100-year-old stone city wall evident in Huaguang community - People call for halt to development and discussions on cultural heritage

110 years ago, prior to the building of Huaguang Community in Taipei City, the area was home to Taipei Prison. Even earlier than this, in 1896, the area was a prison situated on Taipei City’s south wall. But perhaps even more poignant, is the fact that the area bears the blood, sweat and tears of numerous eminent people and martyrs, who were instrumental in the historical development of Taiwan. Examples include not only Lo Fu-hsing (羅福星), who sacrificed himself at the Miaoli Incident (苗栗事件), Chiang Weishui (蔣渭水) of the Formosan Political Incident (治警事件), Lin Youchun (林幼春), Lai He (賴和) and Wang Minchuan (王敏川), all of who spent time in the prison, but also many prisoners of the Second World War, who were executed in a huge international human rights incident.

With 130 years of Taipei history, remnants of city walls from the Qing Dynasty are visible all around. Exploitation of Huaguang Community by the Ministry of Finance, aided by its management body, the Ministry of Justice, has not only driven away many people from their homes, but also ridden roughshod over important historical remains in Taipei, leaving a pile of rubble and garbage in its wake.

In response, a number of cultural and historical groups held a press conference appealing to the Ministry of Culture for an immediate halt to the work, and protection of the site. In accordance with articles 3 and 30 of the Cultural Heritage Preservation Act, Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs must reopen discussions regarding cultural heritage issues, and demand that the central government stop the development project. Moreover, in accordance with article 33 of the Cultural Heritage Act, the Ministry of Justice is obligated to immediately bring a halt to this development project.

100-year-old stone city wall evident in Huaguang community
- People call for halt to development and discussions on cultural heritage
URL:https://www.peopo.org/news/234181

(以下為中文對照)

華光社區可見百年城牆石 民間呼籲停止開發 重啟文資審議

台北市華光社區前身是110年前的臺北刑務所，在更早之前是1896年臺北城南門舊監獄的延續。除此之外，這裡承載著許多推動臺灣歷史進程的先賢先烈斑斑血淚，例如苗栗事件羅福星的犧牲、治警事件蔣渭水、林幼春、賴和、王敏川等人的獄中生活，以及二次世界大戰戰俘的倉皇處決等國際重大人權事件。有著130年歷史的台北城遺跡，在華光社區的地上地下都看得到清朝「城牆石」。不過隨著中央財政部要在華光社區這塊基地上的開發，管理機關法務部除了驅除地上人民的的住所，更不顧現有台北城歷史遺跡被毀壞，將之混合砂石垃圾埋在一起。多個文史團體因此召開記者會，呼籲文化部應立即啟動保護，臺北市文化局應依照文資法第3條及30條重啟文資審議、要求中央停止開發拆除。現行主管機關法務部也要依照文資法第33條有所作為，立即停工。