Taipei: White Terror victim and human rights campaigner Tsai Kuan-yu (???) has been awarded a presidential citation posthumously in recognition of his contributions to promoting human rights and transitional justice. At a memorial in New Taipei on Saturday, Tsai's three children -- Tsai Heng-yi (???), Tsai Yi-lun (???) and Tsai Yi-tsen (???) -- received the citation certificate from Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun (???). According to Focus Taiwan, the citation praised Tsai for his lifelong dedication to defending the values of freedom and human rights, marking him as an "exemplar" for others. It also highlighted his involvement in introducing the Act on Promoting Transitional Justice in 2017 and establishing the National Human Rights Museum in Taiwan a year later. These efforts were acknowledged for paving the way for government initiatives to uncover the truth about state wrongdoings during the White Terror period and compensate those affected. During Saturday's event, Tsai Yi-lun delivered a heartfelt speech in honor of her father, who passed away in early September at the age of 91. "As the second-generation of a White Terror victim, we will carry on what you have left unfinished and continue to strive for [your cause]," she expressed on behalf of the family. Culture Minister Li Yuan (??) also underscored Tsai's enduring legacy, stating that the Ministry of Culture will persist with initiatives related to promoting transitional justice. Tsai was born on February 5, 1933, in Taipei and endured imprisonment twice for a total of 13 years during the 1950s and 1960s. His first arrest occurred in 1957, after being accused of inciting a student strike in protest of the government's response to the Liu Zi-ran (???) incident, involving the killing of a Taiwanese national by a U.S. military officer. In 1962, while teaching and managing an after-school institute, Tsai was arrested again for suspected pro-Taiwanese independence activities and sentenced to 10 years in prison. Initially detained in New Taipei, he was later t ransferred to Taitung, where he became embroiled in an activist attempt to occupy the prison as part of pro-Taiwanese activities.
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