Taiwanese Farmers' Union: A Lesson in Human Rights and Transitional Justice

The Ministry of Education is promoting its 'Have You Made Up Your Classes Yet?' human rights and transitional justice education zone. The fourth lesson, launched today, discusses the 'Taiwanese Farmers' Union' during Japanese rule and the early post-war period, and how it organized grassroots farmers to speak out for their livelihoods and justice. Transitional justice has been incorporated into the 108 curriculum guidelines, but relevant content in the old curriculum was scarce. To address this, the Ministry of Education launched the human rights and transitional justice education zone this year to 'make up classes' for the public. The first three lessons covered the 'February 28 Incident,' 'Justice and Courage – Tang Te-chang,' and 'Action Thinker – Cheng Nan-jung.' Today's new course, 'Taiwanese Farmers' Union,' was developed in collaboration with the Public Education Foundation. This foundation was originally named the 'Jian Ji and Chen He Cultural and Educational Foundation,' established to commemorate Jian Ji, the spiritual leader of the Taiwanese Farmers' Union, and his wife Chen He. The Ministry of Education issued a press release today, noting that most people tend to associate political movements and advocacy for rights with highly educated intellectuals. However, a look back at history reveals that grassroots communities facing hardship also stood up against injustice. The Taiwanese Farmers' Union, established in 1926 (when Taiwan was under Japanese colonial rule), emerged in response to an unjust land system, tenancy pressures, and economic exploitation. Many farmers, enduring long-term poverty and oppression, gradually realized that only through unity and action could they change their circumstances. According to the special zone website, the Taiwanese Farmers' Union had five branches and approximately 1,000 members in its early stages. It focused on issues such as land, tenancy, and agricultural income, organizing farmers to fight for fair treatment. A key participant, Jian Ji, was hailed as the 'Fighter on the Ox's Back.' Originally a teacher, he joined the farmers' movement after witnessing the plight of farmers and students. However, around 1929, the Taiwanese Farmers' Union's connections with the left-wing movement drew the attention of the colonial government, leading to surveillance and suppression. Many cadres were arrested and imprisoned. By the 1930s, as the political environment tightened, the organization gradually disintegrated. The Ministry of Education hopes that 'Have You Made Up Your Classes Yet?' will encourage the public to consider that poverty is not just a predicament but can also be an important catalyst for people to understand reality and take action. In fact, during the White Terror period after the war, farmers constituted the second-largest occupational group among the victims, demonstrating that political participation has never belonged solely to a few elites but is deeply rooted in all corners of society. While 'Have You Made Up Your Classes Yet?' does not elaborate, according to the National Human Rights Museum's records on Jian Ji, the Taiwanese Farmers' Union once passed a resolution to support the Taiwanese Communist Party. Later, the Taiwan Governor-General's Office (the Japanese ruling authority) thoroughly purged the Taiwanese Communist Party, and Jian Ji was arrested and imprisoned for a period. After the Kuomintang government took over Taiwan, the February 28 Incident erupted. Due to his past involvement with farmer organizations, Jian Ji participated in armed resistance and joined communist organizations, leading to his inclusion on the wanted list. He was arrested in 1950 and executed the following year. Jian Ji's wife, Chen He, was a respected midwife during the Japanese rule era, who diligently raised their children. Their youngest son, Jian Ming-ren, later established the Public Education Foundation to carry on his parents' spirit of caring for the disadvantaged. (Editor: Chen Ren-hua) 1150508