial, terrorist, "elected dictatorship". Some people even misappropriated the name of the democratic movement to form a "grand alliance outside the party." This kind of ridicule, confusion and attack will corrode the public's confidence in democratic freedom. Only by constantly remembering and repeatedly clarifying the actual differences between authoritarianism and democracy can the democratic system be defended.
Second, jointly build a history that brings together "our community". Chen Cuilian pointed out that over the past 70 years after the war, Taiwan has experienced multiple diplomatic setbacks and international crises, including withdrawing from the United Nations and severing diplomatic relations with the United States. Taiwan has evolved from an aid recipient to the rich and diverse country it is today. Its scientific and technological innovation, agricultural reform, and medical technology are unparalleled in the world. This is the result of the joint efforts of the Chinese people, turning Taiwan from an international orphan to international attention.
Chen Cuilian said that while foreign countries want to understand Taiwan, it is very important that our community itself, regardless of ethnic group, should go back and sort out history and examine the challenges we have experienced together and the results of our common struggle. The more we continue to strengthen our common historical memory, the more we can enhance our determination to protect the community and strengthen our centripetal force towards the Taiwan community.
Third, explore the history of dealing with past difficulties. Chen Cuilian pointed out that transformational justice has entered the "deep water zone". The unearthing of a large number of considerable political surveillance files allows us to understand the operation of the authoritarian system and the conduct of social control, but it also leaves behind very difficult issues. For example, are the "informants" in the files all perpetrators? Is it really betraying our compatriots and causing harm? How should the public view it? Should it be made public, or should accountability be pursued further?
However, Chen Cuilian also asked, are the files left by the intelligence agencies really credible? In addition, surveillance files expose the privacy of monitors in large quantities, which may cause secondary harm. If they are disclosed or believed in these files without in-depth thinking, research and sorting out, it is tantamount to allowing the ghost of the intelligence and governance agencies in the authoritarian era to continue to divide our society, harm it, make us doubt each other, and affect the stability and progress of our society.
Finally, Chen Cuilian hopes to build the National History Museum into a "platform to gather common history" so that all people living in Taiwan can form a consensus on history, a strong identification with the community, and a determination to protect the democratic system.
