The Culture Ministry announced on Friday that after discussions with the Defense Ministry, the military honor guard will move from Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall starting July 15. The honor guard will return to its mission of defending democratic freedoms and ensuring public safety.
The traditional drill by the honor guard will now be performed at the front of Democracy Boulevard, combined with flag-raising and lowering ceremonies at 6:00 a.m. and 6:10 p.m. The honor guard and its drill have been in place at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall since its opening on April 5, 1980.
The Culture Ministry explained the change as part of the project to transform Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in accordance with the transitional justice mission. “Eliminating the cult of personality" and "removing the worship of authoritarianism" are the goals of the transformation at this stage, the ministry stated.
To increase public discourse on transitional justice, the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall will continue to run events including human rights-themed lectures, guided tours, and exhibitions such as “Taiwan’s Long Walk to Freedom of Speech”.
The Culture Ministry says that the transitional justice mission of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall will continue and it aims to promote various transitional justice works so that history will not be forgotten.