Shih Ming-teh, often referred to as “Taiwan’s Mandela,” spent nearly 26 years of his life behind bars, a period comparable to that of Nelson Mandela’s imprisonment in South Africa. Unlike Mandela, who came from a royal lineage and eventually became a head of state, Shih lived most of his life as a commoner. His story is one of an ordinary person’s extraordinary struggle, a legend crafted from the perseverance of the commoner.
Unwavering in the face of adversity
Old photographs in Taiwanese publications reveal a striking detail about Shih Ming-teh: No matter the circumstance — whether being escorted by military police or standing trial, facing the death sentence or life imprisonment — he always appeared with a smile, facing his fate with equanimity.
During Taiwan’s martial law period, a crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrations in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, occurred in December 1979. Shih Ming-teh was among the eight prominent leaders arrested, known as the “Kaohsiung Eight”, his arrest was initially met with widespread public disdain in Taiwan. However, his perspective shifted over time.
On January 8, 2022, when the Human Rights Council awarded him the Lifetime Achievement Award, he reflected: “I was once despised to such an extent, and yet, 42 years later, I am alive to see the end of the authoritarian regime.” It begs the question: Could you maintain a smile when facing near-universal condemnation? Yet, Shih Ming-teh’s story is a testament to facing overwhelming adversity with a smile.
Dignity over clemency
In July 1987, Taiwan lifted martial law, and President Chiang Ching-kuo proposed a pardon and parole for Shih Ming-teh. However, he insisted on his innocence and rejected the offer, preferring dignity over clemency. It wasn’t until the verdicts of the Kaohsiung Incident were declared invalid that he accepted his release, walking out of prison with his characteristic smile, a free man without a criminal record.
Speaking out for democracy and human rights in China
As Taiwan entered the 21st century, with a new era of political party rotation and everyday legislative interactions, Shih Ming-teh shifted his focus to those who shared a cultural background with Taiwan, but lived under different circumstances.
In 2001, he attended a press conference at the National Taiwan University College of Management to support persecuted Falun Gong practitioners in China. He argued that Taiwan, having once benefited from international human rights concerns and assistance, should now be an exporter of human rights advocacy, including for Falun Gong members.
In 2013, Shih Ming-teh met with the daughters of Wang Bingzhang and Peng Ming, two Chinese dissidents. Learning that Peng Ming’s 17-year-old daughter had not seen her father since she was 8 and was not allowed to communicate with him, Shih, who once faced hostility with a smile, was moved to tears.
Shih Ming-teh, the resolute soul of Taiwan’s democracy
Shih Ming-teh’s life blended romance and resilience, qualities he etched into the soul of Taiwan’s democracy with his very existence. After passing, his daughters reminisced: “Our father, Mr. Shih Ming-teh, embarked on his final journey on his birthday, reuniting with family and comrades-in-arms. Whether on this shore or the other, in life or death, he was never alone.”
Indeed, Shih Ming-teh was never alone, whether on the shores of the Taiwan Strait or the shores of life and death. On January 13, 2024, Taiwan held its 8th presidential election since ending one-party rule. Shih Ming-teh departed from this world two days later, but he did so contentedly, leaving a legacy of courage, dignity, and an unwavering commitment to democracy.
Shih Ming-teh’s life story is not just a tale of personal triumph, but a narrative that inspires those who stand for democracy and human rights worldwide. He remains a powerful symbol of hope and resilience for all who strive for a more just and equitable society in the face of adversity.
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