Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party yesterday lashed out at a decision by the Kuomintang-led Taipei county government to remove a controversial war memorial critics say glorifies Japanese colonisation and militarism.
'It was extremely improper for Magistrate Chou Hsi-wei to order the removal of the Kaosha Volunteer Soldier Memorial based on his own different interpretation of history,' said the DPP's ethnic affairs director, Yang Chang-cheng.
Mr Yang said the KMT's Mr Chou should not have ordered the removal of the civilian-built memorial because of his different political beliefs. 'It is tantamount to censorship of free speech.'
Following complaints from critics, the Taipei county government on Saturday ordered the group which built the memorial to remove the structure within a week or authorities would demolish it.
The memorial - dedicated to members of the Kaosha aboriginal tribe drafted to fight for the former Imperial Japanese Army during the second world war - was funded by Japanese donations and erected near a waterfall at Taipei county's Wulai scenic spot.
Some inscriptions commend the bravery of the soldiers and praise Japanese militarism during the occupation of Taiwan in the 1940s. It was inaugurated on February 8 by ex-president Lee Teng-hui, a figure known for his pro-Japan stance.