Concrete walls, steel doors, narrow hallways and small cells that once stood as silent witnesses to the suffering of political prisoners reveal details of the victims of the so-called ‘White Terror’, a dark period in Taiwan’s history marked by repression. politics under the Kuomintang (KMT) regime.
The story of Fred Him-San Chin is intertwined with the cruelty of that time that few want to remember, a man whose life reflects resistance and suffering in an era of persecution and much bloodshed.
Born in Malaysia of Chinese descent, Chin came to Taiwan in 1967 with dreams of studying at the National Chung Kung University in Tainan. However, those desires abruptly crumbled on March 3, 1971, when he was arrested by the KMT secret police and taken to Taipei. At that moment, he began his odyssey.
Atrocious captivity
In the confines of prison, Chin says he was tortured into confessing to a crime he did not commit: a bomb attack on the United States Intelligence Service library in Taiwan.
Although evidence could never link him to the attack, the fear and obstinacy of the regime condemned him to a death sentence that was only avoided by international pressure, commuting his sentence to twelve years of confinement.
During his imprisonment, Chin slowly moved from despair to strength, surviving two years in the Jingmei Detention Center, eight years on the isolated and feared Green Island, and two more years in the Ren Ai Education and Training Center.
“I wanted to commit suicide three or four times; “They tortured me with long bamboo wands that they stuck between my nail and the flesh of my finger,” he recalled in front of a group of journalists from Latin America and the United States visiting Taiwan. He was also beaten, forced to drink his own blood when he suffered a wound, and hung upside down while salt water was poured into his mouth.
In prison, he was lucky enough to take care of a stray dog, whom he considered his only true friend and a ray of happiness in an existence that would otherwise have been meaningless at the time. Both he and the other prisoners with whom he shared captivity were treated without “any dignity,” according to his crude account.
He only spoke English, the second language of Malaysia. Over time, he learned both Mandarin and Taiwanese, as well as various skills essential to surviving in his environment, until his sentence finally came to an end in 1983.
However, upon his release, Chin faced a new form of imprisonment: that of a man without a nation, without a home, and without an identity. Denied a passport or identification card, and unable to be deported to Malaysia, his freedom was a mirage.
Despite constant persecution by the KMT, which continued to monitor and harass him every step he took, he managed to rebuild his life, finally finding love and stability in Taiwan. Chin’s life took an unexpected turn when he met a Taiwanese woman, whose companionship transformed into a marriage and the formation of a family.
This new chapter offered him emotional refuge and a reason to move forward. In 2009, he began to share his painful story, becoming a vital witness for transitional justice in his country, now in full democracy.
Through their stories, the dark past of the ‘White Terror’ acquired a voice and face, creating awareness and promoting reconciliation. Chin not only survived the atrocities of an oppressive regime, but he also transformed his experience into a force for change.
Troubled times
The ‘White Terror’ in Taiwan began after the massacre of February 28, 1947, known as the 228 Incident, when the KMT government responded with violence to a civil protest. The term ‘White’ is used in contrast to the ‘Red Terror’ of communist regimes, thus reflecting the anti-communist character of the KMT.
The Taiwanese government estimates that between 18,000 and 28,000 died during the uprising, while another 10,000 died in the following four decades.
The nationalist regime of the time established martial law that used repression and fear to maintain its control over the island. During this time, any suspicion of opposition to the government could result in arbitrary arrests, torture, executions, and long prison sentences.
Thousands of people like Chin, including intellectuals, students, and ordinary citizens, were accused of being communists or leftist sympathizers, often without substantial evidence. “The judge approached me and whispered in my ear that he had to sentence me or his life was in danger,” said the former political prisoner.
cell in old prison in Taiwan by Castrope.png
D. CASTROOPED
The island’s prison facilities, such as Jingmei Detention Center and Green Island Prison, were filled with political prisoners suffering inhumane conditions and torture. These facilities became symbols of the brutality of the dictatorship, where the simple act of expressing an opinion contrary to the government could lead a person to years of suffering and isolation.
The impact of the ‘White Terror’ was not only limited to the detained individuals, but also deeply affected their families and communities. Fear and distrust spread, creating an environment in which freedom of expression and dissent were virtually non-existent.
Chin was one of nearly 200,000 people imprisoned during four decades of repression.
With the end of martial law in 1987 and the democratic reforms that followed, Taiwan began to confront its dark past. The opening of files and testimonies of victims allowed the truth about the ‘White Terror’ to come to light, promoting a process of transitional justice and reconciliation.
Although the path to healing has been long and complex, recognizing abuse and honoring victims are crucial steps toward a more just and free society.
Now 75, Chin volunteers his time to educate the public about his experiences. Why does he do it? To confront and heal his own trauma, and to ensure that horrors like the ones he experienced are never repeated.
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